Winking, I gave him a smile and walked away very sure that my assets were on display. “It came up, that’s all.” Looking back, I got the satisfaction of his eyes were fixated on the very topic.
***
I took a hot shower and left my dress hanging on the bathroom door to de-wrinkle. After twisting my hair up, I reapplied my makeup, thankful for the extra time. Fastening my black stockings with garters, I found myself excited for Josh to see them. The dress was a simple black cocktail dress circa 1950: Christian Dior with a floaty bottom. The straps sat off the shoulder and the belted waist flattered my figure. Grabbing my clutch and finishing off with a beautiful red lipstick, I made my way up to the executive suite that Josh occupied.
When he opened the door his eyes widened in response to me. I gave him a flirtatious smile, realizing he had a phone to one ear.
He motioned me in, and I remembered he was finishing up his Sydney call. Still talking, he poured two glasses of whiskey and handed me mine. He gave a little clink to the glass and a small smile, sipping it slowly.
I took the opportunity to survey his spacious suite. It had an entire living room the size of my apartment with a full sized sofa and loveseat. A dining table and bar were one step up next to the picture window over-looking the city. I walked over and admired the view.
“All right, gentlemen, I trust this is in good hands. Thank you.” He hung up the phone and turned his attention to me.
“What was the toast for?” I questioned, turning towards him.
He simply smiled and walked up the step to join me by the window. “To you looking lovely.”
Flushing at the compliment, I drank slowly. Whiskey wasn’t really my thing, but the warmth that spread through my belly felt good.
“Turn around for a moment,” he requested.
I put my glass down and thought that he meant for me to do a complete turn-around but he stopped me halfway.
“Now, on the subject of your ass, who in the world told you it was big?”
Looking over my shoulder, I smiled at him.
He cupped it through my dress. “It’s perfect, really. Not too big, not too bony, very spankable.” Just like that, his hand smacked my backside.
Turning around, I feigned an indignant look. “Ouch. Not nice,” I chided.
He chuckled and threw back the rest of his drink.
“Turns out Ana and the receptionist had a very colorful chat about why it is I work for you and then it was mentioned that I had a big ass.”
He looked confused. “I don’t understand. They were speaking this in English and you overheard them?”
Smiling, I shook my head slowly. “Nope, they were speaking in their own language.”
He still couldn’t grasp what I was saying. “Then someone told you that they were talking about you?”
“No, they thought that I didn’t understand them when I do. Very well, actually.”
It was finally sinking in. “You know Chinese?”
“I know Cantonese and some Mandarin. In Hong Kong, or at least in that office, most speak Cantonese, which is good because it’s easier for me to understand that dialect.”
“You can read and write Chinese?” He was completely taken aback.
Taking Josh as off guard as he was right now, I imagined didn’t happen often. “I can speak and understand Cantonese and Mandarin, although understanding the latter is harder. You do realize that there are two Chinese languages, right?”
He only shook his head.
Finally, something I knew that he didn’t. “Cantonese is the official language of Hong Kong—well, along with English. Meanwhile, Mandarin is prevalent throughout most of mainland China, Beijing, Singapore, et cetera. I never really got the whole Chinese character thing, so it’s sort of like being illiterate. I can speak it and understand it, but writing and reading it is another story.”
“And you learned these languages when?”
“I took it in high school. One of my friends was a foreign exchange student from Hong Kong and I got to practice with her a lot. Then I studied both languages in college, too. I didn’t know how I’d do here, but I understand the dialect pretty well. You really didn’t read my resume that I had on file with Warren, did you?”
He went over and poured himself another drink. He had the grace to look chagrined. “Evidently not. What other languages do you know?”
“Spanish, as you know, and I can speak French, although not as well as Mandarin or Cantonese.”
“So you can understand the conversations in the office, what they have been saying?” Now he was getting the usefulness of my skill set.
“Yes, that’s how I know that Ana told the receptionist that I was hired for only one reason and that I had a big butt.”
He took another drink. “So, they aren’t aware that you understand them? You didn’t let on?”
“It took all of my willpower not to throw my Diet Coke in her face, but no, they have not a clue. I’m merely playing the ditzy secretary they all think I am.”
His look conveyed annoyance. “You are anything but, and I didn’t mean to insult you by interrogating you about it. I…” He laughed at himself. “You surprise me. Just when I think I know you, I’m completely thrown for a loop, and I find myself completely intrigued.”
His words sank in and I felt a flush of pleasure. “The feeling is mutual.” Pulling out a dining room chair, I put my leg up, sliding my hem back to show my stocking and garter. “Sometimes I don’t fasten these correctly. Want to help? Matter of fact, we could maybe be a little late for the party?”
Instead of seeing the amusement I’d expected, I saw dark stormy passionate eyes. I thought I might be consumed from the heat of them.
“We should go before we are late,” he indicated quietly.
His mood shift caught me completely off guard. “What just happened?”
He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Nothing. We need to go.” His tone was agitated.
“You aren’t telling me something,” I murmured softly.
His eyes snapped to mine. “Don’t try to change me Haylee. I’m a private man and like it that way.”
It was said without anger, but I could tell that I had inadvertently hit a nerve. “I’ll meet you downstairs.” I set my glass down, grabbed my clutch and walked out his door. I heard his footsteps behind me all the way to the elevator.
“Haylee…”
Damn his honey voice. “Don’t… One minute you’re telling me about being intrigued and the next you’re telling me not to change you. What in the hell just happened? Did I do something wrong? I feel like you’re holding something back, Josh.”
He exhaled as we got into an empty elevator heading for the lobby. Standing next to me, I could feel his hand tugging on my pinky. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I am who I am. Besides, I thought I made it clear that we do this my way, which means I decide when and how.”
When I looked at him, I saw a little bit of sadness in his eyes. I tugged my pinky away once the elevator doors opened.
After getting in the awaiting car outside, we sat in the backseat silent for a few minutes until Josh turned towards me.
“Haylee, look at me.”
Meeting his eyes, I saw passion and fear reflected. I wanted so badly to tell him that I wasn’t his ex-wife, that whatever had happened with her I wasn’t going to do the same thing to him, and that he could— Shit, what? Change? I blew out the breath I’d been holding and closed my eyes for a second before taking his hand.
“I’m sorry.” I could immediately see the confusion in his eyes.
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I guess I wanted you to confide in me when you confide in no one. So even if I didn’t think that was asking you to change, it was.”
He gazed at me for the longest time and then relaxed. “If anyone should apologize, it should be me. You’re right, I’m hot and cold, and you’re only asking questions. I’m just not equipped to answer them at this poi
nt. Okay?”
Nodding, I squeezed his hand, willing myself to be patient. Meanwhile, I vowed that once I got some time to myself, I would evaluate whether or not I wanted to put myself through this for the next few months. His emotional rollercoaster had such a profound effect on me and my mood that I questioned whether this relationship would be healthy.
I didn’t want rely on anyone for validation. The only person I had to depend on in this world was me, and I needed to remember that now.
After getting out of the car, we went inside to the club level suite where the party was being held. Josh took me over to the side before entering the room. “Do you think you can withstand another night of listening to conversations among those who decide to talk badly about us?”
Batting my eyelashes dramatically I responded, “No problem.”
“We will plan on recapping after the party. They really aren’t going to know what hit them come tomorrow morning,” he replied, looking faintly amused with the notion.
I wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but something told me that Josh Singer was going to ensure that anyone who crossed him would regret it.
Ana was one of the first to greet us, with eyes only for Josh. “Ah, Mr. Singer, let me get you a drink. What is your pleasure?” she asked sweetly.
Josh came ready to play. “Haylee knows how I like it; I’ll let her take care of it.”
Biting my lip, I tried not to laugh at the expression on Ana’s face.
I sidled up to Josh who was standing next to Ken and handed him his drink a short time later and smiled at both men. Appetizers were being served, and I took a moment to eat a cocktail shrimp innocently enough. I noticed all eyes were on me, including Josh’s. I gave a smile and saw Josh’s lips twitching. It would be interesting to see if someone made something out of nothing.
Ken cleared his voice and introduced a couple of the top guys to me.
They both rubbed me the wrong way when they each lingered a little too long over my hand. One even caressed his thumb over my fingers. Hearing what they said to each other in Cantonese sealed the deal.
Giving Josh my best fake smile, I was happy for the music to start, providing some background noise.
We moved out of earshot. “So, what were they discussing?” he queried.
“Well, after Stan and Charlie creeped me out with the hand thing, they discussed how I might give head like I suck on shrimp.”
Josh’s eyes darkened.
“It’s fine. The fact that they can assimilate a small cocktail shrimp to giving head kind of tells you everything you need to know about their penis size.”
He chuckled at my humor. “If it makes you feel better, I didn’t like either of them, either. I figured they wouldn’t have anything good to say. What about Ken?”
“I don’t mind him. I think that he tends to turn a blind eye towards bad behavior, though. This is kind of fun. It’s like being a spy.”
That garnered a smile. “You’d make a sexy spy.”
***
The next forty minutes was spent listening to conversations, some good and some bad. I was relieved when Josh came over.
“Are there any redeeming people who work for this company?”
“George told Ana to shut up when she called me a whore.”
His eyes flashed with fury. “Explain to me exactly how you aren’t losing your temper.”
“I know I’m not a whore, so why would I let it bother me?”
He held my gaze. “Nice try. You want to pummel her.”
Nodding, I cracked a smile. “I really do, and I think I can take her with my size six giving me a good weight advantage.”
He laughed and looked around the room. “Oh, my money is definitely on you. All right, let’s do another thirty minutes. I’m waiting on the owner, and then we’re out of here. I can think of better things to do with my time.”
I wasn’t sure if the innuendo was intentional but it suddenly had me hot and bothered thinking about it. So much for worrying about an emotional roller coaster. At the first hint of being alone with him later, I had developed a one track mind.
I spent the next half-hour of the party bouncing around meeting people. Most seemed polite, but I was bored and looked around for Josh. After making my way to the ladies room, I tried not to let the presence of Ana and Helen, the HR director at the sink, make me turn around and leave.
“Haylee, you look lovely tonight,” she commented too sweet to be sincere. I smiled, replied with a thank you, and headed into a stall.
I overheard her conversation in Cantonese with Helen, and felt the color drain from my face. Meanwhile, they laughed and carried on.
After taking a few minutes to compose myself, I waited until they left and then went back to the party. I caught Josh’s eye at the same time an older gentleman came up to greet me.
“You must be Haylee. I’m Tom Wang, the owner.” He kissed my hand.
I tried to conjure up a genuine smile when all I wanted to do was leave. “Hi, Mr. Wang. It’s very nice to meet you.” We made small talk about the company and Hong Kong. Then he took me off guard.
“You’ve met my daughter, I take it?”
I was confused. “Uh, I’m not sure if I have, Mr. Wang.”
He smiled and waved Ana over.
I felt dread seeping through me.
“Ana is my daughter. She manages the office and maintains the everyday tasks now that my wife has retired.”
Surprising me, Ana told her father in Cantonese, “Haylee has been very sweet and very helpful.”
So Daddy didn’t know how nasty she could be?
“You know how I feel about speaking our language around people who don’t know it. It’s rude,” Tom said with an apologetic smile. “Ana was saying how helpful and sweet you were. I believe Josh said you were making your way back to your hotel soon. I’m sure it’s been a long day with flying in overnight. I look forward to a breakfast meeting tomorrow with the both of you.”
When I saw Josh say his goodbyes, I was grateful to be leaving.
***
Josh was quiet on the ride back to the hotel. In the elevator he turned to me. “What happened in the ladies’ room that had you pale as a ghost when you walked out?”
So he had noticed. “It’s nothing.” I tried to blow it off.
His eyes narrowed with annoyance. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing. Ana came out ahead of you along with that other woman. What were they saying?”
I was tired from the day and my feet hurt. Reaching down, I took off my shoes one at a time while I waited for the elevator to stop on my floor. I chose to ignore his question because I didn’t have the energy for this.
As soon as the doors opened, he blocked my way and then hit for the doors to close. “Why don’t we recap in my suite?”
Part of me wanted to be by myself, but a deal was a deal as I had promised I’d go over the conversations of the evening. I felt my heart beating double time as I crossed the threshold at this hour with him. His mood was tough to gage.
Once we got to Josh’s room, I related all of the dialogue throughout the evening and then the tidbit about Ana being Tom’s daughter.
He didn’t look surprised.
“You knew?”
He shrugged. “I wondered why an office manager had so much confidence and that untouchable flair to her, so I asked Ken.”
Sighing, I shared my thought that Tom wasn’t aware of Ana’s true nature.
“Agreed. So now tell me what happened in the ladies’ room?”
Swallowing hard, I got up from the sofa where I had been sitting. “I really don’t want to discuss it. It was more petty stuff, and I’m tired.”
I could tell I was pissing him off, but I really didn’t know how to go about sharing this with him.
The knock came at the door surprising me, but it looked as if Josh had been expecting it. He spoke in low tones and walked back into the living room pouring himself a drink. He had an envelope that had evidently jus
t been delivered to his door and slid out what appeared to be a prescription bottle. After uncapping it, he took one of the pills out, and then washed it down with his whiskey.
It was tempting to ask what he was taking with alcohol but I realized it wasn’t my business. Maybe he’d forgotten his medication at home or something.
“I need you to call Henry in Mergers and Acquisitions. It’s about eight o’clock in the morning his time, and he’s expecting my call on whether or not I’m going to purchase the company.”
“All right. Do I have time to change?” I already knew the answer but needed confirmation that he wasn’t in the mood to do me any favors.
“No.”
Over the next thirty minutes I conferenced in Henry and printed out legal documents. From what I could gather from the conversation, Josh was going through with the purchase. He signed the paperwork and I excused myself to go downstairs to the business center to fax them to Henry.
I wanted to slip over to my room to change into comfortable clothes but knew that Josh would be furious. When I returned to his suite, he was off the phone and watching me.
“Did he confirm receipt of the documents?” I questioned.
Nodding, he said, “Come here.” His voice had an edge to it. No honey this time.
After standing there a moment, I tentatively walked over to stand two feet in front of him.
“Do you want me to fuck you, Haylee?”
My mouth went bone dry. Although I wanted to be offended by his words, I became undeniably turned on by them. “I— What are you doing?” This was so unlike the side of him I was used to seeing that I wasn’t sure what to say.
“It’s a fairly easy question to answer. Yes or no, Haylee?” He seemed to know what hearing my name on his lips did to me and was clearly using it to his advantage.
“You seem angry with me,” I worried in a soft voice.
He stood up and moved around to the back of me. “Yes, well, I don’t like playing games, and yet here we are.”
I had been drinking some at the party and was dead on my feet, but even so I was pretty sure I was missing something here. I felt his hands glide down my back and come around my waist to undo my belt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I managed to say on a whisper.
Tell Me Something (The Something Series Book 1) Page 9
