“You should be,” I snapped at her, not accepting her apology.
Her eyes widened in shock and her lips parted, and I got to see just how sexy they were when they weren’t drawn into a stern line. I wanted those lips around my cock.
Damn. This wasn’t the time to think about that.
“Excuse me?” she exclaimed, furrowing her eyebrows angrily when the initial surprise passed.
“You heard me. Are you deaf? You didn’t even pay attention and you ran right into me!”
I saw her whole body tense. She was clearly embarrassed, but she tried to hide it with anger. “I didn’t pay attention? You are the one who wasn’t even looking where he was going!”
“Right,” I answered, my voice dipping in sarcasm, and continued dryly, “Well, that was expected.” I glared at her, clenching my fists in tension.
Her cheeks flushed a bit, and she shifted her weight again. “What was expected?”
“That such a beautiful woman like you would lie. All beautiful women are such good liars.” Shit. Now where did this come from? All beautiful women were such good liars? Sexist much, man.
“What?” she hissed. “I can’t believe you! Not only you are rude and accusing me of something I didn’t do, but you are also insulting women! Asshole!”
Well, I did deserve that one, but it didn’t sting any less. “You have no idea what you are talking about so shut your mouth. After all, it’s good for only one thing.” I smirked to increase the humiliating effect. “For a blowjob.”
Instantly, she became red as a beet, her pretty green eyes darkening in fury. Her hand twitched, and for a second I thought she was going to slap me. I took a step back, just in case.
“You.” She actually began to tremble, her face changing colors quickly. “I have met a lot of rude people in this business so far, but no one was as rude as you are.”
“I’m glad to be the best.” I winked and moved aside to walk around her.
I reached the front doors and she was still standing in the same spot, her back turned to me. My eyes momentarily zeroed in on her ass, and I almost groaned. My cock twitched, but I had to suppress any sexual urge. Man, her ass was a piece of art.
“Try not to get lost,” I said and got out of the building before she had the opportunity to react.
When I reached the noisy street, I noticed how hot I felt, fuck. This back and forth sparing left me even more frustrated.
It was a shame. I didn’t remember when was the last time I so attracted to some woman, but she had to be my competition and I couldn’t do anything to her. The irony.
And now I realized we’d never exchanged names.
I opened the door of my car and sat down, telling myself to stop thinking about her. She wasn’t important. I would make sure to get that building, and I would never see her again.
2
Alexandra
I stood in the middle of the old lobby after I spent some time going through this whole place, taking mental notes. This building was historic and it was beautiful—it would be just amazing if I could get the job. I could envision all the changes that needed to be made and I was more than eager to start with the work as soon as possible.
Interior design had been my dream since I was a child. I could remember moving my mother’s furniture around in the living room to give it a more welcoming feel. But I was way beyond my mother’s living room now and currently I was hoping to add this building to my portfolio. After I finished my college several years ago—always being a straight-A student—I worked on various projects, but none of them were as important to me as this one.
Since I was little I wanted a career for myself, dreaming of becoming successful and independent. I’d been really driven from the start. So I studied a lot and dedicated my life to becoming the best.
I got interested in architecture and art in my early teen years. I’d been attracted to various architectural styles and the way they combined into one perfect whole. My parents liked to travel a lot, so by the time I finished high school, I’d visited so many countries around the world that I’d lost count. Traveling enabled me to see all those famous buildings in person and get the inspiration I needed for my own portfolio.
I had a really good sense of space and combining different colors and materials together. I could create the perfect interior in my mind after just one look, and I already envisioned what this place was going to be like. I couldn’t wait to get started.
I knew this building was for sale and I wanted to be the designer who was hired by the new owner to redecorate the interior. The reason why I was really interested in this project was because I had some special memories of this building. This place was once a beautiful hotel and I used to come here for brunch when I was a child. My parents and I always had a great time here, and the food was just delicious.
The hotel’s interior had been breathtaking and expensively furnished. I remembered spending a lot of time just staring at the walls, ceilings, and paintings, and creating my own design in head. I was really attached to it. Now it was almost painful to see the damped walls, broken windows, and unkempt furniture.
I thought it would be amazing if this place was restored to its original beauty. I was sad when I discovered that the hotel went bankrupt and no one offered to buy it from the owner. Many years had passed, and the building was deteriorating gradually. That was why I was beyond happy when I heard that it was for sale, and I knew I had to compete to work on this project. I would give my best to be selected by the new owner as their designer.
I just prayed that no one tore it down. That would be terrible.
I wrote down several things in my notebook—mostly about the materials that would be needed for this place. Even though I was excited about the project, I also felt stressed. Unfortunately, my stress followed me my whole life. Whether I was focusing on studying or my business projects, my anxiety was always there. I was serious, and I had a hard time relaxing and letting go of stress. I was always so tense and thinking about tasks, deadlines, and work, that I didn’t have time or energy to commit myself to anything that wasn’t related to my career.
That was why I didn’t have many friends. I didn’t go out much, but that was okay, because I knew I couldn’t have a successful career and a good social life at the same time.
At the moment, I felt even more stressed than usual, because I couldn’t get over the asshole that had run into me here.
I couldn’t believe him! If anyone had told me someone would insult me in that way for no reason, I would tell them they were crazy!
It was clearly his fault that we bumped into each other. I expected him to look up and step aside, but he didn’t. He continued walking, keeping his eyes downcast, and didn’t even bother to pay attention to his surroundings.
He was so rude! He was definitely the most inconsiderate person I’d ever met. How dare he treat me that way? What was worse was the fact that he didn’t just insult me—he insulted all beautiful women with his stupid comment. Not that I’d ever given a blow job before anyway. These lips had never touched a dick, barely any part of me had.
But he told me I was beautiful.
I could feel my body getting warmer and I hated its reaction to just one simple word.
So what if he thought I was beautiful? That shouldn’t matter at all. No, that didn’t matter at all. He was an asshole, and I certainly hoped never to see him again.
Although, I had to admit that he was gorgeous. He was tall and he had broad shoulders. He had some dark, mysterious aura around him, and he definitely looked like one of those dominant men who crushed the hearts of the innocent girls just like that.
His short hair was dark and his eyes were even darker. His chiseled jaw was covered with a five o’clock shadow and he looked kind of broody with that frown that twisted his face into a really serious expression.
I hated to admit he was my type. I liked men with dark eyes and hair, and this guy could have easily been an actor—he was that s
triking and beautiful. He was wearing an expensive, black business suit and even more expensive shoes. Seriously, his dark leather shoes were so polished that they shone even more than my lip gloss.
It was too bad that he proved that being beautiful on the outside didn’t mean person was beautiful on the inside. He was a jerk.
All of that actually annoyed me—his rudeness, his attractiveness, and my reaction to him.
When we collided and he grabbed my arm to steady me, I felt like I was burned—some unusual hotness spreading from the place of our contact through my whole body. I raised my eyes to look at him and I felt like I couldn’t breathe, which was outrageous and it never happened to me before, but I couldn’t prevent it. My eyes immediately went over his body, greedily drinking in as my heart sped up in excitement.
I didn’t remember when the last time I saw someone as gorgeous as him was, and when I felt his scent—some really expensive cologne, I was almost ready to drool over him, and it irritated me even more. So I clenched my jaw and pursed my lips together before I looked into his eyes again. Then he opened his mouth and insulted me in the worst way possible.
He called me a liar and said my mouth was good only for... Only for...
Oh God. He was the worst!
I was one of those girls who became prettier as they grew older, and I was well aware I attracted men’s attention everywhere I went, which was something I despised. All of them thought that just because I was beautiful I had no brains, and they treated me just like this guy today—like I was some slut.
I hated when men treated me that way.
That was one of the reasons why I was so motivated to make something of myself. I wanted to show to all of them that just because a woman was pretty, it didn’t mean she was good-for-nothing in this business. So I had made it my life’s goal to be good at my job. Men had come and gone but no one stuck around. No one had gone the whole way.
“Try not to get lost,” he’d said, and I wanted to slap him right then, but he’d already gotten out of the building. Now I regretted not making a better comeback during our short “conversation”. I’d been so shocked that I couldn’t even come up with a good insult.
I didn’t know why, but for some reason, he annoyed me more than anyone. It was too bad that he had to be so good looking.
Who was he? What was he doing here? Was he also a designer? No, he didn’t look like a designer. He looked more like an entrepreneur. He probably owned a company or something. Was he involved anyhow in the sale of this building?
I shook my head. Ironically, I didn’t even know his name.
It didn’t matter. Whoever that man was, I wouldn’t see him ever again. I should focus on this project and not on some asshole without any manners.
I looked at my wrist watch and noticed it was time for me to go. I got outside, determined more than ever to prove the future owner that I was the right designer for them.
3
Alexandra
Two days later I was sitting at my desk and preparing my schemes and sketches of that old hotel’s interior. I was already in contact with several material suppliers, checking if everything I wanted to include in that interior was available. If I could show to the new owner that I was already prepared and knowledgeable of my job, I would increase my chances of getting the job.
I had expensive taste, but it was refined, and so far all my previous employers had only been praising me. My positive experiences motivated me even more. This project didn’t only have a sentimental value, but it would also propel my career in the right direction.
After I finished with my work, I visited the website that posted the information about the auctions and latest purchases of buildings and lots. I kept my fingers crossed that they had already published the news I was waiting for.
I clicked on the page with the name of this building and looked if there was anything new...
Bingo!
I saw that someone named Oliver Talon from the development firm LQT had won the bid for this place. So the sale had already been made and he was its new owner.
I exhaled the breath that I’d been holding in and tapped my pen nervously on the desk. Okay. So now I needed to learn more about LQT.
I wanted to pitch to Oliver Talon and get the bid to decorate the interior of the hotel. I had to figure out what his company was all about and tailor my presentation and portfolio so I could convince him to hire me.
I went onto the website of LQT, hoping to learn more about them so I would see what the best approach in this situation was.
After half an hour, I gathered all the information that I needed. Strangely enough, there was no photo of Oliver Talon, and I found myself wondering what he looked like. From what I could gather in their bio, LQT had three owners and all of them were young. It was impressive that they started LQT right after leaving the military, and the business was apparently booming these days.
If they were expanding and getting more influential, working for them on this project would mean even more for my career.
Okay. I could do this. I would show Oliver Talon I was smart and competent and he would have no other choice but to take me as his designer for the project.
4
Oliver
“Fuck yeah, man! You nailed it!” Grant told me and patted me on the shoulder.
I looked at my friend whom I trusted the most. “You can be damn sure I did,” I answered back, taking a long sip of my drink.
Several days had passed since I secured the bid for the run down hotel, and I was in the middle of a meeting with Grant and the real estate team in the board room.
Everyone was congratulating me on getting the winning bid for the hotel. We were drinking bourbon straight for this occasion, and I had to admit I felt really good and excited about this. There was nothing better than that feeling of getting something I really wanted. And I always got what I wanted.
“And considering how many bidders participated, this is a big win.” Grant winked.
“Yes. That building is very popular, and I wonder why its previous owner didn’t put it earlier for sale. It’s a shame he left it just like that.”
“This sale came in the right time. That area is attractive to contractors these days,” Bradley, one of the agents told me. “It’s no wonder that sale was all over the news.”
“Right. I knew securing that bid was going to be tough, but I did it, so kudos to me.”
“Well, that is hardly a surprise, Oliver,” Bradley said. “You are always good with these things.”
“Yeah, man,” Grant agreed. “This is just one of your many conquests. You really have some skills.”
I grinned and shoved left hand into my pocket. “Of course, I do. What did you think? That I was fooling around here?” I took another sip of my bourbon.
“As if. Of us three, you are the one who works the most. Seriously, man, smile a little. I bet you are already thinking about all things that are needed to be done, right?”
I shrugged my shoulders, knowing how right he was.
Grant was a capable businessman. He was smart and hard working, and he was also a chick magnet. It was no wonder since he was very muscular, much more than me—even though I was pretty muscular myself—and his dark brown hair and gray-blue eyes represented an attractive combination for the ladies.
Recently, he got married, so now he had eyes for only one woman. This meant that he wasn’t able to join Colten and me in our sexual conquests, and it wasn’t so fun without him, but that was what you got when you got married—you had to say goodbye to your freedom.
“Well, somebody has to do it.”
“Yeah, but take some time to enjoy the sweet, sweet victory.” He rubbed his thumb repeatedly over the tip of his forefinger and middle finger.
I rolled my eyes. Grant and his millions.
“This project and a few others we managed to start this year are going to strengthen our position on the market.”
“How is that third hospital pr
oject going?” I asked Grant, referring to third project LQT had with the health network HealthUp. We’d gained a lot of profit from the first hospital, and they had asked us to work with them on another two.
“Excellent. I didn’t even doubt it would be any different,” Grant bragged. “Things are going pretty smoothly at this point, and we are negotiating about expanding our contract. They are proving to be our most reliable client so far.”
“That is great. Colten told me everything is going well on the site for the mall project.”
“Ah, yes. That mall is about to get finished in a month.”
“The prices of lots in that area are on the rise at the moment,” Tom, the other real estate agent, said. “By the time we finish with the construction, it would be perfect to sell it. The prices could reach their all-time high.”
Grant chuckled. “Perfect. Man, we are the winners. This hotel is going to bring us a lot too,” Grant grinned and emptied his glass in one gulp.
“And there is nothing better than money, right?” Bradley asked, stretching his legs in his chair.
“Well, if you asked me this before, I would say yes, but now I have to say you are wrong. My Madison is the best.”
I rolled my eyes again and shook my head. Madison Layne was Grant’s wife. They had met when she came here to work as an extra help for that hospital project we’d been doing for HealthUp. She was a beautiful, petite blonde and she’d proved to be a good worker—smart, skilled, and diligent. Soon after they met, they started dating, and I had to admit they were perfect for each other.
Now they were madly in love, and I couldn’t help but notice that Grant was a changed man. Literally. He had eyes for Madison only and they couldn’t take their hands off each other. For someone who had been obsessed with work, Grant surely didn’t stick with that obsession anymore. Now he had a new one.
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