AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, it’s just hard. He wants to come at the weekend. In fact, I thought he was going to ask for tonight as well, so I left. I know they think I’m still annoyed at them all. I’m not. It’s more at myself. I don’t want to come across as weak, and I feel like I’m giving that impression. I let them push me around too much in the past. Not in a horrible way, but just because of who they are personality wise. Don’t think I’m making sense,” I muse out loud.
“You’re making perfect sense. They like you where they can see you. It made them all feel better. You were their rock, you just didn’t know it. To be fair, to a certain point neither did they.”
I mull that over as we pull into the garage area for NSM and I spot several flashy cars parked there. “The big boys are in today, by the looks of those cars.” I point at the millions of pounds that make up just one row of vehicles. “Give me my tractor and truck any day,” I laugh as I get out of the car.
“I’ll wait in reception on the same floor as you, if that’s ok. I can see you through the windows.”
I look at Tommy in puzzlement. “Do I need to worry, Tommy?”
“Nope. Just like your brothers, I like you where I can see you.” He smiles at me and calls the lift.
As I’m slightly late, I sit in the main conference room and wait for Kenny to finish a call. I can see a list of desires and descriptions, along with a bit of a plan, on a whiteboard in the corner. He’s obviously thinking about what he wants.
A tall, thin man with a shock of greying hair walks into the room and smiles. “Is it Evie?” I nod and smile in agreement as he holds his hand out to me. “Chris. I’m in charge of all the buildings owned by NSM.” I wasn’t aware they had buildings, plural.
“Hi, yes, I’m Evie.” I shake hands with Chris and ask him, “Have you looked over the plans of the proposed building?” He tells me he has and pulls them out, laying them flat on the conference table. We stand over them as I explain moveable and immoveable features.
We’re about thirty minutes in when Kenny finally arrives. Thankfully he comes with tea and a plate of doughnuts. “Shall we break for tea?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” I say, grinning at him.
Kenny puts the drawings up on the wall and also has them projected onto a large screen. I've taken my jacket and coat off, and I’m animated about some of the plans. Chris has a really great idea and I’m getting creative with the pens on the drawings, explaining how it might work and what else we could do, building on the idea. I feel flushed and happy, turning around to pick up a pen from the floor I have practically thrown around when explaining some ironwork we could use.
The door opens, and as I stand, I see another suit. This one, however, is being worn within an inch of its life.
It’s the darkest blue, fitted to every inch of that glorious body. White shirt and silk tie to match. Shoes, brown, and highly polished. It’s suit porn on steroids. I can see all the female workers staring as he has his back to them, no doubt checking him out from behind, but pretending not to.
“Hi, everyone.” He strides towards me first.
I’m rooted to the spot, taken aback at his surprise appearance. And how gorgeous he looks in that suit. I can see he thinks it’s funny, as he tries not to smile too widely.
“Evie, nice to see you here,” he croons, kissing both cheeks. I just move slightly, side to side, it’s as much as I can muster. Hit by his delicious scent—pepper, leather, corn fields, soil, blue skies—I mentally drift off to a very pleasurable place, (one that involves dark blue suit trousers and no shirt), as he stands in front of me, staring into my eyes. “Evie?”
“Oh, hi.” I recover sufficiently to get a few words out. “Surprised to see you here. Didn’t know you were still in London.”
“Yeah, I had to stay on. More issues with a takeover.”
I pull an ‘Oh, dear’ face and move to the other side of the table as he shakes Chris and Kenny’s hands and asks where we’re at?
“Chris has just had a fab idea. It would open up your office space and, to be honest, I think we’re about done. We’ve hashed out all the specs and we just need to talk contracts and I’ll get costs for you to look at. There’s a designer I like to work with, but she’s out of the country for a fortnight, so Kenny and I can pick up with her later.” I nod and smile, pushing the finality into my voice and starting to move towards the plans to take them down.
“Ahh, great timing, then. Could I talk to you for a second, Evie? Next door? There’s something I need to run past you.”
Shit shit shit. I was wrapping up so I could leave, not go into another meeting. With him.
“Will it be long? Not to be rude, but I was running late for Kenny so I’m a bit pushed for time. Can we reschedule?” I’m picking up my bag and coat, and catch him staring at my dress. Fair enough. It’s a beauty. Cream, knee length, square cut neck that emphasises my boobs. But nobody so far has blatantly stared as he’s doing.
“Kellen.” I have to speak twice for him to look at my eyes. I make a small shake of my head at him and he coughs, I’m sure trying to hide a laugh.
“Sorry, no it won’t wait, it’s important.” He moves towards the doors and I look at Kenny's face.
He knew. He absolutely knew he’d be here. I narrow my eyes at him and Kenny looks down. Oh, yeah. He definitely knew.
Kellen is holding the door for me, and with a deep sigh and a shake of my head, I follow him through it.
He walks in front of me, striding down the hallway to another conference room. This one is not empty. Through the glass front, I can see Patrick, the lawyer for NSM, already sitting in it. I look at Kellen. “Do I need a lawyer?” I’m standing outside the door as he opens it, but I don’t move to go in.
“No, you don't. He's here to explain something.”
