5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Lane
He’s been here two weeks, but he may as well have been here two years. He’s doing exceptionally well. There was nothing on his resume about him having done this job before, but somehow, he has gotten everything right.
My coffee is always ready on time, my emails are organized and replied to appropriately, he’s professional and knowledgeable in meetings, my schedule is always accurate, and the cherry on top? He’s good to look at. And the man knows how to dress.
He doesn’t argue or try to tell me better ways to do things. He just does them how I like. Which, of course, is something I learned about him that first night, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
Yet, I am. I am so surprised by Tage Briar that I can’t get him off my mind. How does one person do so many things right in all aspects of their life? Star employee. Star sexual partner. What more is there?
I get up from my chair and pull the door open.
“Tage, good morning,” I say with a smile.
“Good morning, Mr. Monroe,” he responds, with a smile that says I don’t get on his nerves, but his eyes give him away. I know I do.
He doesn’t dislike me; he just thinks I talk too much. I’m certain of it. Which is an odd thing, considering he’s the only one I’m like this with. I don’t know what it is about him. He’s awakened something in me—some playful, teasing, almost menacing part of myself that I didn’t know existed.
I disappear back into my office, not wanting to overwhelm him when he first comes in. We have the entire day ahead of us.
He brings me my coffee on time and returns at exactly 8:30 to go over my day with me.
“Let me buy you lunch today,” I offer when I realize I don’t have plans with a client.
“No, thank you,” he responds, keeping his eyes on the iPad.
“But I insist.”
He flicks his gaze up at me, a bored expression on his face. “I brought lunch. Same as every other day I’ve been here.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
He drops his hands into his lap, holding onto the iPad for dear life.
“Are you mad that I bring my lunch from home?” he asks with a huff of annoyance.
“I’m not mad, but if a rich guy offered me lunch, I’d take it.”
“I already told you that your money doesn’t impress me—and clearly, I’m not you.”
“You’re lying,” I say simply.
He gives me a condescending smile. “I don’t lie.”
“Everybody lies.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s a quote from a very cynical TV doctor. Can’t come up with your own stuff?”
I grin wider. “If you think that mouth is going to make me stop teasing you, it won’t. In fact, it only makes me want to do it more.”
He sighs. ”Then what will?”
Shrugging a shoulder, I say, “Time will tell.”
“Will you be going out for lunch then?” he asks, his gaze going back to the tablet.
I narrow my gaze, and look him over, taking in his outfit choice of the day. Grey slim trousers and a white button-up, sans tie. I can’t tell if I prefer him with a tie or without. He makes both look good.
“Yes, I’ll go out for lunch,” I say. “I’ll need an hour.”
He pulls up the calendar on the iPad as he says, “I’ll block off your schedule. And for the meeting this afternoon, it’s virtual. Do you need me to sit in with you?”
I don’t miss his word choice. He didn’t ask if I need him to attend, he asked if I need him to sit in with me—like I need babysitting.
“You know I do,” I answer. “Don’t be late.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t respond.
We both know he won’t be late. In fact, he’ll be here exactly when I need him.
The white paper bag is light in my hand as I carry it into the executive offices.
Tage is sitting at his desk, eyes on the computer screen as he types away.
He doesn’t look up at me when I reach his desk, but I place the bag carefully on it.
He frowns as his fingers stop moving and his gaze slowly comes to me.
Raising a brow, he says, “What is that?”
“Well, you said you didn’t want lunch, so I brought you dessert.”
“Dessert?” he questions. “At this hour?”
“I firmly believe dessert should and can be had at any hour of the day.”
Scoffing quietly, he turns his attention back to the computer screen. As I move past him, I lean close to his ear.
“Normally, when someone buys you something, you say, ‘thank you.’”
I hear the annoyed huff of breath, and then the forced, “Thank you.”
“You’re so very welcome, Mr. Briar,” I say before closing myself in my office.
There are a handful of emails that need my attention, so I check those to pass the time before the meeting.
The first one that catches my eye is from Seline Myers, Vice President of the Development Team for Aurora Hospitality Group.
I’ve been working for months trying to get this contract. Hopefully, there is good news inside.
I open it to see they are awarding us the contract. Pride swells in my chest, as it always does when we get new clients. I’m proud of what I’ve built here—what I’ve worked so hard to accomplish. All on my own. I built this company from the ground up, and it’s done nothing but flourish.
Seline has offered some dates she’s available to meet to go over more details. I respond back to let her know what works for me and to get me the rest of the information when she can.
Her response comes in a few minutes later, so I flag it for Tage when I see it’s everything he’ll need to plan the trip. Flight, hotel, transportation, meeting schedule, all that stuff. He’s got it from here.
But I also send him an email letting him know that he’ll need to attend with me, so to plan accordingly. The smile on my face grows bigger with each key stroke.
I'm curious how long he'll keep pretending that night meant nothing once we're alone in a hotel together.