An alert pops up. I can hardly believe it. I’ve been here for an entire thirty days, crazy how it feels like a fucking eternity. Yeah, I’m saying fuck now too because crap just wasn’t strong enough for how fast and how much Leo could piss me off.
The elevator dings and Leo steps out. Every time, every damn Monday morning my breath catches in relief to see him because two whole days without seeing him was just too long. His suit is a dark blue pinstripe, his shirt light blue and his tie a pretty deep sapphire blue with a silky sheen I noticed he wears often. Our eyes meet the way they do every time the doors open. And like every time a jolt of electricity strums through me.
He’s angry, it feels like he comes in that way four days out of five. He tosses the newspaper on my desk. “Make plans, we fly out tomorrow morning at five in the morning. Call and have my jet prepared. There was a report on them created last year in May, pull it up and update the figures and holdings.”
The article is tiny, almost buried. It’s about a small boutique hotel group. The hotels were former castles all over Ireland, England, Scotland, and France. Five in the morning, the man is cruel. I shrug as I pick up the phone.
***
Leo
––––––––
After reading through the report I know I want the company, the only thing to decide will be how much it’s worth. The matter settled, I check my messages and see a message from Alexa. It’s rare for her to leave her desk for lunch. I don’t begrudge her the time away from her desk I’m simply curious why.
I’m almost done with my own lunch when I get the call. My phone beeps, Jenny who has become friendly with Alexa and managed to overcome her fear of me enough to assist and sit for Alexa often, comes through. “Sir, it’s Gertrude Holtzer. Are you available?”
“Yes.” I pick up.
“Hello Leo, I have Alexa here in my dressing room again. I wanted to make sure your patronage, in regards to the lovely young woman, was still in place.”
Gertrude never fails to make me smile. “Yes. Although I appreciate the call, where Alexa Clark is concerned, there is no need to call.”
“Excellent, I thought as much. However, I take nothing for granted, as does Alexa. She’s the sweetest thing, as excited as she is to be shopping with what she calls a little extra in her pocket she’s having the hardest time picking over a set in black lace and tulle and a black sheer with silk edging. I think I’ll have a sale for the poor dear to take the edge off her inhibitions. What do you think, Leo?”