by Lily Zante
She scratched his back and he scratched hers. Sometimes she scratched a little too much, but he could cope. It was on and off. More off than on. Which suited him perfectly. A man had his needs after all, and sometimes, he wasn’t so sure that Vanessa didn’t have the balls of a man. She wasn’t into emotional security or needed any reassurance that they had a future together. They didn’t. He would never walk down that road again.
He rubbed his hand across his face, blinked a few times, and forced himself to call the American. It was the end of the day, she’d hopefully have left.
Instead, she answered with a soft, ‘Hello, Tanya Braun speaking.’ His insides clenched.
“Gabriel Valois.” He said and from the sound of silence at her end, it appeared that he had caught her off guard.
“Mr. Valois, what can I do for you?”
“You left our meeting,” he began.
“You seemed busy in conversation.”
“It was an urgent call.”
“Of course it was, and therefore I deemed it appropriate to accord you some privacy.” He imagined her wearing that same miserable look on her face that she’d worn when sitting opposite him.
“I didn’t think walking out of a meeting was considered professional etiquette in your country.”
“It’s about as professional as taking a personal call in the middle of a business meeting.” The tightness in her voice told him he’d hit the right buttons: she was pissed off.
He decided that she was as opinionated as that red-headed American he’d been trying to avoid meeting last week. He sensed that she was waiting for an apology which made him even more determined to withhold it.
“I’m free now—if you want to come by now.”
Frozen silence jammed the line, and he hazarded a guess at her expression. He heard her short sigh. “It’s the end of the day, and as much as I would like to spend time discussing the Flight campaign with you, I think it might be better to postpone our meeting until tomorrow. I’m free around two o’clock. Would that suit you?” she suggested.
“Two o’clock works,” he growled. Maybe he wasn’t so sorry for firing off that reply to Russell’s email, where he’d mentioned Tanya had walked out of the meeting.
“Did you look through the brochure, by any chance?”
He had, and he’d been suitably impressed. That other woman had also given him some glossy designs to look at. He knew Russell prized this agency highly and after seeing some of their work at close hand, he could see why.
But he wasn’t about to tell Tanya Braun that.
“I did.”
“I’m glad you liked it. It is a very impressive advertising campaign.”
“I never said I liked it.” He said slowly, slightly intrigued at her daring.
“Tomorrow at two then, Mr. Valois. I look forward to it.”
Chapter 4
A knot of anger, the size of a fist lodged further in her throat. She felt a pounding sensation in her ears, when she got off the phone.
How arrogant of Gabriel Valois to think she would have nothing better to do than to rush to his office and meet him now?
She had nothing better to do but she wasn’t about to waste this evening with that miserable man.
Sinking back into her chair, she pressed her forehead while her heart thundered in her chest. He rubbed her the wrong way, had done so from the beginning and she didn’t know how she was going to lead this collaborative US and European ad campaign to the success of its US counterpart.
Thank goodness Nadine was accountable for the whole thing, but still, not being able to get the campaign moving even at this lower level would mean all fingers pointed to her.
She needed to go home, unwind, and calm herself down enough so that tomorrow she could put this behind her, and try to be nice to him.
She got up to clear her desk for the evening, and to go home but the sound of a new alert indicating that she had a new email, made her check her computer screen.
An email from Nadine stared back at her and she rushed to open it. Nadine must have sent it hastily from her iPad or something because it only said:
Michael is not happy. ‘I’m rushing off to a meeting now but need to speak later.
What happened between you and Gabriel Valois?
Tanya glared at the words and quickly re-read them. What the hell did Michael have to do with anything? But she didn’t even have the time to answer her own question because her phone rang once more and she snatched it, partly because she’d been trying to leave the office for over an hour now, partly because she had the feeling it might be important: knowing Michael knew something raised her mood further into the black.
“Tanya—it’s Michael here.”
Holy shit balls.
She sunk into her seat, rapidly trying to think ahead. How had he come to know of her meeting with Gabriel Valois? Why would he be calling her? What was it Nadine had warned her about?
“What happened in your meeting with Gabriel Valois?” Michael Zimmerman was never one to waste time with small talk.
Tanya’s brow furrowed deeper. This call coming immediately after Nadine’s email suddenly had her thinking. If they knew what had happened at the meeting today, and the news hadn’t come from her, then Gabriel Valois had created this drama.
Did he really hate her that much?
Nothing, nothing happened, she wanted to yell back. “Nothing.” And she meant that literally. “Is there a problem?” She needed to uncover his source.
Michael Zimmerman remained silent and she knew that when this man paused he was choosing the words to say. “Russell Trent called me. He says the meeting between you and Gabriel Valois didn’t go too well.”
That was putting it mildly.
It was obvious Michael knew more than he was letting on, he was that kind of man. He knew everything. As for that rat-bag low-life arrogant scum-bag, a-hole dick-head of a man Gabriel Valois, it was evident to her now that she was piecing it all together, that he’d let it slip.
But why? What did he have to gain?
“Is that what you heard, Michael?” She still wasn’t willing to concede the truth. She thought she heard a sigh escape his lips. “Tanya, you know how important this contract is for us. I believe in you completely which was why I decided to give you this role…” Her mind raced ahead.
What was Michael implying? How could a minor issue, such as this have blown things so out of proportion?
But before she could open her mouth to defend herself, Michael asked her, “Did you walk out of the meeting?”
Of course he knew everything.
“He was on a personal phone call and he was talking for—”
“They are the client and we have to be completely professional here, Tanya. I don’t understand the problem. Is there a problem?”
“If you could just let me explain myself, Michael,” she said in firm voice. “He kept me waiting. He arrived at the meeting late, and then he kept me waiting some more in his office. He didn’t seem remotely interested in anything I had to say and then he took a personal call while I waited patiently for him to continue our meeting. I had a conference call with the Milan office later that afternoon and I was going to be late if I waited around any longer. I didn’t just walk out for no reason. And I told his secretary that I had to leave, and why I had to leave.”
She heard Michael inhale deeply. “It appears that he has a bit of an attitude.”
She gasped, incredulous. A bit?
“He is the client and he can do whatever he damn well pleases. From what you tell me I don’t know what his problem is but it still doesn’t justify your behavior. I need you to fix this. I need this campaign to go well.”
“We’re meeting tomorrow,” she said, envisioning a sharp rotary blade twisting into Gabriel Valois’s broad shoulders.
“The two of you might have gotten off to a bad start but remember this, Tanya, this business is important. Flight is big. I have huge plans for Europe, and any
business with Flight is going to help us.”
He hung up and left her feeling wretched. She knew deep down that Zimmerman now had a question mark over her competency; all because of Gabriel Valois.
She held her face in her hands and resisted the urge to call Nadine; she was with a client anyway.
Instead Tanya fired off a reply to Nadine’s email.
Zimmerman called me. He wasn’t pleased. I’ll update you later.
Chapter 5
At least the walk to Gabriel Valois’s office put her in a better frame of mind than she’d been in when she’d woken up this morning.
Echoes of yesterday’s conversation with Michael Zimmerman still rang in her ears.
It wouldn’t do to walk into that man’s office blatantly showing her contempt for him.
He is the client.
As difficult as it was, she had to bear that in mind. Her career in Paris, her hopes for a new life both depended on it. Zimmerman might not have spelled it out as such, but Tanya knew what was in the cards. It put her on edge, knowing that from now she would be closely watched. She’d only been here a few months and this was the last thing she needed: the almighty Zimmerman breathing down her neck.
And all thanks to Gabriel Valois.
The walk along the Boulevard Saint-Marcel, with its many crème colored balconied buildings, and wide open roads bedecked with the green lace of summer trees made her temporarily forget the onerous meeting ahead of her. Inhaling the sweet fresh air rejuvenated her sagging spirits. In due course, armed with an abundance of good feeling that she very much needed in order to pass off her best act, she turned up at the offices of the man she detested with more vigor than she detested Vincent’s girlfriend.
She’d need to keep that fake smile on her face no matter what.
Even as she sat waiting for him once more, taking no chances at all and arriving a good fifteen minutes early, she already felt her good mood seeping away. The door to his office remained closed and she wasn’t even sure if he was behind that door or not.
Unable to sit still, she asked his assistant, a blonde haired prom princess with hair swept back into a high ponytail, if he was inside or whether he had stepped out. His secretary looked at her as though she was a five-year-old. “He is in a meeting at the moment. He knows you are next.”
Tanya whimpered a smile in response and sat back down again. Her eyes darted every now and then to her wrist watch. It was now one minute to two and she couldn’t believe that the man would subject her to the same rudeness as before by making her wait any longer.
Especially in light of what she now knew about him making an issue of yesterday’s meeting with his boss. He didn’t know that she knew what he’d done and this already put her at an advantage.
Presently, his door opened and he let his visitor out first, an elderly gentleman with whom he shook hands and offered the very thing he’d refused to give Tanya: his civility.
The men exchanged a few laughs and pleasantries and his visitor left.
Gabriel Valois turned his attention to her. His eyes still dark, still shining like flint. This time though, there was something else in his expression, as though he was really seeing her for the first time. She wondered if he had any idea that she knew what he’d done.
“We meet again,” he said, holding out his hand. She shook it firmly, more firmly than she usually did, partly because she wanted to wring the very life from him.
Instead, she searched his face for signs of evidence, guilt even, but when he held on a moment longer than he should have, she pulled her hand away even as her gaze ran over the dusting of dark hair along his jawline. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday and she had to admit, he looked a little rough. Had lost the smoothness and arrogance he’d possessed yesterday.
“Shall we?” he said, beckoning her in.
She started to walk in, at the same time wondering ‘shall we what?’ when a woman rushed in through the main doors and accosted Gabriel.
She was tall and ticked off, with short cropped hair that only models and someone like her, classically French, could carry off.
Tanya watched, like a piggy in the middle caught in the cross-fire, as Gabriel narrowed his eyes, getting ready for the confrontation.
“You haven’t returned any of my calls,” the woman snapped.
“Not now, Vanessa. I have a meeting to attend.” His tone was cold, commanding, and once more, he seemed annoyed. She was beginning to think that this was Gabriel’s personality and not just the way he had reacted only to her.
“We need to discuss this now. I’ve been trying to get hold of you all morning.”
Tanya watched the vein in his neck cord and she wondered who the woman was? His wife or girlfriend? The woman he’d been speaking to yesterday? For she spoke with a familiarity that indicated she was more than a business acquaintance.
“I have a meeting and I’m busy.” He repeated firmly.
This could turn out to be quite a scene, thought Tanya, as she settled in for a full-blown confrontation.
“I’m not leaving until you give me an answer. You’re avoiding me, I can tell. We had a deal, Gabriel.” He stared back at the woman and Tanya could see that his face registered something other than mild irritation. He was trapped. The woman wasn’t going anywhere and yet he couldn’t very well turn Tanya away either, not after what he’d done. She eagerly awaited his reaction.
“I’m sorry Ms. Braun. Would you mind waiting a little longer?” By now his impatient visitor had already made herself at home in his office.
Unable to do anything else, Tanya shrugged and sat back down in the waiting area as Gabriel disappeared into his office, closing the door behind firmly. Tanya ruminated over her ironic situation. What she wouldn’t give to tell Michael Zimmerman what had happened. But it would be childish and would prove nothing.
Michael was only interested in results. And he was expecting great results from her.
Further intrigued by the woman in his office, Tanya decided she had to be a girlfriend, at least. The way she spoke signified some level of intimacy. Tanya couldn’t imagine any other business person or client speaking to him in that tone.
Ever more curious, she glanced over at the prim and proper blonde ponytailed princess sitting behind the raised reception area, typing away. She would know. Tanya briefly wondered about asking her about ‘Vanessa’ then thought better of it.
Instead she remained seated, determined to wait it out this time, knowing that she didn’t have the option to walk out a second time. She was going to stay put even if it meant being here all day.
Drumming her fingers rhythmically on the armrest of her chair, she found herself once more in the unbelievable position of waiting once more for Gabriel Valois. Impatient, and with irritation creeping along her skin, she checked the calendar on her smartphone. It was Thierry’s birthday meal tonight. Something to look forward to, at least. It would get her out of her apartment which meant she wouldn’t have to spend another evening at home by herself.
Luc would be there, too. Her heart tripped a small beat at the thought of him. A trickle of excitement briefly uplifted her. She put her cell phone away, and looked around. Then, restless with the wait, she got up and asked the secretary, not caring for what sort of response her question might elicit this time. “The lady who’s in the meeting now, she looks familiar?” She didn’t look familiar at all, but it was the best Tanya could come up with.
Irritated at the disturbance, the secretary gave Tanya a casual appraisal. “Vanessa Delorme from Spiral.”
Tanya attempted recognition. “Vanessa Delorme! Of course. Thank you.” She slipped away and sat down again.
But the door flew open just then and the Vanessa Delorme marched out.
That was quick, thought Tanya.
“I’ll be waiting. And remember, Gabriel. You promised.” She snarled.
Tanya observed Gabriel’s calm reaction. “I can’t promise anything, Vanessa. It’s not my choice. Shall we
?” He turned to Tanya and beckoned for her to lead the way in.
Chapter 6
Gabriel watched the American slide past him, only raising her eyes briefly towards his, just the once.
He thought he saw a thinly veiled flash of anger cross her face but at least she was smiling this morning even though he’d kept her waiting again.
“Sorry to have made you wait,” he said. The apology came easily this time because she seemed to be in a better mood than she had been in yesterday.
“That’s not a problem at all.” She said happily, as she took her seat.
He eyed her warily and noted that she had tied her hair up into a neat little twist today.
It was either her much improved mood, or the fact that she was calmer than Vanessa, but Ms. Braun looked good today. He felt his tension begin to slip away.
She looked professional, and appealing with a touch of mascara and light lipstick. She didn’t need much to clutter up her inviting face. And yet she looked very much together, composed, with it.
It was refreshing, dealing with someone calmer. Especially after the drama that Vanessa was. Tanya Braun was obviously older; he guessed her to be in her late thirties, and his gaze swept in her left hand, noting the absence of a wedding ring.
“You said you’d looked through the mockups and the creative designs I’d left behind?”
“Yes. They’re …not bad.”
She laughed, and he looked up surprised. She really was in a better mood today, and he instinctively lightened up, needing a little laughter in his life, which lately had been full of heaviness.
“These are some more concepts agreed between our respective companies in the States. I thought it might be an idea to look through these as well. You met with Nadine Stefano last week, our executive creative director. Russell Trent is very happy with what she and her team have put together.”
He nodded, looking at the proofs she handed to him. She seemed enthused by her work, and this sudden change in her, so much the opposite from their cold conversation on the phone yesterday, was a complete turnaround.
