by Donna Hill
“Everything okay?”
“Yes, fine. But they forgot the tea.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll call them.”
Alexis waved away the offer. “No worries. I could use a walk. I’ll be back shortly.”
She stepped outside into the late-afternoon sun and was assaulted by the noise, the rush of people, and the aromas from the food vendors. She stepped off the Plaza platform and down the three steps to the sidewalk. People were everywhere. She looked left then right trying to decide which way to walk when she noticed a flash of soft pink across the street.
Her gaze followed Tracy as she approached the entrance of the Hilton Hotel and was met by Graham.
Chapter 6
Alexis stood transfixed as she watched them walk in together. What in the hell? Graham and Tracy? She thought Tracy’s attitude was because of the job, but clearly it went much deeper. He probably didn’t give Tracy her job so as not to show favoritism to the woman he was sleeping with.
She wanted to hurl something. Instead she spun around, tea forgotten, and turned back inside. The truth was she had no claims on the man. He was her boss and she didn’t cross that line anyway. So why was she so pissed? She repeatedly stabbed the elevator button while tapping her foot in fury. The person she was really angry with was herself for getting her panties in a bunch in the first place.
The elevator arrived. She had four years and three-hundred and sixty-four days left on a contract. She certainly couldn’t spend her time worrying or thinking about Graham Stone—who’d already sunk in her estimation.
“Got your tea?” Claire asked as Alexis breezed by her desk.
“No. Changed my mind.”
* * *
Graham stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Steam clouded the mirror and swirled around the room like a foggy morning on the English moors.
He wiped off a spot on the glass and peered closer. He needed a shave. It could wait until the morning.
He entered his adjoining bedroom, picked up the remote from the table and turned to the game. Playoff season—forty games, forty nights. Tonight Brooklyn Nets played the Miami Heat. He didn’t really care who was playing, all he wanted to do was lose himself in something other than thinking about Alexis.
After leaving the hotel, he decided to come home instead of returning to the office and possibly seeking out Alexis again. He certainly couldn’t keep too much distance, but at least they were on different floors. But she was constantly on his mind. Like now. Was she home yet? Had she gotten out of her clothes? What did she wear beneath those formfitting suits? Did she—
His cell phone buzzed, snapping him back to reality. He picked the phone up from the nightstand. Blake’s name was illuminated on the face of the phone.
“Hey, brother.”
“What’s up man?” Blake responded.
Blake Stevens was Graham’s closest friend, more like the brother he never had. They’d met on a flight to Los Angeles years ago to see the Lakers game. It was a friendship made in sports heaven. Their love of the game was only eclipsed by their passion for their work and their loyalty toward each other.
“Just getting in. Relaxing. Plan to watch the game.”
“That’s why I’m calling, bro. I just snagged two floor seat tickets for tonight’s game at the Barclays.”
“What!” Graham grinned like a kid.
“I’m serious. Can you meet me in Brooklyn by seven-thiry? Tip-off is at eight.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice. Getting ready as we speak.”
“Cool. I’ll meet you out front on the Atlantic Avenue side.”
“See you there.”
Graham tossed the phone on the bed and hurried to his walk-in closet. Jeans, cotton shirt, jacket, sneakers—that would be the outfit of choice for tonight.
This was what he needed, a night out with his mate enjoying their favorite sport; the perfect anecdote for his crazy fix on Alexis.
* * *
He called down to the front desk and asked Milton to have his car pulled out front. After a few last-minute checks for house keys, phone, wallet, he walked out snatching up his cap on the way. He pulled the bill low over his brow while he waited for the elevator. The door opened and he stepped on humming to himself. Moments later the door opened and Alexis stood in front of him.
For an instant she froze then stepped on just before the doors closed.
“Evening,” he said.
“Hi.” She forced a smile. The memory of seeing him and Tracy walking into the hotel together bloomed afresh.
“How was your first day?”
“Busy.” She tried to stay focused on the elevator doors but she couldn’t ignore the heat that radiated from him or his scent that clouded her thoughts.
Graham frowned. She was different somehow. Distant. Chilly even. “Heading out?”
She barely glanced at him. She didn’t dare or she might forget why she was so pissed. “Going for a run. You?”
He grinned at her and her heart tumbled in her chest. “After the day I had with the last-minute request to give an impromptu presentation at a business meeting at the Hilton today, I’m ready for some R & R.”
Alexis’s thoughts flashed back to earlier in the day. A meeting. She felt utterly ridiculous for having imagined the worst.
“My mate—friend—got two floor seats to the Miami Heat and the Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center,” he was saying
Her brown eyes widened. “Really? Floor seats! That...”
He chuckled. “I know. Figured I’d be watching the game on television. Don’t tell me you’re a basketball fan.”
She dropped her hand on her hip and looked up at him with a smirk. “Don’t get me started with b-ball. I’ve been a fan since grade school. Played during high school, too.”
“You played?” He wondered what she would look like all hot and sweaty running up and down the court in shorts.
The bell pinged and the doors swished open.
“Now I’m impressed,” he teased.
Alexis laughed. “Enjoy the game.” She walked out ahead of him, pushed through the front door and was gone.
Graham stopped at the front desk, retrieved his car keys from Milton and walked out to get in his car. He caught a glimpse of Alexis an instant before she turned the corner.
He got in behind the wheel. She likes basketball. Maybe they could watch a game together sometime. Not a good idea. He pulled off into traffic. Not a good idea at all.
* * *
After the game Graham and Blake stopped in Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club in the Barclays Center for a late dinner. They sat at the bar and recapped the game, drinking beer and eating peanuts until the waitress arrived and told them that the table was ready. They placed their dinner orders and watched ESPN on the restaurant television.
“So did the new VP start? Alexis something, right?”
“Yeah, started today.”
“So, what’s she like in person?”
The center of his chest grew warm. His lips quirked. “Smart, professional.” Sexy, throaty voice, sensual scent.
Blake watched the expressions play across Graham’s face. “And she lives in your building and you work together.” He paused a beat. “I’ve seen that look before, G.”
“What look?”
“You know. The I’m interested look.”
“Can’t happen.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Same thing.”
“There hasn’t been anyone serious in your life in forever. You always get involved with women that you know the relationship won’t go anywhere. Sounds like you’re heading down the same road again.”
Graham glanced up. He couldn’t argue. Blake was right. The only
women who appealed to him were women who were unattainable. That way he could remain uncommitted—until the interest waned. The intrigue was the challenge. When he conquered the challenge he lost interest. But he continued to try to find someone to fill the spaces that the last person left. There was always a constant, aching emptiness inside of him, an emptiness that he filled with things, and bodies and work; not necessarily in that order.
Graham shook his head. “Not this time. She’s an employee. I can’t cross that line.”
Blake looked his friend in the eye. “Then there’s no problem.”
“Right, no problem.”
* * *
Alexis arrived early the following morning, wanting to get a jump start on the list. Her goal was to sequester herself in her office and work the phones. She wanted to provide Graham with the list of people from DOE that were willing to discuss the plan and potential investors that were willing to come on board.
She planned to approach the investors first. She figured if she could offer up some well-known names to the DOE, they would be more willing to play ball.
All of the offices were still empty. It was barely 7:00 a.m. She switched on the lights in the office, closed her door and turned on her computer. It was much too early to make calls, but she wanted to finish fleshing out some of the details. Although Graham said that all of the departments were at her disposal, she wanted to secure the foundation before she brought anyone in.
She set her mug of coffee on the desk, took the satin bag from her purse and put it in the bottom desk drawer.
There was a noise. Her head snapped up. The door inched open. She drew in a breath and reached for the phone. The door pushed all the way open. Graham stood in the threshold.
“Dammit, you scared me,” she said on a shuddering breath.
“Sorry. No one is usually here at this hour. I saw the light on.”
She tossed her head and willed her heart to slow. For a moment she saw her story being aired on The First 48 Hours, “Education Executive Found Strangled in Her Midtown Office.” What was equally as crazy was her reprimanding the owner of the company for checking on his offices. “Are you usually here this early?” she asked, instead of apologizing.
“Usually.” He took a few steps inside. “Why so early for you?” He approached her desk.
Her body tensed. “A lot to do. The clock is ticking. The one you set, remember?”
He almost smiled.
“How did you enjoy the game?”
“Great. Good time.”
His smile was infectious and her own body loosened. “I haven’t been to a live game in a while. I used to go to the Hawks games when I could.”
“Maybe...next time...if I get tickets, maybe you’d like to come.”
She blinked. “Um, sure.” She nodded. “That would be fun.”
“I’ll let you know—for next time.” He moved closer. “What’s on your agenda today?”
She gave him a rundown on what her plan was and the preliminary timeline.
Graham didn’t really care what she was saying. He only wanted to watch her mouth, catch the sparkle in her eyes and listen to the rhythm of her voice. He had to get out of there.
“I should let you get to it.” He backed up then turned toward the door and was gone.
Alone she gave in to the tremors that gently rippled along her spine and up her inner thighs. Her lashes fluttered. Her eyes closed. She could hear her heartbeat. Four years, three-hundred and sixty-three days.
She opened her eyes, reached down and pulled open the bottom drawer of her desk and took out the satin pouch that contained her fresh panties. She went to the ladies room to change.
* * *
Graham spent the day in meetings, responding to phone calls and putting the final touches on his trip to Washington, D.C. He had a meeting with the secretary of education. He was part of the subcommittee that was working on the Administration’s education reform package.
His intention was to present the first draft of his proposal to the secretary. If Alexis was as good as he believed she was, the proposal and all of its moving parts would wind up being a major component of game-changing legislation. But the plan had to be airtight.
* * *
Over the next two days Alexis met with the department heads and gave them their instructions. She didn’t need final details but she did need preliminaries from Finance and Marketing in particular. She’d come up with a slogan for the project that she hoped Graham would be on board with when they met later that afternoon.
Since the morning that he’d walked in on her she hadn’t seen him—not in the office and not at the apartment. Maybe he’d been spending his time on and off the job with Tracy. Every time she thought about the two of them together the pulse in her temples began to pound.
She tried to convince herself that the reason for her anger was because of the inappropriateness of the relationship, and the brazenness of it. The truth was Tracy had him and she didn’t. Get over it, girl.
Alexis saved the last document and added it to the PowerPoint file. Getting with the boss wasn’t why she’d come to New York and joined this organization. That’s what she needed to keep at the forefront, not images of Graham’s mouth on...
The tap-tap on her door jerked her from her mental trip down Graham Stone lane.
“Yes, Claire.” She shifted in her seat.
“Mr. Stone said he’s ready for you to come down.”
“Great. Thanks.” She plucked her flash drive from the USB port, checked the hard copies in the file folders and grabbed her phone. She grinned at Claire. “Wish me luck.”
Claire smiled broadly. “You don’t need luck. You got this. I’ve seen how hard you worked since you arrived. It will show.”
Alexis drew in the praise. “Thanks. See you soon.”
It had been quite some time since she’d had to prove herself on this level. But she was confident that she brought her A-game.
She briefly stopped at Graham’s secretary’s desk.
“Go right in, Ms. Montgomery. He’s expecting you.”
“Thank you.” She tapped on the door and walked in. Her forward motion halted for a half step when she saw Tracy sitting at the conference table. It was logical that she would be there, but it didn’t mean that Alexis had to like it.
Graham stood. He zeroed in on her like a laser beam, his gaze taking in every inch of her.
“Good morning,” Alexis said, entering the office in long confident strides. She placed her things on the table and sat.
“Anxious to see what you’ve managed to put together,” Tracy said, her tone a note short of condescending.
Oh, how she wished for a minute that she was a different kind of woman so that she could back slap that smug look off of Tracy’s face. She forced a tight smile.
Alexis flipped open the folder and gave Graham the written proposal. “I’ve prepared a PowerPoint presentation. We can watch it on the big screen.” She glanced at Graham.
He lifted his chin toward the projector. “Go right ahead.”
Alexis walked over to the end of the office and turned on the system that was tucked away in the wood paneling. She inserted the flash drive, waited for it to register and then scrolled to the PowerPoint icon and clicked.
Alexis had meticulously searched for images that highlighted each of the elements of the presentation; classrooms, urban streets, countless faces of children, teachers, actors, artists, businessmen and -women, college campuses, corporate offices and science labs. In addition to the textual and visual images, she’d incorporated voice narration to guide the viewer through the screens.
Graham was beyond the programs of the past. He wanted to utilize a fresh approach for the educational system. As he watched the presentation, he was struck with the realiza
tion that Alexis had found the way to get inside his head, translate his ideas and bring them to reality. It was a turn-on that surprised him. And hearing her voice during the entire presentation only added to his personal pleasure.
The screen faded to black. Alexis turned toward Graham and her insides jumped from the impact of his stare.
“Beyond my expectations.”
Alexis smiled. “Thank you.”
“I think the section about the class implementation could use some work,” Tracy said, the disgust in her voice and on her face barely contained.
Graham slid her a look. “I don’t.”
Tracy’s right cheek twitched.
“It’s exactly what I was looking for. You took the idea and made it three-dimensional.” He paused. “I’d like you to go with me to Washington to make the presentation.”
Tracy actually jumped up. She looked from Graham to Alexis. Her mouth partially opened. “I’ll see about getting Ms. Montgomery a ticket,” she said, recovering quickly.
“And a room,” Graham added.
Alexis was trying to process what had just happened.
Tracy picked up her things from the desk and walked out.
“Can we rewind a bit,” Alexis said.
Graham frowned.
“Go back to the part about me going with you to Washington, D.C.”
“Yes, I’m taking the train down tonight. I’ll be staying at the Marriott. The meeting is scheduled with the Secretary of Education at noon tomorrow.”
Alexis pressed her hands against her stomach. “I...I’ll need to go home and pack. How long will we be staying?”
“Until Sunday. There’s the meeting tomorrow and a brunch with the subcommittee on Saturday. I usually try to take in some of the sights while in town, check out a few shows. You’re more than welcome to stay.” He saw her get ready to protest. “Actually, I insist.”
She stared at him a moment. She couldn’t allow her own crazy thoughts to have her making this invitation more than what it was—business.
“It would be too self-serving of me to present this proposal without you there.” His gaze moved slowly over her face.
