“Looks as though you’ve used up my time.”
“What?” I chase after him and move in front of his large body. I can feel eyes on us, eyes from around the company, so I make sure to keep my frustration at bay as I slide my hand up the lapel of his suit jacket. “Huxley, my sister has been preparing for this meeting all day. She’s going to be devastated if she can’t pitch to you.”
“Something you should’ve thought of.”
He goes to move again, but I stop him. “Please, Huxley.”
His eyes meet mine, and for a brief moment, I see a hint of human inside them. This man really does have a soul. It’s right there, behind the dark chocolate of his hollow eyes.
“I’ll see you at home,” he repeats and moves to the side. “And by the way, if you’re going to help your sister succeed, you should always do your research on every client you go to meet.”
“What do you mean by that?” I ask.
“The men sitting with me. They’re my brothers, not associates. And they know everything going on in my life.”
My eyes narrow, and I try to keep it together as I ask, “So I didn’t have to put on an act at all?”
“No, you didn’t. They know exactly who you are and what you’re doing for me, but you’d have known that if you were truly prepared. Perhaps I’ll take another meeting with your sister when you show that you can actually conduct yourself professionally in a business setting.”
Anger shoots to the top of my head as I feel my cheeks darken with embarrassment. “I hate you,” I say with such venom that I can taste my hatred for him on the tip of my tongue.
“I’m well aware of your feelings for me. No need to constantly repeat them.” And with that, he heads out of the conference room, past Kelsey without a second glance, and into the depths of his office. I glance at Kelsey, who stands there alone, her laptop and portfolio in hand, looking absolutely defeated.
And that’s when it hits me hard. I fucked this up for her.
I fucked up really badly.
Kelsey reaches to leave the car, but I grab her arm and stop her. “Please, Kelsey. Please just talk to me.”
She lowers her head and shakes it from side to side. “I don’t even know what to say to you at this moment. I’m so upset, I don’t want to say the wrong thing.”
“I’m sorry, Kelsey. I really am.”
She looks over her shoulder, and I can see the disappointment in her eyes. It cuts through me like razor-sharp glass.
“I understand you’re in a weird position right now. You were fired by someone you thought you trusted, thrust into this odd deal with a very domineering man, a man you don’t particularly get along with, and you’re trying to find your way through this mess. But that doesn’t give you the right to be a martyr.”
“A martyr?” I ask in surprise. “I’m not a martyr.”
“No?” she asks as she turns in her seat to face me. “Because from where I sit, you’re looking pretty cushy at the moment. Not many people are granted the opportunity you’ve been given. Not only are you living in some mansion with an extremely hot man, but you had your college loans paid for, you don’t need to worry about any expenses, and you were granted a chance to live with a businessman who’s a wealth of knowledge. You realize he’s worth billions, Lottie? BILLIONS. He’s built his business from the ground up with his brothers, and instead of capitalizing on that, on his experience, on his expertise in what you spent four years studying in college, you’re inciting him to anger. And you’re hurting the people you love while doing it.”
“It’s not that easy,” I say.
“It’s not easy to lower your guard, see this incredible opportunity at your feet, and be grateful?” she asks. “Because if I were in your position, that’s exactly what I would be.”
“You say that, but you don’t know until you’re in my shoes.”
She nods. “You’re right, I would have no idea what you’re experiencing, but what I do know is that we had a big meeting today, and instead of pushing your ego to the side, it spiked, and you let it take an opportunity from us. When I say this could’ve been big, I meant it, Lottie. Not only is Cane Enterprises worth billions, but they own businesses and real estate all over Los Angeles, and in other states, as well. Meaning, if I were to land an opportunity and they liked what we did, they could have used us not just for their office, but for every property they own. But you didn’t think about that when you were trying to put on some show in the conference room, did you?”
“I had no idea how to act,” I shoot back. “He’s in my head. I don’t know how to approach him, how to . . . treat him.”
“Try with a little respect,” Kelsey says while opening her door.
“He was the one who provoked me in that room,” I say, still on the defensive.
“Because you let him. He seemed perfectly fine from where I stood. You were the one who looked like the fool.” And with that, she slams the car door and walks toward her apartment building.
I roll down the window and say, “You forgot your laptop.”
“Keep it. The least you can do is fix the website.”
Then she walks into her apartment building.
Anger, frustration, and embarrassment clash within me at the same time, hitting me square in my chest, only to travel up my neck, heat up my cheeks, and ultimately bring a wave of tears to my eyes.
“Fuck,” I quietly say as a tear cascades down my cheek. What Huxley and Kelsey both said was 100% correct. Be prepared for every meeting. Know who you’re meeting with. Know your own presentation inside and out. Go in with confidence, ready to answer every possible question. These are basic meeting requirements, and I didn’t follow any one of them. I made a mockery of years of studies. Why? And of all people to show such lack of professionalism and preparation, it had to be the owners of Cane Enterprises. Fuck.
And Kelsey’s business.
Kelsey and I have had our fair share of fights, but for some reason, this one doesn’t feel as though it can be fixed with a Double-Double and chocolate milkshake from In-n-Out. This feels deeper.
This feels damaging.
And that frightens me more than anything.
Chapter Eleven
HUXLEY
“I have a question,” Breaker says as he takes a seat in my office, JP following close behind him.
“What?” I ask, exhausted from the day I’ve had.
“Are you trying to make sure Lottie absolutely abhors you?”
“She already does. I don’t have to do anything to achieve that,” I say while exiting out of my inbox and turning off my computer for the night.
“Ever thought about getting her to, I don’t know . . . like you?” Breaker asks.
“Why would I want her to like me? This is a business arrangement. There’s nothing more there.”
“He doesn’t mean it like . . . sexually,” JP says. “But don’t you think it would be easier to work with each other if you weren’t at each other’s throats?”
“Probably,” I answer.
“So then why are you pissing her off every chance you get?” Breaker asks. “What you did this afternoon?” He shakes his head. “Brutal, man.”
“Yeah, I actually felt bad for the sister. She looked defeated,” JP adds.
“I didn’t have a choice,” I say. “Bower called. That’s who I’ve been working with since I left the conference room.”
Breaker perks up. “Everything okay in New York?”
I shake my head. Bower is our site manager; he only calls off schedule if something is wrong. “No. He was calling to tell me there was an electrical fire at the Ninety-Fifth Street location. Fire department was called, building evacuated, a few guys had to be evacuated by the FDNY.” I press my hand to my forehead. “It was a goddamn nightmare. I spent the entire afternoon reaching out to all staff affected to ensure they were okay.”
“Shit.” Breaker drags his hand over his mouth. “Any serious injuries?”
“Two men have third-degree burns on their arms but they seem to be in good spirits. Everyone else is fine, thankfully.”