Chapter 17
SHAY
Once the door screeches closed behind me, I walk around the table where the group is seated. Avoiding Kolton’s gaze, I set up the coffee and cookies on the back counter as Hilary finishes pitching Concept to him.
“We listen to our clients’ needs,” she says, repeating the same speech I’ve heard a few times.
“We’re here to bring your vision to life, not force our ideas on you.
Concept is small and intimate. I, of course, would lead the project, but considering the timeline, Ramiro and Maeve would be assisting, and our intern, Shay, is available to scour the city as needed for samples when choosing finishes. ”
She nods toward me, and I smile at her.
As far as I’m concerned, Kolton isn’t in this room. Or on this planet.
Hilary is at the head of the table, Ramiro and Maeve flanking her. Kolton is seated at the opposite end. I settle into the chair next to Maeve as she clucks her tongue.
She’s been colder than usual today, no doubt reliving yesterday’s debacle, when I raced across the city, dodging construction zones and cyclists, arriving at Grecko Tile in record time to acquire an emergency sample.
Apparently, it was the right shop, but the wrong location.
Maeve didn’t care to mention I shouldn’t go to the store I’d been to numerous times the past month.
Still, it was my fault for assuming they only had one location.
A million red lights later, I got the sample, but her frustrated client couldn’t wait and threatened to hire another firm if a mistake happened again.
Ramiro had beamed as he rose a notch higher on their imaginary leaderboard.
“By choosing Concept,” Hilary says as she wraps up her speech, “you’re choosing style and cutting-edge design, but integrity and our clients’ needs come first.”
Ramiro bats his dark lashes. “We’ll make Moondog the talk of the city.”
Never one to let him have the last word, Maeve tips her bright red lips into her “sincere” smile. “With your vision and our guidance, Moondog will set the standard for retail shops everywhere.”
“So,” Hilary says, leaning back in her leather chair, “is there anything you’d like to discuss before we sign the papers?”
I shiver as the AC blasts into the room. Maeve, however, clicks her manicured nails on the table, looking like she’s in her natural habitat. The Ice Queen. Ramiro’s twitchy shoe taps one of the table legs, all of us waiting on Kolton.
The longer he stays quiet, the tighter I fist my cold hands.
A man doesn’t show up where a woman works, three months after hooking up, unless he has an agenda. But I can’t figure out his angle. I glance over, hoping to get a read on his intentions, and our eyes lock.
Is he smirking? And why does his shirt have to fit so snug?
I’m about to look away, when he says, “Shay, how nice to see you again.”
Shifty-eyed, I glance around the table, sure they all know I fucked our biggest client ever in a bathroom (make that two bathrooms).
Hilary sits forward. She has dark skin, voluminous curls, and an intimidatingly shrewd gaze. “I didn’t realize you knew our intern.”
If he didn’t mention me when he got here, why the hell is he acknowledging me now? What is he playing at?
Steam builds between my ears again, the pressure about to blow. “Yes, well…” I start, anger and confusion wiping my confidence.
The ignore-Kolton act was easier to perform.
“We met at a conference in Aspen,” he says before I can conjure an appropriate lie.
Maeve’s nails stop their endless ticking. “Conference? I don’t remember a conference.”
Kolton waves a hand in the air. “Not design specific. It was a spur-of-the-moment industry ski thing. It’s actually why I’ve chosen Concept.
Shay shared some ideas during one of the meetings I haven’t been able to forget.
” He leans on his elbows, all of that rugged handsomeness focused on me.
“I’d like to revisit the finer points of our discussions.
Maybe add on to the basics debated.” He licks his lips.
Excuse me? Is this guy flirting with me in front of my boss?
“Well,” Hilary says as Maeve huffs out an exasperated breath, “Shay is a promising young designer. We count ourselves lucky to have her. She’d be happy to pick up where you left off.”
Like hell, I would. Not after this surprise ambush.
I sit taller, shoulders back, knowing the red bra I’m wearing has my girls cradled perfectly, leaving a hint of cleavage visible through my unfastened top button.
“I’m not sure I’m the best person to revisit that particular conference.
Personally, I found it tedious.” I tilt my head toward Maeve as if sharing a secret.
“You know when you’re partway through and all you’re thinking is, God when will this end?
I barely remember a thing from those monotonous discussions. ”
I smile sweetly at Kolton, pleased I’m back in control of my speech. Until the AC blasts and the temperature drops, like, ten degrees, perking up my nipples. I don’t slouch or fold my arms across my chest. That would look meek. Timid. Not a way to stand my ground.
With my nipples nearing diamond-cutting territory, his gaze lowers on target.
Gruffly, he clears his throat and drags his eyes up. “Funny, I could have sworn you enjoyed the meetings. You were rather vocal in a few.”
A quiver racks my body, but I don’t know if it’s from the subzero temperature or his heated look. “I’m skilled at faking interest. Wouldn’t want the meeting leader to feel inept.”
The rest is a dizzying verbal tennis match.
“He seemed proficient to me,” Kolton says. “Quite experienced.”
“Didn’t care for his delivery.”
“I’ve never heard complaints about his delivery before.”
“Maybe those attending had low standards.”
Hilary studies us, eyes narrowed, probably wondering why I’m giving our potential client such a hard time. And I can’t understand why he’s flirting with me here, now, when there’s so much on the line for me.
“Maybe you’re thinking of the pink-haired woman who was there,” I counter as my teeth chatter, hypothermia imminent. The image of that quirky beauty whispering to him doesn’t help my shaking. “She seemed keen. A real go-getter.”
He shakes his head. “Nope. Definitely not. I specifically remember your comments, and that design book of yours.” He turns his focus to Hilary.
“I like your firm and everything you’ve said, but, to be honest, I chose your team because of Shay.
She has some specific designs and ideas I’d like to use in the shop.
If I’m going to sign on here, she’ll have to be the lead designer. ”
There’s no mistaking Cruella’s muttered, “Fuck me,” or how Ramiro’s jaw drops.
But it’s Hilary’s “I see” that has me shrinking in my seat. “I’m not sure Shay has the experience needed to pull together a job of this magnitude.” Her leather chair squeaks as she clasps her hands on the table.
“I appreciate that,” Kolton says. “But she’s the reason I’m here, and I’m sure you can support her as we plan the space.”
First, the Asshole ambushes me at work after I meet his son and whoever the hell that pink-haired woman is. Now he’s bribing my employer to promote me?
My eyelid twitches as my mind whirs. If he thinks meddling in my life will win him any favors with me, he’s mistaken. If I get a promotion, it’ll be on my merit, not because some guy wants another slice of my pie.
Hilary taps one hand on the table. “If Shay’s up for the challenge, I can’t think of any reason not to oblige. I, for one, would love to see her designs.”
All eyes are on me, my damn eye twitch unrelenting. I dig my fingernails into my palms and do my best not to hiss out my words. “Thank you for the vote of confidence, Hilary. But do you mind if I speak with Kolton in private to discuss his proposal?”
Her gaze flicks from Kolton to me. Then she says, “Take all the time you need. I’ll run over the logistics with Ramiro and Maeve while you two iron out”—her sharp eyes land on me—“whatever issues you have. This is an important opportunity for us all.”
Hilary is polite as always, but her meaning is clear: lose this client, and I lose my job.
“It sure is,” I say. Twitch, twitch, twitch goes my eyelid.