Chapter Three
ZOEY
Over the next week, I saw very little of Colton, but I was buried in prep work. Now that I’d gotten a sense of the ongoing projects and to-dos—with the help of his assistant—I was making headway.
I didn't typically like to work late, but in the very beginning of a project, I put in as much time as necessary to be on top of everything.
It only made my work easier later on. That was why, on Friday evening, I was the only person left on the floor.
At least that was what I thought. The last time I'd heard a noise was probably an hour ago or so.
I yawned and checked the time. It was eight o'clock now. I could still get drinks with Alex and sleep in late tomorrow.
As I got up from my desk, I heard a sound in the corridor and panicked for a brief second before realizing it probably just meant I wasn't the last one here.
I walked out with my jacket on my arm and came face-to-face with Colton.
"Ms. Thomas," he said. "I didn't know you were here."
"I thought I was the last one in the building too," I replied.
"If I knew you were still here…”
"You wouldn't have come out of your office at all?" I finished for him.
He narrowed his eyes. "I appreciate your commitment to our collaboration, but I'm not expecting you to work late."
"You know, I was wondering if you'd been avoiding me on purpose."
He had a white coat on, which only increased his sex appeal. The stark white contrasted with his blue eyes. I couldn't believe this hot-as-hell man was Colton Whitley.
"It's been a busy week, Ms. Thomas."
"Yes, I know. For both of us." I narrowed my eyes too. "So, do you usually stay holed up in your office, or is it just because of me?"
"I figured the less we interact, the better," he said without hesitation.
"Ah."
I liked honesty, only now that he'd owned up to it, I wasn't sure how to react. I'd had difficult clients before, but I wasn't used to this level of antagonism.
"Mr. Whitley, I know it must not be easy for you to have an outsider practically take up residence in your building."
"No, it's not," he replied in a cutting voice.
"Still, it would be in our mutual best interest if we were on good terms." It was on the tip of my tongue to say amicable, but no matter how much of an optimist I was, even I knew that was a stretch when it came to Colton. “We’re going to have to work together at some point.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. "I suppose we will."
"How come you're here so late?" I asked.
"I was actually going into the lab."
He tugged at his coat, and I saw his dress shirt underneath. The mix between scientist and CEO was off-the-charts hot.
"May I join you?" I asked before I could help myself.
“No. I don’t allow many people in the lab.” He looked like he was searching for the right words, then said, “Safety hazard.”
“Then may we talk in your office?”
He didn't say anything for a few seconds, and I was sure he was going to shut me down, but then he surprised me. "Sure, why not? Come in."
We walked side by side, and for some reason, his presence overwhelmed me even though he wasn't antagonizing me right now. In fact, he wasn't saying anything, but he was simply an intimidating man. He was much taller than me, at least six feet two or more.
All I could think about as we went into his office was that he simply didn't look like a scientist. Or like a CEO, for that matter.
Although the suit would trick you into thinking that.
Even through all the layers of clothes, the muscles in his arms were defined.
I was certain that his entire body was equally toned.
His features were handsome but also rugged.
His jaw was angular, as were his cheekbones, and his eyes were downright hypnotizing.
His office was a clinical white space. It looked almost like a lab too.
“Why do you have a whiteboard in here?” I asked.
"I do a lot of work on it. I have one in the lab too. Math and chemistry are my bread and butter. I figure out the formulas, and my team does the rest."
"Then why do you need the coat?"
"Sometimes I work with substances myself. Mostly when the math isn't lining up."
"You don’t have an ongoing project now?" I asked, pointing at the whiteboard. It was empty.
"I wipe it clean when I'm done."
"Afraid someone might steal your secrets?" I taunted.
"I just like to start with an empty whiteboard. It stimulates my brain."
"You're working on something new right now?"
"Always. I've been here every evening this week. I've got some new ideas."
"Wow," I exclaimed. "But you just developed a new immune-system booster that’s hitting the market next year. Do you ever take time to relax?"
To my astonishment, he smiled, and let me tell you, it was something to behold. Did he know how seductive his smile was? Was that why he flashed it so rarely? Was he trying to spare those around him from falling at his feet?
"Sometimes, but not for long. When an idea nags at me, I go to the lab and work it out. Sometimes it ends up being nothing, but most of the time, it evolves into something my team can work on."
"You do have a brilliant mind," I murmured. I couldn’t even imagine developing or thinking to the level he apparently did. I mean, I wasn’t an idiot, but his brain was performing miracles, more or less.
"What's that? You sound surprised."
I laughed nervously. "Never mind."
"Ms. Thomas."
I rolled my eyes. So formal. "I only answer to Zoey, okay? 'Ms. Thomas' makes me feel like my mom. I love her, but I don't want to be her."
He chuckled.
"It's just that everyone told me Colton Whitley is an extremely difficult man, but he's got a brilliant mind," I continued. "Almost like one thing excuses the other."
"Who told you that?" he asked, seeming a tad affronted.
I cleared my throat. "Never mind." Shit. It was Sandra who'd mentioned it, and I liked her. I didn't want to throw her under the bus.
"Zoey?" he urged with a firm tone.
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"Yes, you are. It was someone from my team."
"Now, now, Colton. Don't jump to conclusions."
"Zoey." His voice had an edge to it. It sounded 5 percent dangerous and 150 percent sexy.
I rolled my shoulders and made a gesture with my fingers, zipping up my lips. "Nope, you're not going to get it out of me."
He glanced at me intently for a few seconds that seemed to stretch into minutes, but I didn't give in. Damn, he was serious.
Eventually, he straightened up, looking away. "I appreciate someone who doesn't blab."
I winked at him. "That's me. I can keep a secret like it's nobody's business. Although, to be fair, your reputation isn't a secret at all. Everyone warned me."
"And yet you took the job."
I blinked. "Of course I did. I'm not afraid of challenges."
"So you think I'm a challenge."
"You're proving you are with every passing second. I'm not at the stage in my career to simply discard jobs based on the client's reputation."
He raised a brow. “Why even choose this type of work? I can imagine most of your clients are… resistant.”
“I’m good at it. I grew up with two brothers, and they trained me well. I can give as good as I get.”
“You’re close to them?”
Wow, we're having a real conversation. Maybe this will all work out after all.
“Very. Buuut let’s focus on you again.”
Colton didn't say anything for a few seconds.
I glanced around. "So, what motivates you to keep developing new products?"
"I like creating something that helps people," he said in a clipped tone and didn't expand.
I was certain there was more to it than that, but I didn't want to prod.
Besides, it was none of my business. I'd made more progress with Colton in these few minutes than I had the entire past week.
I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth; I wanted to wave a white flag and get to the nitty-gritty.
"Listen, I understand this situation is uncomfortable for you, but I promise I'm very good at my job," I stated.
"I never doubted that."
I looked him straight in the eyes. Well, that was a mistake because it wiped away my every thought. I lowered my gaze to the floor, gathering my wits before making eye contact again. I was determined to be completely professional no matter how amazing those blue eyes were.
“Then I don't understand the problem."
"The problem, Zoey, is that I like to call the shots. Always. I run this place. I take responsibility for the successes and the failures and the messes. I hate the idea of anyone telling me how to do things."
I swallowed hard, trying not to fixate on how damn sexy that Adam's apple bobbing up and down was. "That's not what I'm here to do," I said.
"Aren't you?"
"No, I'm simply here to make your life easier. Everyone's life. My processes aren't meant to simply tell you how to do things. It puts everything in perspective, giving you options so you have time for more things. You know?" I pointed at the whiteboard. "Like creating that product."
I was getting a good sense of who Colton Whitley was. For the first time, I understood why people said he was difficult. It wasn't because he was an asshole or because he thought he was God's gift to Earth. It was simply because he liked to do things his own way.
I knew he would probably be my most challenging client yet.
But I also knew I was up for the challenge.