His heartbeat pounded over his temple, both of their breathing sounded liked they’d just run a mile. Brian released Olivia's leg and she eased it down as she relaxed her fingers from where they’d dimpled his flesh. Pushing slightly back, she gently kissed him again.
"You're right. Clean is so over rated."
Olivia stretched, a contented smile still on her lips as she woke. She turned on her side and pulled a pillow to her. His scent lingered on the fine cotton and she breathed it in. With a sigh she rolled over and swung her feet off the bed. After a quick shower, she stood in her closet looking for just the right outfit for the big meeting with Matasuki. Something business-like, but sexy too. He was a man, and she’d recognized his interest in her that night at the Gala. She pushed through hanger after hanger of suit jackets and skirts. Finally she pulled a set out.
"When in doubt, go with your gut."
She'd chosen a cobalt blue, lower mid-thigh length skirt and matching jacket. Next, she went to the drawer and picked a lacy black, bustier and panties, a set of silky thigh highs, and a pair of classy heels, not too high, to finish the outfit. No one would see the underpinnings unless she wanted them to.
She set her hair in large hot rollers and she’d do her makeup before dressing. Once her makeup was complete she removed the rollers and looked in the mirror. She finger-combed her cooling curls, fluffing and separating them before finishing off the look with a shot of extra-hold hair spray. She pulled on her skirt, and her suit jacket. As a final touch she chose a light, sweet cologne, spraying it on with short bursts. Now, smiling at her reflection, she approved, just a sneak peek of black lace edged cleavage to entice and distract; perfect.
"Okay, game on, Mr. Matasuki."
She took a taxi instead of the subway and confidently walked into her building. Heads turned. She ignored them, but smiled. Her phone buzzed as she got to the elevator. Brian.
"Oh damn. I was supposed to wait for him," she mumbled. "Hey, I'm sorry. I was so into picking an outfit, I totally forgot. Okay, I'll stop home before I go. See you around three-thirty."
The morning went by slowly. Olivia spent her time going over everything she still had on Matasuki and that included the thumbnail from Paul. She had a salad at her desk and at one, Linda buzzed her.
"Mr. Grant wants to see you in his office."
"I'll go right now. If Jerrod calls or comes by, I'm just out."
"You got it."
Tyson's door was open and he glanced out past his secretary when he heard voices and did a double take. "Oh Christ." Olivia always looked good, but today, she looked stunning.
He stood and met her at the door.
"Good to see you, Mr. Grant. I have the finished proposals for us to go over."
He closed the door noticing that half those in the outer offices were looking over.
"Good, we need a strategy."
"I'm worried about Jerrod. He won't see these until we get there, and he is my division leader."
"I out rank him. I don't want him to know anything. Olivia, I had Brian's company sweep the offices. Several of the offices were bugged. Including Paul's....and yours. I wasn't spared either. Brian’s team found no tampering on the security tape, but the maintenance person could not be identified as one who works for us. Brian's company will set up new surveillance equipment without our own security team’s knowing and have it monitored off site."
"That's, well, creepy. How selective were the bugs?"
"Most division heads, several of our lawyers. Like I said, me."
"That means they heard our conversation on Friday laying out our plan to make Dolby takeover-proof."
"And you were right. You were the one who didn't want to finish our conversation here."
"But I did spill the beans, so to speak. If it got to Matasuki that we know what he's up to, it changes everything doesn't it? What's our strategy now?"
Tyson walked over and stared out the window for a moment.
"Okay, you're right. This is what we're going to do. I'm not going to do a thing to make Dolby undesirable. However, we are going to add an addendum to our proposal. I’m going to stipulate they cannot own more than ten percent stock and they can't attempt any kind of takeover, or change in the top management of Dolby for the life of the contract. Otherwise, no deal."
"Good idea. Can't you suggest Stein do the same?"
Tyson narrowed his gaze and stared at her in silence. "Let them decide what they're going to do on their own."
"You'd let them go down without a warning?"
"Listen, Olivia. Stein Brothers is a very big business. The Steins are smart and savvy business men, if they've done what they need to do, they know what we do."
"Okay, you're right, and you're the boss. I'll get legal right on the new addendum." She left the folder for him and turned to leave.
"Olivia, wait." She swiveled back and waited as Tyson walked over. "Here's my cell number. Please call after you've finished your first meeting, or anytime you need to, for anything. And of course, if there's any question what to do." She took the card from him, but responded with a simple nod.
She did what she was told, gathered everything up and put it in her briefcase along with her laptop and headed home to meet Brian. In the cab she pressed call on her phone.
"Samantha, how are those stock purchases coming? Yeah, check for me. No, don't text me. I'll call you back. Thanks, Sam." Next she texted Brian. "I'm on my way."
The stress was building, but this is what she'd signed up for. Take it for what is it and learn all you can. Regardless of what Tyson thought, Matasuki needed to be stopped.
The elevator opened and Olivia found Brian waiting for her.
"I really am sorry about this morning."
Brian couldn't help his gaze from roaming over her body. Jesus, was he a fool to let her go into this on her own?
"It's okay. I know what a big day this is." He followed her to her door and inside. She turned suddenly and threw her arms around him, their briefcases thudding to the floor. The force of it surprised him, but he recovered quickly, covering her lips with his.
Abruptly she pulled back. "I'm sorry, I needed that."
His hands roamed up her back. "Don't be sorry, Liv, I needed it too."
She pulled him close her head resting against his shoulder.
"I know I'm supposed to be the strong, tough one, but damn, Brian, I'm so nervous. My stomach is sick with it."
He kissed the top of her head. Nothing felt more natural than to comfort her.
"Don't worry. I'll be close by. What I've got for you will make it like I'm in the room with you. I'll be able to hear and record everything. Let me show you."
He took her hand, picked his briefcase off the floor and placed it on the table. He unzipped it and reached inside. Smiling, he pulled something surprising out, and held it up to her.
A lovely, simple necklace. A one inch oval of abalone. The pearl essence of the polished shell was encased in white gold and dangled from a matching chain.
"It's plated in rhodium, and has not only a tiny microphone, but also a camera. I can record anything you say or hear and see what you see. It’s state of the art, micro technology, voice activated, it only turns on then, but with an override, so it won’t be detected if they do a security sweep," He stepped closer and draped it around her neck, twisting the clasp.
Olivia reached up, feeling its light weight against her chest.
"Thank you, Brian. It makes me feel so much better; safer. It's been a tough afternoon." She turned to face him and though she tried not to, her eyes misted. Being vulnerable wasn't something she did, let alone showed anyone.
He brushed her hair back away from her face, and by blinking rapidly to keep the tears from escaping, she was relieved when her eyes cleared without the need for a tissue.
"You don't have to do this Liv." He bent, his lips caressing hers. His phone buzzed. His eyes pinched shut. "Damn.” She pulled back and he reached into his pocket.
Olivia sensed his angst. "What is it?"
"The police found Paul's body this morning."
Her hand flew up to her mouth, the tears she’d forced back rapidly formed and escaped.
"I'm so sorry, Liv."
Brian pulled her into his arms and held her tightly to him. She fought back a sob and swallowed hard. Gritting her teeth as tears silently drifted down her cheeks, her fingers pulled into tight fists against Brian's back. The frown of pain pinching her face turned into one of steely determination. Anger replaced the sadness in her eyes as she stared over Brian's shoulder.
"He's not going to get away with this."
Brian pulled away. "Don't let Paul's death cloud your judgment. Liv?"
She looked up and his eyes searched hers. The anger softened when Olivia recognized the fear in them.
"I won't Brian, I promise. I have to fix my face and get going. I don't want to be late."
He held up his phone."Okay, but if you need anything, I'm a sound or sentence away. Don't hesitate."
"You'll have to trust me as much as I trust you, Brian. I'm young, but I'm really good at what I do. This is my first real chance to prove it and I'm going to."
He gently pressed his lips to hers. "Go fix your face. I'll wait."
Brian watched her and listened for the water before looking in her briefcase. He found her purse and pulled two tiny, digital devices from his pocket. He placed one inside the lining of her purse, the other in the lining of the briefcase. The technology made them virtually undetectable and they could be activated remotely. She didn't need to know he could find her if he needed to. He was much more worried than he thought he'd be. Hearing about Paul had changed everything. It could have been a mugging, a robbery gone badly, but that's not what his gut told him. He sure wasn't going to take any chances with her.
"All fixed."
"Gorgeous as usual. Maybe later you'll let me help you out of those clothes."
She smiled, sauntered closer and ran her hands up his chest.
"That is a distinct possibility. I am probably going to need a work out. To get rid of the stress, I mean."
"Oh, I’m sure I’ll need to relieve some stress, too."
She kissed him, nipping at his bottom lip.
"I'll call you when I'm on my way home, or will you just be listening? I have to call Tyson too."
"I'll be waiting. No, I'll turn it off once you're safely in the cab."
They walked to the elevator together, but he let her go on alone. In his apartment he went to his office and pulled up the screen with the tracking codes for Olivia. Both devices were working perfectly; he deactivated them in preparation for the security sweep she was likely to experience when first meeting Matasuki. He sighed in relief and then pulled up the next screen, he could see the cab. The necklace was working fine too.
"Good." Next he dialed the phone and put it on speaker. "Jimmie, what do you have for me?"
"Lots of info. First, you were right, those links were dirty. They’d have had everything on Paul if he clicked them."
"He said he hadn't noticed them before. I'm not saying I believed much he told us. What about the mother?"
"Lin couldn't get much. Casual talk. The photos are in and I uploaded them to the shared file on the server. The Mother was picked up by a black sedan this morning and taken to the Plaza, she's still there. She's not Japanese, she's Thai. Still working on where the brother is. Here's the thing. He doesn't have the same father. Although it's the same on the birth certificate."
"How do you know that?"
"That's the word on the street. The few pictures we have of him show, rather than the expected black, his hair is light brown, and his eyes are not dark, but blue, so the money’s on a different father. Chris is Olivia's tail, but Matt is watching the back with cameras from the van. She won't get away from us. I brought in some indies, all good guys, ones we’ve worked with before and yes I did the background checks."
"Great, we needed more help. Where's the 'shadow'?"
"At the Plaza."
"She's the one I'm interested in. Did someone contact the widow Yasimoto?"
"We got a local. She was already suspicious, so getting her to do the extra round of toxicology wasn't a problem. The results should be available in a few days. The security tapes were looped on the evening of his death, so nothing on security."
"She's a smart one, our little shadow, and she had help. Okay, thanks Jimmie. I'm going to work from here, but I'll be over early tomorrow."
He hung up the phone as he watched Olivia's walk into the plaza.
Jerrod was there waiting for her in the lobby. He looked annoyed, but then he always looked annoyed. He glanced at his watch. She ignored him, she was early; she always was.
"I was hoping we'd have time to go over everything, but we don't," he sniped. She didn't slow, and walked right past him.
She threw over her shoulder, "We're in 106. I went over everything with, Mr. Grant. I have your copies of the new proposal in my briefcase. Don't worry, I'll handle everything."
Jerrod grabbed her arm, stopping her. She turned and pointedly glared down at his hand.
"Wait, what? You’ll handle everything? In case you've forgotten, I'm your boss."
For the sake of anyone watching, Olivia resisted the urge to deck the man. Arrogant bastard. She pulled away from him smoothly, but with recognizable force. "And you gave this client to me. If, at this point, you're having a problem with that decision, feel free to call Mr. Grant. Right now though, Mr. Matasuki is waiting." She walked away.
Back at his apartment, Brian just chuckled as he listened and watched the encounter.
"You tell him, Liv."
Matasuki wasn't in the room yet, so Olivia set her briefcase down on the chair to the right of the head chair and Jerrod took the left. She pulled out the file with three copies of everything, giving one to Jerrod. He started to flip through the contract, it was pretty standard stuff until he got to the addendum.
"What the hell is this?"
"It's called an addendum. It was Mr. Grant's idea."
"Matasuki will never sign this."
Olivia's head snapped up, and her eyes narrowed. "And just how would you know that?"
Jerrod gulped. "I mean, I wouldn't sign this."
"You would if you really just wanted representation." The double doors opened and Isamu Matasuki strode in, closely followed by the ‘shadow’. Kimiko glared at Olivia, but Olivia was oblivious to her glower. Olivia stood. Matasuki offered his hand, which Olivia firmly shook, with the expected polite slight bow of her head.
"Good to see you again, Miss Grayson."
"Please call me, Olivia. This is Jerrod Miller, head of marketing.” The men shook hands; Olivia was relieved that Jerrod had the sense to politely bow. “I have proposals ready for your inspection, and one has just been emailed to your office, it contains additional links to all our support divisions. I'm sure you'll find them interesting and helpful. I’m ready to begin."
"Please continue, Ms. Grayson." Olivia turned to take her place and started Dolby’s presentation.
Kimiko couldn't stop jealousy from washing over her as she saw Isamu appraise Olivia's form. Kimiko took her place near the door and watched. From the outside she looked perfectly calm, while inside she was seething. She'd pledged to dispose of Ms. Grayson, rather than surrender Isamu to her.
Isamu paid close attention as Olivia went through her very well-crafted presentation. Of course he knew what Dolby could do for him. He was much more interested in what he could do to Olivia.
"Very well done, Olivia. Excellent."
"Thank you. In so many ways Dolby, Inc. is a great fit for your company. We could start the marketing plan immediately. By the New Year you'd be showing three percent growth, in a year twelve percent. I have figures to back up those predictions. They're in the folder along with o
ur unique proposal. One I hope you will accept."
Matasuki opened the file, Dolby's logo was emblazoned in red and black on the front, and started to read. Jerrod fidgeted in his chair, but Olivia, took her seat and read through her own copy again. She hoped he would reject the proposal out-of-hand and just give Dolby a pass and move on, though she wished not to Stein. She watched him closely out of the corner of her eye. He hesitated when he got to the addendum, but didn't voice any concern. Once finished, he closed the file and clasped his hands over it.
He stared at her for an uncomfortable moment, choosing his words carefully.
"You are correct. It is a very unique proposal, one I shall consider. However, I have two other companies to interview. Once I've completed my meetings with them, I will make my decision."
"Very good. If you have any questions, my card is in the file."
He smiled, and offered his hand to her again. This time she gently squeezed it. Their gaze locked just for a moment before she lowered her eyes.
Kimiko noticed the subtle action and Isamu’s reaction to it and wanted to scream or even better strangle the bitch. Instead she sat demurely and waited. There were many things she'd done to protect Isamu, many he didn't even know about. This would be no different.
Matasuki smiled and when her hand slipped from his, Jerrod spoke.
"I'd be happy to stay and discuss everything further if you wish." Olivia narrowed her eyes, openly, but silently challenging him.
Corporate Ties (Silken Ties Book 1) Page 12
