AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After getting the luxurious red garments on, I checked myself in the mirror, turning side to side. I’d never owned anything this soft, anything that made me feel so… sexy if that was the right word. Damn Evan had good taste, and thankfully he hadn’t gone for crotchless. Maybe confident, or powerful were good words for it.
The realization that I was probably the hundredth woman he’d bought lingerie for dulled my mood for a moment. I was his girl, only the second o rate that distinction. That was worth something.
Yes, the red was powerful.I am woman, hear me roar.
“Kim, Mr. Perez is here,” Rita said, knocking on the door.
“Be right there,” I said as I pulled my blouse on. I’d save a minute by not switching back to my old underwear.
After dressing hurriedly, I barely managed to zip my purse closed with my old garments inside. A swipe of lipstick, and a quick check in the mirror that nothing was askew, and I was ready. I’d swear my girls looked down right perky in this bra.
“I set him up in the conference room,” Rita said as I passed her. “Are you feeling okay?”
I nodded. “Better now, thank you.” I patted my stomach. “Sorry, too much chocolate at once.”
Her brows went up in alarm. “You didn’t?”
“Just kidding. I haven’t opened it yet.” I grabbed my file to join Mr. Perez in the conference room.
Sydney Perlmutter didn’t pay me much, but at least the company only worked with small business clients. Having him take me on had meant I hadn’t been forced to accept a job from one of the soulless big accounting firms who only worked for equally soulless large corporations.
This was exactly the experience I needed to be able to open up my own practice and help the small businesses that needed it most.
When I opened the door to greet Mr. Perez I only hoped that I didn’t lose the account for them.
* * *
Evan
Unusual anticipation rippled through me.One foot in front of the other I told myself as I walked up the stairs to Sydney Perlmutter Accounting.
I could do this. I could do a million dollar deal over coffee, or a multi-million dollar deal over breakfast. I thrived on the tension of the negotiation, the self control they required to be both understanding enough to reach agreement and aggressive enough to close a deal on good terms.
I’d been away from my girl for three days and I had to hold it together for another few hours. This was her workplace and I had to remain professional. Slamming the door of her office closed and bending her over the desk to show exactly how much I’d missed her wouldn’t do—not here, not today.
Smiling to myself, I thought that might be perfect for a non-work day.
Get it the fuck together, McAllister. Concentrate.
Calm, cool, collected, professional, I could be those things. I had to be those things. These people were like family to her and as such they got a vote on if was acceptable boyfriend material for Alexa.
As I reached for the handle, I took a fortifying breath.
Then just as quickly, I pulled my hand back. I’d almost violated Alexa’s first rule—no suits.
Whipping my tie off, I folded it in my pocket and undid my top button. It was too late to do anything about the coat, so I opened the door.
Inside, the walk up office above the shoe store was clean, if smaller than I’d expected. Somebody liked penguins from the looks of the art on the walls, all enlarged photos.
One client was sitting in the lone chair inside the door. The way his lips curled after he eyed me made me wish I had gone back to the car to dump the coat.
The lady behind the desk put down her coffee cup. “Good morning.”
“I’m here to see Alexa, and when we’re done, Sydney Perlmutter,” I told the lady, Rita Perlmutter, by the nameplate on her desk. “Sorry I didn’t call ahead, but Alexa asked me to see him.” A vase with three red roses sat on the corner of her desk.
“How is your morning so far, Mr. McAllister,” she said rising from her desk.
“Very well, thank you. And you?” I hadn’t introduced myself, but I was used to getting recognized, a symptom of being stalked incessantly by the paparazzi.
