Tell Me Something (The "Something" Series Book 1) (13 page)

“I was thinking of taking a few weeks before starting law school, actually. It’s tough for them to get away in that kind of business, and I don’t know when I’d get another opportunity once I’m back in student mode.”

“I think it’s nice that you do these things for your mom.”

Sighing, I figured I’d keep quiet else I’d feel guilty for my voicing my thoughts.

“What?” He asked, not accepting my silence.

“Nothing. It’s what she would have wanted,” I replied, hoping he’d leave it alone.

“And what about what you want?”

I fought my irritation. “I want to honor her and it was nice talking with my Aunt J. It made my mother happy to know that we were going to do this every year.”

He seemed to absorb this. “So dressing up and drinking champagne today was at your mother’s request?”

“She had this thing about birthdays and special events she was going to miss. She planned out a lot of things. I think I told you about the bucket list, but I also have a card for every one of my birthdays for the next forty of them.”

“Wait. She wrote you out forty birthday cards?”

“Yeah, she detailed out all of the major holidays and events. I have a letter for my wedding, for my first born, and so forth. She wanted to make sure she was a part of it, I guess.”

“I see,” he murmured.

Turning towards him, I could tell he wanted to say more. “What?”

He looked thoughtful and then spoke with measured words. “I think it’s wonderful that you have something to remember your mom by, but I wonder if, for instance, on your birthday, knowing you will open that card and be sad would make it tough.”

In one sentence he had managed to sum up everything I’d been feeling. “I would feel so guilty not to. I promised her, and sometimes I love that I will be able to read what she wrote and know that she was thinking of me. But then other times I get overwhelmed to know that it’s coming,” I whispered.

He stroked my face. “Can I offer some advice?”

I was eager to hear it and nodded while fighting my tears.

“Nothing says it has to be done on that day. If you are dreading the very happy occasion on which she wanted you to think of her, then what is the point? Instead, maybe read it when you’re ready. If it is close to Christmas, maybe you open the card for it on the twenty-third instead, for example. Then you can spend Christmas knowing how she felt but not anticipating the pain of reading the letter. Or open it after the holiday. The point is I think you should try to pick when you want to have those moments instead of letting the calendar dictate them.”

I really liked his idea. “You’re right, that would be better maybe. It’s just that I know she never intended these letters to make me sad. She wanted me to know that she was thinking of me, it made her feel at peace to know I would have a part of her.”

“I think you’re right. But, Haylee, it’s only been a matter of months. The pain is fresh and until it dulls, you need to do what you can for you. She would want that.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, drying my eyes.

He kissed my nose. “When my dad died ten years ago, I felt so cheated that it was sudden. I kept thinking, if only I’d had more time or known it was coming. If only he had imparted more wisdom to me, it would hurt less. But turns out, it doesn’t. I see you honoring your mom, and her death still hurts you. It still robbed you of time with her.”

“How did your father die?” I inquired.

“Massive heart attack. Second day of vacation. Go figure.”

“I’m sorry. It’s never easy. How is your mom?”

“I’d say she is resilient. If she wasn’t, she would still make me think she was. So where in this plan of your mother’s did you go to law school and become a prominent lawyer?”

“Ha, you are very perceptive, Mr. Singer.”

He smiled, and I enjoyed being able to share this with him.

“My mom had a lot of amazing qualities, but believing in equality for women and wanting me to be independent and successful were not on the list. In her mind, I should instead be looking for a man to take care of me. Luckily, though, she didn’t fight me on Stanford, as where better to meet a successful man than an Ivy league school? But law school? Oh, man, did she not want me to go. In her old world view, the man was supposed to be the lawyer. I was to be purely eye candy.”

“Ah, so law school is from your father?”

“Absolutely. He used to say it was our little secret, but his little girl was never going to be some arm candy.”

“Good thing I admire your brain,” he teased, running his hand over my ass. “So your mom wanted you to be a housewife, cooking and cleaning and taking care of your husband?”

“Oh, my God, no. I was to be a proper Southern wife, which meant no cooking or cleaning but coordinating the people who did. My talents would be concentrated on throwing beautiful parties, catered of course, looking poised and perfect in designer clothing, and exercising social responsibility. A proper Southern woman knows how to smile her way out of the rudest of situations and say ‘bless her heart’ to anyone, the perfect passive-aggressive comment.” I ended in a Southern accent.

“Well, you’re probably going to love North Carolina then. There is definitely that Southern thing there,” he chuckled.

Laughing, I then sighed. “I didn’t mean to paint my mom in such a terrible light because, all that said, she was a wonderful mother. I never had a nanny, my parents seldom went away without me, and I went to bed every night knowing that I was loved. My mom was the yang to my dad’s yin and I got the best of both of them.” My eyes were starting to get heavy.

“I think you may be the yang to my yin,” he said on a whisper.

Once a year Gamble Advertising held a Vice President’s meeting in the headquarters office of Charlotte. All of the VPs around the country came in for client collaboration as well as networking for the week. We took the short trip down to Charlotte on Sunday afternoon.

Everyone was staying at the Marriott hotel close to the office with the exception of Josh, who owned a house fifteen minutes south of the city. I was disappointed to drop him at his front door without an invitation inside, but why should this house be any different than his home in New York. Clearly both were off limits. At least it would give me an opportunity to get checked in and hopefully go for a run in the hotel gym. Yesterday had been the first time I’d ran in weeks and I knew the longer I went without, the harder it was to get back into it.

I was three miles in with my iPod’s workout play list blaring in my ears when a good-looking executive type walked in and gave me an assessing glance. Considering I was at a full sprint in nothing but a sports bra and running shorts, I guessed he was getting quite the view. With my luck he was most likely one of the VPs in town for the meetings this week.

Watching him get on the treadmill next to me, I realized he was saying something, so I took a headphone out of the ear closest to him.

“Uh, sorry, I just said you’re kind of putting me to shame. Maybe you should slow down,” he joked.

“Five more minutes and your ego will be safe again,” I smiled, putting my headphones back in.

After completing the five minutes, I slowed the machine down and wiped my face before taking out my earbuds.

“My ego thanks you,” he quipped with an easy grin.

I had to laugh. Even if he was one of the VPs, why did I care? I was only exercising. He was tall and handsome in a classic boy-next-door way, and he had a great smile.

“I’m Brian, by the way,” he introduced himself.

Thinking of the VP list, I remembered there were two men with that name listed, one was Brian, the regional Vice President from Charlotte and the other was Bryan, the new VP out of the Dallas office. “Nice to meet you, I’m Haylee.”

His eyes widened in recognition. “Haylee Holloway, as in assistant to Josh Singer?”

Frowning a little at the way he asked, I then managed a smile. “Yeah, not exactly the way I wanted to meet the VPs this week,” I said, slowing the treadmill way down and throwing on my shirt.

His smile widened. “Come on, if you had been down here with full makeup on, barely walking, I might have a different opinion. But the way you’re running and, no offense, but like, really sweating, I have nothing but respect.”

I had to grin at that. “So are you Brian with an I from Charlotte or Bryan with a Y from Dallas?” I questioned.

“I’m Brian with an I, from Charlotte.”

“Ah, nice to meet you, then, Brian with an I.” I stopped the treadmill.

Surprisingly, he stopped his and took my hand warmly. “Nice to meet you, Haylee with double Es, right?”

Laughing, I nodded. It was curious that he knew that I spelled my name that way, but maybe he had seen it on an agenda or something.

“So I have a dinner tonight, but tell me you’ll be at the bar when I get back,” he asked.

This was dangerous territory. Even if I wasn’t involved with Josh, I didn’t want to start something with someone I worked with. Yeah, I was a big ol’ hypocrite.

“I’m sure I will be. But so we’re clear, Brian with an I, this would only be business.”

He gave me a smile and then shrugged. “Considering I’m traveling to Hong Kong right after this meeting to take stock of the new company, it would be. I’d love to pick your brain. Maybe you can teach me Cantonese.”

It was surprising he knew about that and lowered my guard a little. “All right, we can talk Hong Kong if you’re back early enough because I’m not someone who stays up late.”

“I will eat fast and skip dessert.”

“See ya, Brian with an I.”

“Bye, Haylee with two Es.”

***

The hotel lounge was made up of several tables along with a large bar area. My eyes surveyed the room and spotted Warren among a few faces I didn’t know. “Haylee, how nice to see you,” he said, giving me an awkward half hug. He then introduced me to the other two men at his table, “This is Bryan Foster from the Dallas office and John Warner from Chicago. Gentlemen, this is Haylee Holloway, my former assistant and now Josh’s.”

Both men were attractive and well-groomed. We exchanged pleasantries.

“Where is Josh?” Warren queried, looking around.

“He had a dinner engagement. I’m not sure if he’s coming back here afterwards or not,” I replied.

“We finished our dinner early, but I’m sure everyone will be congregating soon. The hotel bar becomes the most happening place all week. Why don’t you pull up a chair?”

I was about to make my excuses when I heard the voice of Brian with an I behind me.

“Oh, good, Haylee, you’re still here. Warren, nice to see you. Hey, John,” he greeted, shaking hands as niceties were made all around. “Sasha was just around here. Oh, there she is with Josh,” he declared.

I watched Josh and a fashionable woman in her thirties walk into the bar. The woman must have been Sasha from the New York office. She was simply stunning. Black, shiny hair cut into a chic bob, artfully done makeup, and designer clothing—she was as put together as it got, New York uptown style. I appreciated her nicely tailored black pant suit and gorgeous four-inch killer heels. Her lips would give Angelina a run for her money.

Everything about her looked professional. She exuded a combination of sex appeal, confidence, and professionalism that, on my best day, I would never have been able to pull off.

One glance told me what she thought of me.

Brian did the honors of introducing us. “Haylee, I don’t think you’ve met Sasha Brooks. She is the vice president of our New York advertising branch. Sasha, this is Haylee Holloway, Josh’s new assistant and the kind of girl that puts a man to shame on a treadmill.”

Blushing, I watched both she and Josh narrow their eyes at Brian’s remark, obviously wondering where it had come from.

When I shook Sasha’s hand, her smile didn’t meet her eyes. I imagined there were very few that got that privilege, and Brian’s comment hadn’t helped.
Thanks a lot, Brian with an I
. Just what I needed.

Sighing, I made small talk with everyone and finally excused myself. I was eager to head back to my hotel room and get some sleep for the next day.

Josh had barely looked in my direction. Considering he hadn’t tried to contact me, it was safe to assume he was annoyed at the moment. Shrugging it off as I hadn’t done a thing wrong, I made my way to my room.

***

The next morning was hectic, getting the breakfast caterers in and everything set up for the meetings.

Juliette was the office manager in Charlotte. She was in her late twenties and full of energy. She knew absolutely everything about everyone in the company, as she had worked here for the last eight years. Showing me pictures of her adorable infant son, it was hard to believe she’d just had a baby looking at her petite figure. She and I decided we would switch off taking notes in the meetings. Thankfully, she volunteered to go first so that I could use her format and get a sense of what would be expected come my turn in the afternoon.

After Josh went into the first meeting with barely a glance at me, I made myself comfortable in his spacious office. I finished up a conversation with Nigel then called Maria to finalize our London plans.

That’s when Josh walked in, looking surprised to see me.

Finalizing my call with Maria, I hung up the phone. “Sorry to take over your space. I thought you were in meetings until lunch. I was making some calls,” I said.

He stopped and stood there, staring at me.

“I’ll leave.” I started gathering my stuff.

He moved towards me. “No, you don’t need to. I’m only here now because what’s the point of being the boss if you can’t walk out of a meeting every now and again?”

“Good point.”

He wrestled with what to say. “I was caught off guard last night at dinner when Brian asked to take you to Hong Kong. I get the distinct impression his request involves more than your administrative skills.”

I instantly bristled. “Well, how about the fact that I can speak fluent Cantonese. Maybe he could want me for that skill set?”

Josh crossed over to the window and closed the blinds, all the while never taking his eyes off me.

I swallowed. This one act of his was turning me on. It was like he was setting the stage.

“Considering his comment about your running, I highly doubt that was the only reason.”

I could only sigh in frustration. “First of all, I was only working out. He was funny, I laughed. He mentioned Hong Kong and that he knew I could speak the language. That was it.”

“Haylee, I’ve known Brian for a lot of years. At dinner he was pumping me for information about you.” He crossed back to his door and locked it.

“So, what did you say about me going to Hong Kong with him?” I honestly didn’t care to go, but it pissed me off that I was being judged for merely running on a treadmill.

He crossed towards. Once again, his dark green eyes never left my face. “I told him that I needed you with me.”

“Oh,” I managed.

He touched my cheek. “Did you want me to tell him that he could take you to Hong Kong, Haylee?” He got me right in my sweet spot with the way he said my name.

I shook my head.

“Not even a little bit?” he teased. “Brian is a good-looking, successful guy: never married, no kids, decent, fun. So what’s the problem?”

I chose to leave him unsatisfied with my answer. “Geography, for one,” I quipped, lifting my chin in defiance.

His eyes darkened “Cute, now tell me why you don’t want Brian.”

I wasn’t budging. “Why don’t you tell me why you don’t want me to go to Hong Kong with him?”

His eyes, now the color of jade, searched my face. “Because I’m not going to share you,” he stated simply.

I realized that statement was what I had needed to hear from him. But I forgot all about words when he crushed his mouth to mine. His tongue swept out, tasted mine and his arousal pressed up against my center. I wanted him right here and now in the office.

“I have to get back in there,” he murmured, regretfully pulling away.

I kissed his sensuous lips again, enjoying the moment. “Okay, so no more jealousy?”

He stiffened at my question and then looked resigned. “I don’t like to think I am the jealous type, but evidently I’m exhibiting the symptoms with you.”

I stroked his face and kissed him again.

“Tell me something before I have to go,” he entreated softly.

I smiled at his remembrance of my game. “All right. I would never make you jealous on purpose. It’s not a game I like to play or enjoy being on the other side of. But I do recognize that I am really friendly and somewhat flirtatious. But so you know, that’s simply a natural ease I have with most people. It’s nothing I’m trying to do for a reaction or attention. Now tell me something.”

Kissing me, he then smiled. “I am naturally an introvert. However, in my position I constantly have to be an extrovert. Sometimes I come across as intense or difficult to read when in fact I am simply uncomfortable in social situations.”

I had guessed that may be the case a couple of times, but it was something to hear his admission.

With one more kiss, he reluctantly left me.

I wished we’d had time for more.

***

“Haylee, they want you in the conference room pronto. Sorry,” Juliette said, coming into the small conference room, where I was setting up lunch.

I walked in to the large board room and found all eyes on me.

Warren was up front with three big easels. “Haylee, come on in,” he said with a smile.

A brief look toward Josh, told me nothing. I glanced around the room, but apparently everyone was waiting on Warren to speak.

“So, you may have all heard about what happened four weeks ago. We had a major almost-catastrophe with the Cassius Rum campaign when Katrina Tross decided not to honor her contract. Like a champ, Haylee stepped in at the last minute and was lucky enough to play model for a day.”

I resented the tone in which he was portraying how fortunate I’d been but then was completely floored when he turned each of the boards on the easels around.

They all showed me. Me in the bar, me at the pool, and me in the lounge. Only it wasn’t me. At least, it didn’t look like the me I knew. Instead it looked like a real honest-to-goodness, sexy, glossy magazine model.

I could only stand there, blushing.

“I think I speak for Warren and for Cassius Rum when I say you saved the day quite literally, Haylee. The client could not be happier with these shots, and they chose these three to go into this month’s Glamour, Maxim, Cosmo, and Vogue magazines,” Josh interjected, far more complimentary than my former boss.