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Still, I can’t resist.
“I had fun this weekend,” I say.
She inhales sharply and glares at me.
“Three days,” I tease. “Minimal fresh air.”
“Oli…”
“You and me and… our little vibrating friend.”
“Stop,” she whispers, her hidden smile nestled in the corner of her mouth.
“Should I swing by again tonight?” I ask, my voice for her ears only. “I’ll bring batteries.”
“No,” she answers.
That’s a yes.
I smile and we go quiet as the remaining managers and shareholders pile into the ballroom.
A minute before nine, Ira Botsford waltzes in from the lobby, looking as jacked as always. As head of security, it’s his job to secure the ballroom and keep undesirables from listening in on private Botsford Corp meetings like this one. I must buy him a drink later and ask about Vincent. I wonder if he’d be willing to tell a few old war stories about the bakery man.
He approaches the front, whispers something in Graham’s ear, and Graham nods. Guess it’s time to begin.
I glance at Paige beside me, coincidently at the same time as she looks at me, and smile.
She looks forward, still holding back that hidden smile, but that’s all right. I’ll get it later.
Now, let’s get this day over with so I can get her alone again.
“Welcome!” Graham's voice echoes through the mic at the podium and the room goes quiet. “I am Graham Botsford, Chief Executive Officer of the Botsford Corporation.”
Someone howls from the middle seats while others add in a little extra applause.
“Thank you,” Graham says, smiling widely. “It’s been an... interesting few months here. My father, the great Kingston Botsford, retired and left this company in my hands... just as my wife and I were expecting our baby girl to arrive. Thanks, Dad,” he adds sarcastically. Brief laughter echoes through the room. “But, as he always told me, a Botsford should never be too scared to roll up their sleeves and do what needs to be done. But we can’t do it all alone. So, we surround ourselves with good, hardworking people who will push us and guide us forever forward.”
Again, I look at Paige.
Fuck, she’s beautiful.
“Today, I wanted to dedicate some time to a group of the most hard-working people in this company: the building managers,” Graham continues. “As Company Liaison, I worked with these men and women every day and all of them never ceased to amaze me with their talent and their dedication to providing our guests with the best luxury hotel experience money can buy. Going forward, I will, along with the new Company Liaison and his team, work hand-in-hand with them every day to ensure this company takes its already stellar reputation to the next level. Not just with our customer base, but with the employees that serve as the backbone of our operations worldwide. It’s not my company...”
I lean an inch closer to Paige. “It’s our company,” I whisper as Graham does.
She snorts softly, then instantly composes herself.
“But enough from me,” Graham says. “Let’s get started on today’s presentations. Please welcome to the podium a man I am proud to call family; my cousin and the current manager of our Chicago location, Ian Botsford.”
The room breaks into polite applause as Ian rises from his chair across the aisle. He buttons his jacket and turns to wave at the rows of chairs. His eyes stop on Paige and he smirks, offering a wink one can only interpret as creepy.
Seriously. Stop gawking at her like that, you piece of shit.
Paige sits still. Fierce and bold, in her own special way. She didn’t even clap now that I think about it.
Ian and Graham shake hands by the podium. As Graham leaves the floor, Ian inserts a flash drive into the laptop, quickly loading up a Powerpoint presentation called, ‘Integrity in the Workplace.’
Well, this ought to be interesting.
