"Madeline."
Madeline jumped back from staring intently at her computer screen, "Oh hi Mr. Thomas!" She said with surprise.
“I'm sorry I didn’t mean to scare you and for the last time it's Vince, I’m not your father." He said with a smirk. "Anyway, Mr. Windsor wants to meet you. Before you panic, it’s all good news I can assure you! He has taken notice of your work lately, especially this watch campaign and wanted to discuss it with you." Madeline’s heart was about to beat out of her chest. She’d never met Mr. Windsor but as the owner of the firm she was naturally going to freak out a little.
"Yeah ok, wow! Um now or?" She stammered a bit as she tried to gather her thoughts.
"No sometime this week, his assistant will send you an invite. I’m not surprised he wants to meet with you Madeline, I told you in your interview your portfolio speaks for itself and you have incredible talent." He gave her cubicle wall a quick pat and then walked back to his office.
"Well how the hell am I supposed to stay focused now?" She muttered to herself. She took a few moments to collect herself, guzzle down half of her coffee and channel all of her anxious energy into finishing this watch campaign so that she could walk confidently into her meeting later this week with Mr. Windsor.
"So has your boss or like…boss’s boss rather ever called you into his office?" Madeline asked as she took a sip of her martini.
"Uh no but it’s not the same in a hospital. What for? Disciplinary matters? That’s the only reason I could ever see getting called into the hospital directors office." Jazmine replied.
"No not discipline, sorry I’m not making any sense. My boss told me today that the owner of my firm wants to meet with me this week and that it was good news. I guess he’s noticed my work…although I'm not sure what it is exactly he wants to talk about." She said as she nervously played with the olives in her glass.
"Holy shit Maddie that’s great news! Ya know, I told you when we graduated you were going to kill it, stop doubting yourself. Have you ever met him before?" Jazmine rubbed Madeline’s arm and lifted her glass for a cheers.
"Thank you, I know I’m just nervous and anxious…No I haven’t met him and weirdly I don’t have a clue what he looks like. I know he has a private elevator so he doesn’t have to interact with his minions." She said with a laugh.
"Ok let’s look him up! That way you can imagine his face when you’re preparing your speech you’re going to give him about how amazing you are and that he should give you a raise!" Jazmine said as she reached for her phone.
"Ha, ok I’m not asking for a raise less than three months in but yeah let’s look him up, his name is Bennet Windsor."
Jazmine furiously typed his name into her cell phone and then froze. "Oh my God," she exclaimed with dramatic pauses between every word.
"What?" Madeline replied as she furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Umm ok, so remember that guy we saw in our boxing studio?"
"What? Yeah why?" Madeline was now thoroughly confused. "Just spit it out Jazmine. Actually let me see the phone." She went to grab Jazmine’s phone but her hand was smacked away.
"Sooooo HE is the guy from the boxing studio!" She squealed as she turned the face of the phone toward Madeline.
"WHAT?!" Madeline grabbed the phone to get a closer look as if that would clarify anything. "Holy shit Jaz he is so hot!!! How am I going to keep my shit together in a meeting with him?! He made eye contact with me at the boxing studio and I tripped over my own feet!"
Jazmine laughed and grabbed Madeline’s arm, "This is amazing, and I can’t wait to hear how you nervously sneeze on him or something." She continued laughing as Madeline crossed her arms in annoyance. "No really Maddie you’ll be fine. It’s just too funny, I mean what are the odds?! Don’t sweat it though, just keep telling yourself he’s your boss or your boss’s boss and that will put you in a business mindset."
Madeline sighed, "Yeah you’re right…but we do have to change gyms!" She said in all seriousness.
Madeline had set her alarm thirty minutes early to ensure she enough time to pick out the right outfit, get to work in plenty of time to not feel rushed before her meeting with Mr. Windsor and of course give herself a pep talk in the mirror before she ran to catch her train. Her meeting wasn’t until 10:00 am and she was always at work by 8:30 am which gave her plenty of time to enjoy a cup of coffee and get about the day’s business. She was deep in though going over some image details for an upcoming vitamin campaign when her computer alerted her to her meeting that took place in 15 minutes. She jumped and grabbed her chest as she silenced the reminder.
"You okay Maddie?" Jason asked as he walked by her cubicle.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, was just lost in work I guess." She smiled casually while her breathing calmed.
"So are you coming out with us tonight? A few of us were going to check out that new Ramen place off of Huron." Madeline tried to listen to what Jason was saying but she was completely distracted.
"I have a boxing class tonight actually but next time for sure." She said as she gathered her portfolio and pen.
"Sounds good, your loss though…I was buying tonight." He said with a wink as he walked away.
Madeline’s heart felt like it was about two seconds away from leaping out of her chest as she rode the elevator up to the top floor.
"Oh my god my boobs are sweating!" She said to herself as she readjusted her bra. She felt like a newborn deer as she walked towards Mr. Windsor’s assistant. The top floor looked like every top floor office you’d seen in movies…a lot of windows, streamlined black and white decor and of course a massive corner office where Mr. Windsor commanded his empire.
"Hi there you must be Madeline?" A small, chipper woman looked up from the desk outside his office.
"Hi, yes I have a meeting with Mr. Windsor at 10." She managed to squeak out.
"He is just finishing up a call and he will be right with you." She said with a wide, toothy smile. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
"Oh no I’m ok tha-" She was interrupted by the intercom beeping and a deep voice.
"Janice you can send in Miss Strickland now thank you."
“I’ll send her right in." She replied as she got up to walk Madeline to the large doors of his office.
Chapter 3
Madeline stepped into the office and gingerly made her way towards Mr. Windsor’s desk.
"Ah hello Miss Strickland it’s nice to finally meet the woman who has been bringing such innovative talent to my graphics team." He said confidently as he thrust out his hand.
"Uh, Um thank you Sir!" Madeline choked out as she shook his hand.
"Please have a seat," he said as he gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.
He proceeded to unbutton his suit coat and sit back in his chair. “I'm sure you’re wondering why I requested this meeting. I try to have a quarterly meeting with each team to get feedback and see how the morale is but I wanted to speak with you specifically because your work in these few short months has been outstanding. I’m not speaking about just your work ethic and ability to excel at deadlines but the innovative techniques and vision you bring to the team are of someone with years of experience and insight." Madeline tried to keep up and understand everything he was saying but she couldn’t help but wonder if he recognized her from the gym.
"Well thank you for the compliments Mr. Windsor, honestly coming from you it means so much. I really try to just be honest and sincere in my work and lead with intuition. I know the market and trends also play a large impact but I really try to marry them together in a cohesive way that is reflected in my work." Madeline elaborated a little on where she draws her inspiration and what lead her to ultimately choose graphic design and media marketing as her focus in school.
Mr. Windsor grabbed a file off his desk and walked over to the chair next to Madeline. "Listen Madeline, we have just landed some major accounts and I’d like you take a look at them in this file and give me your thoughts. I know this probably seems
like a lot of pressure but I’m honestly just looking for your initial thoughts and ideas." As he spoke he scooted his chair closer to Madeline and opened the file. He proceeded to pull out some of the contracts and explain a little about each client; their wants, previous experiences with other firms, etc. As he pulled out the contracts his hand brushed Madeline’s bare knee and she jumped.
"My apologies," he said as he made direct eye contact with her.
"Oh, sorry no I’m just jumpy. It just startled me is all." She blushed and tried to play it off but she felt her nipples get instantly hard when his fingertips brushed her skin. She smiled and nodded as he continued on completely missing his eyes drop from hers to her lips and then to the flush creeping up her neck.
Every time he moved or gestured she could smell his cologne mixed with his masculine scent. Her ability to focus was wearing thin and she wasn't sure how much longer before she just melted into a puddle right in front of him. She was lost in lustful thought when the intercom interrupted again.
"Mr. Windsor your 10:30 is here."
"Thanks Janice I’m just finishing up with Miss Strickland." He responded. "So as I was saying take a look at the files Janice will be sending over and give me your thoughts. I’ll have her schedule a follow-up meeting sometime next week for us to discuss what you’ve come up with." He said as he escorted her to his office door.
"Ok sounds good Mr. Windsor, thanks again for taking the time to meet with me and allowing me this great opportunity." Madeline said with gusto as she thrust her hand in his.
“We'll be in touch," he said with a slight smile as his hand pressed against her lower back. He had removed it as quickly as he placed it there and was already shaking hands with his 10:30 appointment.
"John so great to see you again, come in!" She heard him say as the office door slowly closed.
The entire elevator ride and walk back to her desk, she could still feel his fingertips on her back. It felt like they were going to burn through the sheer material of her blouse.
"Heeey are you ok? You look like you just threw up or cried or something?" Jason had reappeared beside Madeline's cubicle.
“I'm good, just kind of feeling overheated a bit. I need to run to the restroom actually, be right back." Madeline grabbed her purse and hurried to the restroom. She half expected to see her makeup smeared and sweaty matted hair with the way Jason described the way she looked. To her surprise she looked…good, like really good! She had a natural flush to her cheeks and her lips looked puffy and full. Her eyes looked hooded and heavy and her hair was mussed just enough to look voluminous and sexy.
"Oh my god I look like I’m turned on!" She gasped out loud. She quickly looked under the stall doors to ensure nobody heard her. She steadied herself with her hands on the counter and took some long, deep breaths.
"Get it together Maddie, you are a god damn adult and you can act like one!" She said as she pointed to herself in the mirror. She ran some cold water over her hands and pressed them against her neck. She let out a long breath, readjusted her button down blouse and pencil skirt, and then headed back to her desk.
Want to find out how the story ends? Click HERE to buy Resisting Her on Amazon.
Drake: A Rocky Mountain Romance Page 10
