Chapter 10
ten
I sashay into the offices of Grayson & Wade on an empowered high. I don’t even know what’s happening. I don’t recognize myself. I’m a stranger wielding my newfound powers, and it’s exhilarating.
“Morning,” I sing as I drop my bag on the conference room table. I remove my sunglasses and slide out of my jacket.
Aggie glances up from prepping each seat with a bottled water, pen, notepad, and presentation booklet. “Why do you look like a goddess while I look like death? We drank together last night, didn’t we?”
“Must have been your other best friend.”
“Maybe.” She looks perplexed, but then cocks her head. “You’re wearing red. And you’re smiling. On a Monday. What’s going on?” She scurries closer to get a better look at me.
“It’s not black?” I glance down at myself.
“If that’s black, I did get wasted last night.”
I lean into my laptop and click through our presentation, refreshing my memory on the bullet points, even though I can recite them forward and backward. I find myself bobbing my head, turning them into a song in my mind.
“I guess I’ll blame Charlie,” she says.
I’m about to ask her to explain what she was doing with Charlie when she was fixated on Paul twenty-four hours before, but Linden struts in.
“Everything ready?”
We nod. Linden buttons his suit jacket like it’s his armor and he’s readying for battle. His features transform from tight to smiling, and he disappears to greet the executives who are gathering in the lobby.
I descend from my high when I remember the seriousness of today’s meeting. I’m Linden’s warrior, and I can’t let a personal victory with Evan throw off my workday. I adjust my own clothes and smooth my hair. Mentally preparing, I pace in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
If I can close the deal, it will be my job to find Lakeman, Shire and Black a new office space for their two-hundred-person law firm. A fifteen-year lease could mean millions for G&W and a substantial commission for me, enough for a down payment on Ozzy’s home.
The Lakeman execs settle around the conference table.
Linden stands at the head, loosening everyone up with a few jokes.
He’s a charming salesman, an expert storyteller, and everything I know about real estate, networking, and schmoozing, I learned from watching him.
He introduces me when everyone’s prepped.
I unfurl my clenched hands, pumping them open and closed until I’m standing front and center. I glance around the faces in the room. My smile is bright and engaging even though I’m terrified. Today, I must convince each executive they can’t live without my expertise.
I present four properties. In this case, each space is either unfinished or vacated by another tenant.
I showcase floor plans, specs, amenities, history, and area info.
A carousel of photos projects on the wall, showing the current state of each space, the city skyline views, and for a finale, I wow them with beautiful 3-D renderings drawn by Charlie.
The images represent how the spaces can be modernized and transformed to meet their specific needs.
The presentation is flawless, and one hour later, the meeting concludes with a deal for G&W to represent Lakeman. Everyone stands to mingle. A rumble of chatter fills the room. I take a deep breath, though I’m not ready to celebrate.
“Cait, have you met Mr. Henley?” Linden gestures to the man beside him.
“I haven’t. Nice to meet you.”
Mr. Henley is tall. Light brown hair with honey highlights touch his collar.
His dark silver suit is distinguished, but he wears no tie, and his shirt spreads open at the neck in relaxed contrast. His pale blue eyes are intense, searing.
Simply holding their attention heats my face, but still, I find myself moving closer.
“Please, call me James. Great presentation. Really interested in the State Street property.” His handshake is strong, and its warmth spreads from his grasp, transferring to my body.
“James will be your contact with Lakeman. He’ll visit the properties and work on the initial leasing details,” Linden adds.
“Wonderful.” I beam.
“I’ll leave you two to work out a schedule.” Linden moves to socialize with the other executives and see them out.
James slides his business card from his wallet. He snags a pen, leans over the table, and jots on the card before handing it to me. “These are all my numbers. Call me anytime.”
“I’m looking forward to working with you,” I say, reaching out.
He takes my hand again but steps closer this time, sliding his free hand over the top of mine. Now we’re eye to eye and close enough for me to smell his cologne. It’s airy. Sensual.
“Me too,” he whispers in a gravelly voice.
My eyebrow arches in an involuntary reaction to his charm.
With his shoulders squared confidently, he turns to leave. I watch him until the glass door swings shut behind him, and Aggie and I are alone. From across the table, she’s studying me. I busy myself, hoping to step out of her crosshairs.
“I see you set your sights on a new victim.” She grins.
I flounder, neither denying nor confirming his good looks. So much for playing it cool. “You know this deal is too important. It’s the first time Linden’s given me full control.”
“And you’ve handled it like a pro. All I’m saying is you’re an adult. James is an adult. And by the look on his face, he wants to rub your adult bits together.” She gathers her laptop and papers, holding them at her chest, looking awfully pleased with herself.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” I circle the table, collecting half-empty water bottles. “Beyond this business deal, I have no interest in James Henley. I promise.”
“It would be so fun to live vicariously through you . . . if you would ever do anything fun.”
I pause in front of her. This is the perfect time to confess the details of my unsuccessful weekend but triumphant morning. Maybe it would change the way Aggie views me, or better yet, the way I view myself.
For now, though, I hold it all in. I’m still stewing over Evan, and an insane plan that’s been formulating in my mind since Saturday night’s rejection. The new wardrobe, which I’ve decided to keep, is only the beginning.