Chapter 8
Monday was intense. Jules and I were busy putting our plan in place for Aurora’s project. We also had to put work in on our other projects, like the professional bitches we were.
The elevator dinged just as Jules and I high-fived after getting off a call with a very excited client.
“We’re fucking awesome,” Jules crowed, and I laughed with her.
It was the end of the day, and our productivity was off the charts. With the biggest client we had ever landed sending our contract today, we were on a high that we rode all day.
“I knew I picked the right people,” Aurora said when she walked into our office.
Jules and I put our hands behind our backs, acting like we were little kids getting caught with our hands in the cookie jar.
“Didn’t I tell you, Cole?”
“Yes, you did,” Mr. Fox answered, looking lovingly at his sister.
“Yes, walking in on the marketing firm’s owners high-fiving while declaring they are awesome is the pinnacle of professionalism, and naturally you should conclude you picked the right firm.”
I didn’t even resist the urge to roll my eyes at Mr. Easton’s remark. He was not going to ruin my good mood with his surliness.
He quirked an eyebrow at my eye gymnastics before traveling down my body. “Ah, good, you are wearing sensible shoes. Does this mean I’m safe from being assaulted today?”
I shot him my most saccharine smile. “Since you’re such a successful businessman, I think it’s fair to say, don’t put money on it.”
Aurora laughed loudly. Mr. Fox covered his face with his palm, and I was certain I heard a faint chuckle behind his large hand.
“Charming,” Mr. Easton drawled.
“Yes, I’ve been told.”
“Okay, enough of that. We actually came here for a reason and not to watch Uncle Easton be an arse.” Aurora batted Mr. Easton on the shoulder.
“Language,” Mr. Easton chided.
“If I’m old enough to start my own business, I’m old enough to say arse,” Aurora shot back.
I smiled brightly.
I really like her.
“I agree,” I added.
“Of course you do.” Mr. Easton sighed.
We were locked in a stare down. Someone coughed, and I stepped back, the trance broken.
What the hell am I doing? I’m picking a fight with our biggest client.
“To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?” I asked, wanting to get back on the right foot.
Mr. Easton huffed out a laugh, seeing right through me. Thankfully, sweet Aurora saved the day.
“We are taking you out to dinner. I have the contracts.” She tapped her finger on the messenger bag draped across her body. “I thought it would be nice to go out to dinner after they’re signed.”
“Technically, the firm you hired are the ones that are supposed to foot the bill,” Mr. Easton replied.
“Yes, but we’re not into technicalities,” Mr. Fox interjected.
“Quite,” Mr. Easton replied.
I smirked at his sour expression. He caught me and rolled his eyes, which made me laugh.
Jules glanced at me, but I just shrugged off her silent question.
Jules ushered everyone into the conference room, not trusting me to keep my hands to myself. She acted like she was worried I’d slug Mr. Easton in the head again. Even though I was wearing sandals and not heels, she was right to worry.
After signing all the documents, we started bouncing our ideas with Aurora. Mr. Fox leaned back with a smile on his face as he watched his sister speak animatedly with us. Mr. Easton sat back as well, but he had a scowl on his face, not participating.
Deciding it needed to make its presence known, my stomach growled with the ferocity of a demon being summoned.
“And that’s our cue to take this conversation to a restaurant.” Cole got up and pulled out his sister’s chair.
“Yes, who wouldn’t want a free meal?” Mr. Easton breathed under his breath.
“I’ll pay for my own meal,” I growled back at him, pushing my chair under the table.
“With the money my company is paying you, you can afford it.”
“Would you like me to use the cash in my pocket, so you know it’s not coming from you?”
“That won’t be necessary. Why do I feel like you are prone to dramatics?”
“Only when you’re around,” I hissed.
We were leaning into each other, both of us locked in another stare down. Something that seemed to happen often when the two of us were in a room.
This man is infuriating.
The sound of the elevator dinging broke us out of our bubble. We both glanced around, noticing that the conference room was empty.
When did everyone leave?
I straightened my shirt, needing something to do with my hands that wasn’t wrapping them around Mr. Easton’s throat. The thought of punching him in the back of the head again made my knuckles throb from the memory.
Choking it is.
Or maybe a well-placed kick if I was feeling generous.
“Are you two coming? Or do I need to send a cleanup crew for your fight club?” Jules called out.
“We’re coming,” we both answered in unison.
“We’ll meet you there. I don’t want to listen to you two bicker the whole way there,” Cole announced just as we heard the doors to the elevator slide shut.
“Do you know where they’re going?” I asked, punching the elevator button.
“Yes, we have reservations.”
We didn’t say a word while we headed down to the lobby. I fiddled with my ring, still not used to the weight of it.
“Did you get engaged?” Mr. Easton asked, breaking the silence.
I glanced down at the ring with a smile, wishing Bradford hadn’t had to go so soon after slipping it on my finger. “Yes, he proposed Saturday.”
Mr. Easton grunted, pulling out his phone. “Would you like me to add him to the reservation?”
The elevator doors opened but I stood still, unable to comprehend what he’d just asked. He moved out of the elevator, unaware that I wasn’t behind him.
When I didn’t answer, he swiveled his head around, trying to find me. I was still in the elevator staring at him. Our eyes met. The doors began to close, and he thrust his expensive loafers between them, causing them to reopen.
Clearing my throat, I shook my head as I stepped over the threshold.
“He had to leave Saturday morning to go back to work. So no, you don’t need to amend the reservations,” I answered.
He huffed, placing his hand on my lower back, leading me to the underground parking garage.
“What happened back there?” he asked, still steering me toward his sleek black car.
“You caught me off guard. You were being nice,” I answered.
“I can be nice.”
“I wasn’t aware you were capable of the emotion. I was waiting to see if it got cold from hell freezing over.”
The side of his mouth pushed down, like I’d offended him by my admission, which made no sense whatsoever.
“Congratulations.” He led me to the passenger seat of his vehicle, and I must have been in a stupor because it didn’t occur to me what was happening until he opened the door.
“I have my own car,” I stated, moving out of his grasp.
“Yes, I assumed you did, but I refuse to place the good people of Los Angeles County in danger by putting you on the road with your stomach about to crawl out of your throat and eat everyone in its path.”
I chuckled and got into the car. I was tired, my brain not letting me sleep much with the thoughts of Aurora’s project. Oh, and my wedding. What would it hurt to have him drive me? With as uptight as he was, I could only assume he would drive like an old lady.
When we reached the restaurant, I couldn’t hide the smirk on my face.
“What?” he asked before the valet could open my door.
“You drove exactly like I thought you would.”
“And how is that?”
“Like an elderly lady with ten pounds of cocaine in her trunk.”
As I sauntered into the restaurant, searching for my best friend, I heard his laugh behind me.