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Chapter 5
“You’re in a rather chipper mood today,” Hassan said.
I was at The Garden Room, having lunch with Hassan Jindal, the chairman of Spotlight’s board. He was a heavyset Indian man with thick black hair pulled back in a ponytail. We were discussing business, but my head was somewhere else. I had just left Austin’s bed where I had been almost exclusively since Friday night. He took me home on Saturday afternoon to get some clothes, and our passions got the best of us for the rest of the evening.
I dug into my cobb salad and smiled at Hassan. “I’m having a good weekend.”
He took a sip of his wine and grinned. “Bite the heads off a few old ladies?”
“Not recently. I’m just happy.”
“I can see that.” He chuckled. “The board is impressed with the revenue projections for next quarter.”
I frowned. “Do I sense a but in there?”
“No buts. We plan on rewarding you for your efforts.”
“A raise?”
“That and a bonus outside of your contract terms.”
I felt giddy inside. “I don’t know what to say.”
He stopped eating his fettuccini alfredo and put his fork down. “Say you’ll continue to helm Spotlight. I’m aware of some murmurings about other companies courting you.”
I shook my head. “If that’s the case, I haven’t been contacted.”
Hassan stared at me with his dark eyes. “Would you tell us if you were?”
I returned his stare. “Of course. The board has treated me well and given me the latitude to implement the changes to make Spotlight successful.”
He picked up his fork again and began twirling fettuccini around the tines. “And we appreciate it, which is why we’re rewarding you. If anyone contacts you, I do hope you’ll come to me first before you make a decision.”
“You have my promise.”
We finished lunch, discussing other items regarding future Spotlight business, then parted ways with a handshake. The company car service took me back to Austin’s. He was sunning himself by the pool, and it made me think of our time spent together in the Maldives.
“How was lunch,” he said as he removed his sunglasses.
I removed my white jacket, tossing it on one of the patio chairs. “I’m getting a bonus for my efforts.”
“Congratulations.”
“The chairman also mentioned he heard I’m attracting attention from other companies.”
Austin twirled his sunglasses in his hand. “Is he afraid they’ll try to poach you?”
“He sounded like he was. I love working at Spotlight; I have no intention of leaving.”
He gestured to my dress. “It’s nice to see some color on you. I miss those bikinis you wore on vacation.”
I looked down at the pale-yellow dress I was wearing. “I thought you preferred me naked.”
“I do, though if I can’t have you naked, then bikinis are the next best thing.”
“I can change now. I brought one in my bag.”
Austin winked at me. “Please do unless you’re interested in something else.”
