Ask Me Something (The Something Series Book 2)

by Aubrey Bondurant

  His arms went around me. “In the spirit of being vulnerable, I will tell you that I haven’t done that before. And I do trust you, but it’s hard for me to give up complete control like that. However, for you and only every few months, I will do it if it makes you happy.”

  I smiled enthusiastically and kissed him for agreeing. It wasn’t lost on me that we’d made the assumption that there would be another few months together.

  When Brian’s phone rang, he got up and answered it in his ‘office voice’ and then took it out onto the balcony. I couldn’t make out the words, and when he came back in the room, it was hard to read his expression.

  “Everything okay?” I asked.

  He sighed. “Do you want the good or the bad news first?”

  “Bad news,” I answered without hesitation.

  He rolled his eyes and took a seat next to me on the bed. “Tough. You’re getting the good news first. It flows better that way.”

  I would have preferred to hear the bad first and get it over with, but he was probably still figuring out how to spin it as was his nature.

  “The good news is that was Vanessa from Tryon Pharmaceuticals. We got the account.”

  “But—” I hedged, bracing myself for the negative. Was I off the account? Were they changing the team?

  He leaned in to kiss me. “But we’ll have to fly out tonight and meet with them tomorrow. I tried to get it delayed until Monday, but she said the only day she and the chairman can do is tomorrow.”

  Oh, our trip was being cut short by a few days. It was disappointing but not as terrible as I’d been expecting. “That’s unfortunate, but other than that, everything else is okay?”

  He narrowed his eyes, and I could tell immediately that I’d said something wrong. “Sure, other than having this time together cut short, everything else is fine.”

  He was definitely pissed if he used the word fine. “Brian, wait—”

  But he was already changing quickly into his swim trunks. “I’m going to do some laps at the pool. If you don’t mind calling our travel agent to book flights home tonight, I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  Our perfect bubble had popped with one phone call. I was proud we’d won the business with Tryon Pharmaceuticals, but something told me tomorrow would be a reality check of epic proportions.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  The meeting with Tryon Pharmaceuticals was set for this morning. Brian thankfully had been back to his old self by the time he’d returned from the pool at the hotel yesterday and we’d packed up, taking an evening flight back to New York. But now I didn’t know what to expect. Getting ready with him back in my condo was throwing me off my game. It was getting harder to draw professional lines when we’d spent the last few days being intimate, carefree, and a couple. Then this morning we woke up, showered, and ate breakfast together ready to go to work.

  “What’s wrong?” Brian asked on the cab ride over to Tryon’s offices.

  “Nothing,” I murmured, smoothing down my long black skirt. Once again, I was covered from head to toe courtesy of the profile sheet, this time in the skirt with a blue long-sleeve blouse. The look was crisp and professional, but I’d mixed it up a bit with my black four-inch heels. A girl had to preserve some personal style.

  “Lie to me again and see what happens.” He’d repeated the words I’d said to him in Aruba.

  When I met his eyes, I saw amusement and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. “Okay, for a pitch I can prepare, rehearse, and definitively know that I’m ready. For straight-up meetings, it’s more difficult to know what to expect.” I was careful not to say anything about my confidence level or insecurity. He wouldn’t expect that from me, and I wasn’t going to share it.

  His eyes softened, and he took my hand. “There’s never been a time where I haven’t seen you handle your own. Keep in mind this is business, and that means swallowing your pride. You may have to defer to the client even when you don’t want to. Vanessa is the alpha, but it’ll help to have the chairman, Michael, there today. Considering he practically lit up during the second presentation when you walked in, it’s clear the old man is a fan. You’ll do great.”

  As usual, he could make me feel better by laying out the facts in a way that eased my mind. I smiled tightly and took a breath. Unfortunately, though he might have a gift for smoothing things over, he couldn’t predict the future.

  ***

  We met in the same conference room at Tryon Pharmaceutical’s offices that we had the previous two times for the pitches. Michael Dobson greeted me warmly. Maybe this meeting wouldn’t be too bad, after all.

  Vanessa kissed Brian’s cheek, and I had to carefully mask my expression at her enthusiastic greeting. Clearly, she was happy to see him, but her glance toward me was downright frosty.

  “Brian, you look tanned. Did you get back from vacation? Actually, Sasha, you look like you got some sun, too,” Vanessa commented with a brow raised.

  Before I could register what she was implying, Brian covered smoothly. “One of the perks of working for Gamble Advertising would be the Gamble Properties’ hotels and the fact that we have retreats in Vegas and other sunny locales. All of the vice presidents came back last week.”

  Brian could do improv full time; he was so exceptionally good at it.

  Vanessa smiled, and Michael got down to business.

  “We wanted to go over some specifics and, of course, sign on the dotted line today,” Michael started out. “Vanessa will be your point of contact, and she’ll keep the board up to date. I’m assuming, Sasha, you’ll be our client care representative at Gamble Advertising?”

  I smiled. “Yes. I’ll be the account manager.” My eyes met Vanessa’s and saw the challenge.

  “You know, I spend quite a bit of time out of our North Carolina plant these days. Might be easier if Brian was the lead on the account since he’s located in the Charlotte office,” she reasoned.

  Oh, she’d like that. “It’s not a problem. I’m down in the Charlotte office often and will ensure that I make arrangements to be there whenever we need to meet.” I tried to keep my voice friendly.

  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Fine. I’ll get the best of both worlds with the two of you.”

  Brian didn’t miss a beat. “I assure you, you’re in the very best hands with Sasha. However, it would be my pleasure to attend meetings when possible.”

  I tried not to let it make me feel jealous. This was business, and I’d seen Brian charm women young and old. Vanessa was not the exception, and yet her smile toward him made it clear she thought she was.

  Michael launched into a few specific details, and forty minutes later we had the signed contract in hand. He turned and looked toward me. “Are you counting the days toward pre-season yet, Sasha?”

  I nodded, but before I could answer, Vanessa interrupted.

  “Michael, I would think it would be obvious that Sasha read you were a Cowboys fan and came prepared to flatter you with regurgitated details of your favorite team. I highly doubt she’s truly a fan of football.”

  Michael blushed slightly, and Brian nudged me under the table. He undoubtedly knew which direction this was heading.

  I smiled tightly. “In the interest of full disclosure, Mr. Dobson, I did know you were a Cowboys fan. However, I could recite the same type of information on any team in the league or on any Super Bowl dating back the last thirty years. I’m unequivocally a diehard football fan.”

  He brightened and then looked thoughtful. “Super Bowl thirty-four,” he challenged, sitting back in his chair.

  I grinned. “The Rams beat the Titans that year. It was quite the game when the Titans came back to tie it after being down sixteen points. McNair was the quarterback for the Titans, but it was Curt Warner for the Rams who would complete his Cinderella story and earn the MVP for the game. Personally, it was one of my favorite Super Bowls in recent history.”

  He slapped the table. “I tell you something, Sasha. If y
our boss wasn’t sitting right here next to you and it wouldn’t be considered highly inappropriate, I’d either try to hire you on the spot or try to set you up with my grandson. But because I’m old, my filter fails me from time to time, so I’ll say it even knowing I can’t act on it.” He looked toward Brian. “I hope you don’t allow her into your fantasy football league, else she’d most likely clean up.”

  Brian’s smile was strained, and I realized in looking at Vanessa why he’d nudged me. Her eyes were narrowed. Shit, I’d won a challenge I hadn’t meant to participate in.

  “That’s good advice, Michael,” Brian said. “Sasha will call today to get the ad placed in the Cowboys’ stadium. Monday we can meet wherever your preference, Vanessa, for the magazine spots for phase one.”

  “Why don’t we meet in New York after all on Monday as I’m spending the weekend in the city. I look forward to it.” Vanessa barely flicked her eyes back in my direction.

  Michael stood up ready to go. “I know this is in good hands between the three of you. Vanessa will keep me updated. I’ll be in touch about those Dallas tickets, Sasha.” And with that, the chairman left us.

  Vanessa went over a few more logistics but essentially treated me like a third wheel for the remainder of any conversation.

  ***

  Once we got into a taxi heading back to my office, I let out a sigh, knowing I was about to get a lecture. The thing was that Brian’s lectures weren’t all that bad if I was being honest. He never got angry and always tried to keep things positive and fair. But I wasn’t in the mood even for that.

  “You didn’t actually expect that I’d sit there and listen to her tell him that I’d simply studied the Cowboys for no other reason than to regurgitate details for him?” I broke the silence.

  He exhaled heavily. “Did I expect it? No. Did I hope that perhaps you could have smiled and said that you’re a football fan of all teams without showing off? Yeah, I did have a sliver of optimism.” He sounded weary in his response.

  “It would be easier sometimes if you got angry instead of this I’m disappointed tone.”

  He shook his head. “And sometimes it would be easier if you listened to me and to Josh when we tell you that Vanessa needs to be treated with kid gloves, not shown up. This is business, Sasha, not personal, which means that we suck it up and defer to the client.”

  I fought my temper. It wasn’t that he was wrong. Once again, my pride had gotten involved and I’d opened my big mouth. “Michael is our client, too,” I defended.

  He gave me a pointed look. “You proved that he absolutely loves you and would like to either hire you or set you up on a date—which only went further to piss off Vanessa.”

  “He’s her boss, so that can’t be all bad. Plus it’s obvious she wants me off this campaign when she made the comment about hoping to move things to Charlotte. We both know the majority of her business with the board is up here. She only did that to see if it would be a way of getting me off the account.” The taxi pulled up in front of the building, and we walked through the lobby, putting the conversation on pause until back in my office.

  “And you did nothing to try to convince her that you belonged on the account, except to say it wasn’t a problem for you to travel down there when necessary. Come Monday, you need to put the same research skills you used to charm Michael into making an effort with her, at the very least. I’m not going to sit in meetings and play mediator between the two of you.”

  “I don’t remember asking you to.” Funny how this was the first time in months that we were sniping like we used to do quite often.

  “I think it’s clear she would like me there for a reason.”

  “Yeah, no kidding.” I took a seat my desk and didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm.

  He leaned forward, sitting in the visitor’s chair across from me. “You’re going to have to stow the pride or any jealousy. You can be pissed at me, but I’m speaking to you as your boss in this moment. This account is huge, and you put a lot of effort into ensuring we beat out five other agencies. You need to refocus that energy on keeping the client happy.”

  I swallowed hard, knowing he was right and, although I’d never admit it, being turned on that he never backed down from telling me the truth even if I did get pissed off at him. “I will do better come Monday,” I vowed, knowing it wouldn’t be easy. “I’m working late tonight, but I should be able to show you something by tomorrow for Monday’s presentation.”

  He nodded. “If you need anything, call me. Send me the draft once you have it ready. I’ll be available this weekend.”

  I tried to hide the disappointment that he was leaving tonight. But hadn’t I said I’d be working late? The part that bothered me the most was that he hadn’t said anything about coming in Sunday and seeing me, either. His trip back to New York on Monday was obviously going to be all business, and he was making that clear. I should’ve been relieved but instead confusion peppered my thoughts. “Yeah, okay.”

  With one last look he said, “I’ll let you get to it, then and see you Monday.”

  ***

  I worked until almost midnight in the office. Before leaving, I emailed Brian the first draft of the presentation. Once again, work was my salvation to turn off everything else. When I got home, I saw that he had already reviewed the draft and only had a few minor changes. Obviously, he was up, too. It was tempting to call him but I decided I wouldn’t be the first to do so. Instead, I made the changes, and emailed them back at two o-clock in the morning. Once my head hit the pillow, I basically passed out.

  The next morning I saw that he’d responded with a generic ‘thank you’ at two-thirty, and that had been it. I wondered if he’d also been thinking we could still be in Aruba enjoying our last couple of days. Most likely he remained pissed off for what had transpired during our meeting. Shit. That was the number one item on my agenda today. Research on one Ms. leopard-print-fuck-me-heels Vanessa Warner. And the first order of business was to stop referring to her as that in my head if I was to make a sincere effort.

  By four o’clock that afternoon, I felt better about a couple of different ways I could attempt to relate to Vanessa. She was born and raised in North Carolina, not far from where I’d grown up. She’d gone to Duke, which was my rival school having gone to UNC, and she was a class A bitch. Damn, two steps forward and one giant one back.

  I needed advice on how to make nice, and for that, I called Catherine. Considering I had no other plans for a Saturday night, I was pleased when she suggested dinner and drinks.

  I met her at a busy restaurant near her condo on the Upper West side. I hadn’t seen her in a few weeks and looked forward to a quality girls’ night.

  “Sasha, you look lovely. You’re growing out your hair. I like it.” She kissed me on the cheek, and we took our seats at the table.

  I smiled, taking in her impeccable taste in fashion with her stunning black-and-white checked dress and four-inch heels. “Thank you. You look amazing, Catherine. I love the dress and have you lost weight?” Not that she needed to, but she looked slimmer than the last time I’d seen her.

  “Thank you. The irony of a divorce and then having him remarry quickly is that you may feel like shit, but you tend to look good because you aren’t eating or going out as much. Of course, the minute you’re happily in a relationship you gain those few pounds back.”

  I grinned at the thought. I fluctuated a couple of pounds every time I spent a weekend with Brian. “Have you gone out on any dates since the speed dating night?”

  “Nope. It’s been a virtual desert of dating activity. But how about you? How are things with Brian?”

  I shrugged. “A few days ago we were in paradise, and I would’ve told you things were great. But then we had to cut it short for a work meeting, and I got lectured from my boss.” I sighed. “It’s difficult to balance the two, but I know he has the same issue. And it wasn’t like I didn’t deserve it, which only made it harder to hear.”

  �
��Why did he lecture you?” she questioned.

  I relayed the details of Vanessa and our encounters. We ordered our drinks and salads, and I saw her consider my words.

  “Women like that piss me off, but unfortunately, it’s more the norm than not. Like it isn’t hard enough in a predominantly male workplace, we women have to go and cut one another down.”

  I nodded. I might not be the friendliest woman in the world, but I definitely didn’t bring other women down unless they duly deserved it. I knew how it felt and loathed that kind of pettiness. “It pains me to say it, but Brian is right about it being business and needing to put the personal shit away. The thing that sucks is I hate that part. I’m great in leading a pitch and doing all of the research, but the client relations—Ugh. I could use some advice.”

  She looked surprised, and then her eyes were sympathetic. “My best advice would be to go into every meeting knowing that she’ll make passive-aggressive comments and ignore them. Almost like you don’t catch on or didn’t hear them. If you raise a brow, stare her down, or flinch, she’ll know she’s gotten to you and consider it a challenge. If you ignore them, either she’ll think it’s not worth the effort because you aren’t rising to the bait, or she’s going to get more aggressive.”

  I sipped on my martini. “What if she does get more aggressive?” I already knew Vanessa would most likely be the type.

  She contemplated. “Hopefully, by then she’s making herself look unprofessional, but watch when you’re alone with her. A woman like that may take only small shots at you in front of Brian or anyone else, but she’ll save the big guns for when you’re alone, expecting that you’ll then reveal your reaction in front of others. In that case, you’re going to look like the hostile one. It’s almost like two toddlers. It’s not the first one who hits that gets caught, it’s the one who retaliates.”

  “Sounds like good advice even if it does compare us to toddlers.”