“It’s fine. He’s right to be mad.” she half smiled, feeling the sting of her own words.
Chapter 3
Leila scrolled through her notes hastily trying to go over the most important details she had to cover. She had blocked out everything else, the sounds of loud instructions and muttering men being nothing more than a distant echo to her. Ever since her return, she had been lost and unsure of what she was doing but being there as the COO was different. She was confident and sure of her duties. The guilty and pitiful Leila did not exist when it came to close a deal. Even the fire in her eyes burnt differently.
She was sitting beside one of the men with which she’d came, her assistant. He was on his phone, texting some chick he had met at the bar the other day. Mentally, she had rolled her eyes a hundred times. It was no wonder that he was older than her but in a position beneath her. The man couldn’t care less about his work.
“Just loosen up, boss. You already looked over them like a thousand times already. Just try and relax before the press and Mr. Hunter get here.”
Leila’s heart dropped at the sound of his name. Her finger stopped scrolling, it hovered above the lit screen of the phone. She knew he would be there, but why was her heart skipping? Why was she acting like that? Sighing, she leaned back in her chair, uncrossing her legs.
“Speak of the devil.” She heard Bryan add.
In a heartbeat she raised her eyes from the phone, scanning the room for the first time since she’d arrived. Ethan was walking through the double doors of the conference room, the loud voices of the impatient journalists ceasing as the staff closed the doors again. Her breath caught in her throat, seeing him walk up to the stage the way he was. She heard Bryan’s chair slide over the floor as he stood up. Unconsciously, she mimicked his movement and stood up to greet Ethan too.
Suddenly, she was extremely self-conscious. She was aware of every strand of hair and every wrinkle on her tight black dress. She suddenly wished she had done a bit more to her appearance. Maybe another color for the dress would have been better, maybe some bare shoulders or a slit would have done her body more justice. She wished for something that would leave him as breathless as he had left her.
She banished those thoughts and cleared her throat. Allowing those ideas in would only harm her further. She had already complicated things the other day, she would be damned if she did it again. All she had to do was sign the contract and open the restaurant. She would return to England after that to whatever shred of life she had.
“Mr. Hunter, how are you today?” Bryan asked on a tone that was too gentle to be genuine.
“I’m fine. Have you been waiting long?”
“We got here an hour ago, our boss is a workaholic. She would’ve slept here if she could.”
Leila pretended not to hear Bryan’s words. There was nothing she could say to that, so ignoring it altogether was the best option. Ethan laughed and looked at her. She could tell it was all for show. He would rather not have his new partners know about the shameful relationship he had. Local rumors were already spreading, and they were enough. In fact, that very morning, she was in a bathroom stool, way too close to the girls that were talking about her past.
“Mr. Hunter, I called in and added some European specialties to tonight’s menu. I hope you don’t mind.” She intervened. “I wanted them to get a glimpse of what our goal is.”
“That’s a good idea. I wonder how we didn’t think about it before.” he nodded.
“That’s our boss. She is always ten steps ahead of everyone else.”
Although it was a compliment, Leila could do without Bryan’s interventions. With a serious look she turned towards him and faked a smile.
“Bryan, how about you go check with the planner, see if everything is going according to plan.”
Bryan walked away, although he was clearly not happy. He seemed to be enjoying his time with Ethan. Too bad the pleasure was one sided. She thought. By the time she turned back to Ethan, he was looking at her, an unreadable look on his face. His eyes were studying her, shadows reflecting in their deep color. They didn’t hold spite and pain, like the other day. The emotions were far more complex, resembling nothing she had seen before.
“You’ve changed.” he whispered so lowly, that she doubted she was meant to hear that at all.
“I hope it’s in a good way.” She chuckled drily.
“I haven’t decided yet.” He said as he walked past her.
Silently, she sat back at the table, her phone in hand. She busied herself with the notes, but with Ethan by her side it was hard to concentrate on the written words. Her eyes outlined the letters and words, but her mind was only focused on the scent of Ethan’s strong cologne. The smell was so familiar, lulling her into a place she would rather not remember. It made her taste out of something she knew she couldn’t have again but longed for it.
She heard him talk on the phone. It wasn’t a business-related phone call, a fact that made her heart drop a bit. She didn’t know the nature of the relationship, but the fact that he was talking with a girl was enough to make her jealous. She hated how different his voice was compared to how it was when he talked to her. It wasn’t cold, and hesitant. He didn’t seem to think twice before saying something. She shook her head and locked her phone.
That’s enough. She warned herself.
“Did you say something?” Ethan asked and Leila widened her eyes. It was only then she realized she said it out loud.
“Oh, look, your secretary is here.” she said a little too excitedly, pointing at the woman that was approaching them fast.
Susan was by far one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen. Her curves were almost perfect, contoured by the blue dress she wore. Her neck was slender and long, outlined by the curls that fell graciously, bouncing with every step she took. Leila couldn’t help but scold herself. That’s how she was supposed to look. Another idea that didn’t pass unnoticed was that Ethan surely noticed her beauty too. Fact that only made her insides burn stronger.
She had noticed how friendly the two were, Susan had a say in everything, unlike normal secretaries. Although she was curious about the nature of their relationship, Leila knew she had no right to ask. She had lost that right all those years ago.
“Here are the copies of the contracts. After the presentation we can move on to signing them.”
Susan didn’t waste her time with greetings or introductions; she went straight to the point. The booklets she slid in front of them weren’t unfamiliar to Leila, she’d seen them the day before when they went over the final clauses of their agreement.
“Are we going to take questions?” she asked as she skimmed over the papers again.
“We’ll take a couple, not too many though.”
“Well, since everything’s set, how about we let in our guests?” Ethan said with a sigh, crossing both hands over his chest.
Leila took in a deep breath and nodded. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Bryan take a seat in the first raw, right next to the group of lawyers they had hired for the contract revision. The lights in the room had dimmed too; the projection of their presentation was now shining brightly to their right. Everything was set in place and ready.
Leila fidgeted with the hem of her dress, silently whispering prayers. It was her way of calming down. She might have been confident in her field, but that was still her first deal, so the pressure was far too strong to ignore.
“It’s going to be okay.” Ethan whispered as soon as the double doors were open.
His voice had been so low, that she could have easily missed the words. She wasn’t expecting them either. Slowly, she turned to look at him, but his gaze was set on the papers. The blinding lights of the cameras, and the annoying whistles of adjusting microphones tore through the room even before the reporters sat.
She heard Ethan stand up, his feet guiding him towards the center of the stage, where he was meant to present the concept of their merge. It didn’t
take long for him to begin. In a few minutes, he had already introduced himself and his English partners.
The room was silent as he spoke. Leila didn’t wonder why. Just as she had remembered, Ethan had a way with words. He could say the lamest of things and make it sound fascinating. Without even a sweat, he managed to introduce the aspects of their newest restaurant. He mentioned how their menu would be a fresh combination of different cuisines, how their theme would not only attract more tourists, but it will allow the locals to taste a whole different culture.
By the time he had finished, Leila had been left speechless. She couldn’t help but be proud to be on that same stage with him. Working along with such a great mind indeed made her feel like she had achieved her dream.
“We will now be taking questions.” Ethan finally said as he resumed his seat at the table.
Leila smiled and nodded slightly to him, silently telling him he did a good job. For the first time, Ethan didn’t look at her the way he had been, as if he’d forgotten of the cold façade, he should keep up in front of her, he smiled and mouthed her ‘thank you’. In that moment, beneath the dim lights, and with the tens of eyes looking at them, she felt her heart skip a beat.
“Do you think this merge will be enough to bring your competition down?” the voice of the reporter was the one to bring her back to reality.
“This merge was never about bringing down the competition. As a company we always promised our clients something fresh and new. This merge is about keeping that promise.”
“What about Lotus Restaurants, why did you choose Mr. Hunter as a partner?”
Leila’s heart started beating really fast all of a sudden. She had prepared so well for this conference, but finally being able to talk made her fear that she wouldn’t do as well as she actually wished. She took in a deep breath and looked at Ethan, who only nodded slightly, as if encouraging her.
“We were looking to expand. Our company strongly supports local cuisine, but we were looking for other re-interpreted traditional cuisines. Mr. Hunter’s restaurant’s menu was exactly what we needed. His dishes compliment ours in a way no one ever did before. I believe this merge will indeed bring something new and unseen to the field.” Leila exhaled loudly after finishing, she would have patted herself on the back if she could.
“What about the theme of the restaurant. You mentioned there will be one.”
“That’s a surprise. It will be revealed on the opening day.” she said.
“We’ll take the last question now.” Ethan announced.
Numerous hands rose at once, fingers wiggled impatiently at them, the faces of their owners pleading with them to be chosen. Their unspoken questioned swam at the surface of their parted lips, and Leila couldn’t help but wonder how they could come up with so many questions. From the corner of her eyes she saw him point towards a woman, who excitedly stood up.
“Is it true that Ms. Jackson is your ex-girlfriend from ten years ago who has taken part in numerous scandals?”
Leila couldn’t breathe anymore. With wide eyes she stared in front of her. She didn’t expect them to remember her, not so fast at least. The articles that had surfaced all those years ago were now vividly displayed at the back of her mind.
“I don’t see how this question is relevant? Ms. Jackson is our partner above all. She is competent and probably the best person for the job. She is familiar with both South Dakota and England. She is a hard worker and well accustomed with the field. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we will end the conference here. Thank you for coming.”
*****
Ethan sat in the corner of the garden, he sipped on the glass slowly. He made sure to take small sips at a time. He couldn’t get drunk at his own party. Yet, he didn’t feel like he could go through it completely sober. Alec was with him, although they weren’t exactly friends, the two seemed to have gotten closer with time.
“I always hated work related parties.” Alec sighed, “I always ran off when my dad dragged me along.”
“And look how well that paid off.” Ethan mumbled.
“Low blow, low blow.” Alec shook his head, “So, I guess Leila will leave now?”
Ethan knew that Alec was opening the subject for two reasons. One, he was way too curious to keep it in, and two, he wanted to open a subject that was as sensitive as the one he’d hinted to. Sighing, he gulped down the entire glass, damning his previous thoughts of staying sober. His eyes moved unconsciously, setting on the beautiful woman across the room. There, where no one could see him, he allowed himself to look at her carefully, to study how much she’d changed and how much she’d remained the same.
She wasn’t a girl anymore, that was the first thing he’d noticed. She was a woman now. Her body was curvy, the dress hugging all the right places. Her dark brown hair was a chestnut color, with blond highlights cascading between the loose locks. Her natural makeup had remained the same, however. She allowed her natural exotic beauty to radiate, to leave everyone breathless.
The golden eye shadow and nude lips complimented her chocolate colored skin. Her bright blue eyes being like two pearls that illuminated the night sky. Indeed, she left him breathless, even after years. Even when he was angry with her.
“She’ll stay until the opening.” He said, as he took another glass from one of the passing waiters. Slowly, he turned towards Alec.
“Well, I think she’ll like it here, I guess.” Alec said pointing towards the spot where Leila had been standing.
Ethan turned again unconsciously, his brows lowering in a deep frown. It was only then that he realized what Alec meant. The woman with whom Leila had been talking was gone now, in her place stood a man that he knew all too well. He had been one of Leila’s friends, back when she used to work as a waitress. If he were to remember the whole history, he couldn’t simply neglect the fact of how jealous he had been of the guy. He had been a major catalyst in the process of asking Leila out on the first date.
“Whatever man, I don’t care.” he said a little too quickly, his gaze diverting back to Alec.
Alec was amused, the smirk he tried to hide radiated on his pursed lips. The guy shrugged and placed the empty glass beside one of the flower pots. He took in a deep breath and smoothened out his shirt before saying:
“I’m glad to hear you don’t care. It will make me feel less guilty when I leave.”
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Unlike you, my friend, I’d like to have some action in my life.” Alec said, his head pointing towards the redhead in the corner.
With disbelief, Ethan stared after Alec. He had been abandoned by the man he was housing. Now there was no one to stop him from doing something stupid. That had been his excuse for the night. Stupid as it was, Ethan considered it to be enough of an excuse to walk up to Leila and do the stupidest thing he could think of.
“Hey, Leon.” He said as he patted the blond guy on the back. “Sam was searching for you.”
He should have regretted it almost immediately, but he didn’t. He only scolded himself for not finding a better excuse. Leon looked between Leila and Ethan, unsure of what to do. Ethan scoffed mentally.
As if you have a choice.
“Sorry, Lei. I guess I have to go. But I have your number, I’ll call you. We need to catch up.”
Ethan wished to smack the smile off his face. But, since he couldn’t do that, he childishly ignored his greeting once he left. Had he been obvious? Of course, but Ethan couldn’t care less at the moment. His jealousy had been louder than his pride. There was enough time to regret his actions later.
“I see you guys are still close.” He said nonchalantly, his gaze roaming over the room.
“So, the party turned out really great.” The fact that she had ignored his previous statement angered him.
“I guess so.” He shrugged. “Excuse me, Alec’s waiting for me.”
What had been the purpose of the entire scene? To get Bryan away f
rom Leila. Was that meant to benefit him in any way? He wasn’t sure, he hadn’t thought that far. All he knew was that he had acted on impulse, a childish one might he add. He meant to walk past her, but fate seemed to be toying with him. There is only one woman in the entire room that he meant to avoid with his whole being, and she was walking towards him that very minute.
With wide eyes, he looked between Leila and his aunt, who was walking determinately towards him. He had two choices, swallow his pride further and ask for Leila’s help. Or, walk straight into his aunt’s mouth. The choice wasn’t a hard one to make. Without as much as a thought to spare, he turned on his heel and grabbed Leila’s hand, dragging her in the dancing crowd.
“What the hell are you doing?” Leila whispered loudly as she tried to escape his grip.
“My aunt’s here. Just stay a bit until she finds someone else to talk to.”
If there was one good thing that came out of their long history together was that she immediately understood the gravity of his aunt’s presence. Soon, she wasn’t trying to get out of his arms, instead her body relaxed against his touch, her hands resting on his broad shoulders.
For a few seconds they danced off beat, their minds going wild with the million reasons why they should run in different directions. Ethan’s mind was screaming, reminding him of his anger for the woman in his arms. Those reasons, however, stood no chance in the face of his body’s longing.
Being there with her felt so natural and good, how could he make his arms let go?
Her slender arms encircled his neck, her blue eyes bore into his, silently speaking words only their hearts could comprehend. Silently, they adjusted their steps to the music, their bodies sliding through the dancing bodies. They didn’t speak. Opening their mouths risked ruining the moment. Instead, they allowed themselves to slip into the comfort of each other’s presence. For a moment, they were back in time, to a place where being with one another didn’t make them feel so guilty.
Ethan closed his eyes for a second and allowed the sweet floral fragrance to take over his senses. He felt her breath on his throat, the tickle of her hair on his bare skin. He enjoyed every little and insignificant moment. Mostly because, he knew it will soon be over.
The Cowboy One Page 3
