“Okay,” I said slowly, my mind spinning in disbelief. “Well, I’ve got some time to go over things if you really feel like you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.” Her voice was strong and confident, her chin slightly higher than normal as she gave me a smile and set off leading the way to my office.
Obviously, she was sure that she had this under control. It was surprising, to say the least, but I’d hear her out. I highly doubted she’d had the time to go over all the information in any detail, but I’d give her the chance.
Whatever happened, I wouldn’t judge her based on the meeting we were about to have. She was eager to start working, I knew that much. All I had to see now was whether her eagerness had trumped my need for her to be thoroughly prepared for any meeting she had with me.
Chapter 10
Addy
This was it. If I screwed up this meeting, there was no telling if Marco would give me another chance.
I’d devoured the information he’d sent me, though. The more I’d read, the more excited I had gotten. As soon as I’d finished, I’d practically run over to his office—only to be told he wasn’t in.
It had been a bit of a disappointment that I’d had to wait, but now the wait was over, and I was going to get to share my thoughts with him while they were still fresh. It had been a while since my brain had had any real challenge, and the documentation he’d sent over had sparked an interest I hadn’t felt for anything in a long time.
The range of companies he worked with was astonishing. Then there were all the different nationalities of his clients from all around the globe, each with their own sets of unique customs included in their files.
That was only the tip of the iceberg. Logistics had so many more components to it than I’d realized, and I was sure I still hadn’t come close to realizing the full extent of it.
The challenge excited me, and now I was more eager than ever to get started. I had to stop myself from bouncing on the balls of my feet while I waited for him to open his office.
“After you.” He motioned me inside, followed, and closed the door behind him.
As he strode to his desk, I took just one moment to appreciate the figure he cut in his couture suit. Tall, dark, and handsome didn’t even begin to describe the man.
Sunlight shone in through his windows and highlighted the lighter bits in his hair, which in turn only made the dark-chocolate color of it seem darker. The fabric of his shirt stretched just ever so slightly between his shoulders and over his biceps.
His hips were narrower than those broad shoulders, causing his upper body to taper off in a true swimmer’s form. He drummed his long fingers on the desk as he rounded it, then gestured for me to take a seat.
“What did you think?” he asked as he lowered himself into his chair. His eyes came up to meet mine and didn’t waver again. “I’m curious to know since you wanted to see me so urgently.”
“Firstly, I wanted to thank you for the opportunity,” I started. Elena and I had gone over some common interview tips last night, and even though I’d technically already had my interview, I still wanted to come across as professional.
Marco, however, narrowed those vibrantly golden eyes of his in confusion. “You want to thank me for the opportunity to read an email?”
“No.” Although, on second thought, that was probably exactly what it had sounded like.
Crap.
Quietly taking a deep breath, I refocused. I was nervous as hell, but I needed to remain confident. My ideas were solid, and my understanding of my role in the company had grown. I just needed my words to match how I felt about it.
“What I meant was that I appreciate you taking this chance on me.” Much better. I held back a smile and rested my hands in my lap, willing myself to stay calm and collected. “I know that you’re taking a risk, but I wanted to assure you I’m up for any challenge you might give me.”
“Okay.” A tiny line appeared between his eyebrows as he lifted a hand to tap the corner of his mouth. “I thought we were past this stage of our relationship. You have a job here, Addy. The risk is one I’m willing to take. How about you tell me what you thought about the information I sent over?”
“Right.” I should have seen that one coming. Still, I wasn’t going to let it shake me.
Was he an incredibly hot billionaire with an impressive empire he had built himself? Yes.
But I was Adaline Tidwell and the very fact that I was sitting in an office in Florence, Italy was proof that I’d also made my dreams come true. Just not in the same way he had.
Bending over to retrieve my purse, I pulled out my phone and opened up the folder I’d saved the documents in. My notes were also in there.
I am prepared for this. Another deep breath in and I was ready to impress him. Hopefully.
“Okay, so I’ve noticed a general trend in the contracts you sent me. I also did some very basic and quick preliminary research that suggests it’s an industry-wide trend. Customers are expecting to get their goods faster, more flexibly, and with little cost involved.”
“That’s true,” he said, his eyes shifting from one of mine to the other. “You really had time to read through the contracts and do research?”
“Yes.” Feeling slightly encouraged by the openness of his expression, I dove back in. “By making efficient use of technology, we might be able to lower some costs and to change the way the industry works.”
“You haven’t started working in it yet, and you already want to change the industry?” he asked, amusement lighting up his eyes. It wasn’t the derisive kind, though, so I let it go.
I finally let my smile break through in response, glancing down at my notes before continuing. “I don’t so much want to change it as I want to help the company with the changes already happening. There are also some larger, traditional customers who are becoming players in the logistics game themselves. I noticed one of your clients had mentioned they were looking at opening their own logistics department by the end of the year.”
His dark eyebrows lifted, and a second later, he was giving me a soft, slow clap. “Looks like my gut was right about you, but I need you to slow down. Reciting the challenges and changes in the industry isn’t going to bring in more clients.”
“It might help keep some,” I suggested, even though he’d knocked the wind out of my sails a little with his comment.
“Sure, and when you speak to them and it comes up, by all means, feel free to discuss it. You’re intelligent and I like that you’re enthusiastic, but we need to keep industry matters secondary when it comes to talking to clients.”
He moved the mouse beside his computer and turned the screen at an angle so I’d be able to see it. Then he clicked into one of his client folders. “You are right, though. There are many of the bigger companies who have already started their own logistics departments and many more who are planning on it.”
I nodded along with him, surprised to feel like he was teaching me instead of making me feel like I was too much. That had happened to me before when I’d gotten carried away.
The document he pointed at wasn’t one I’d seen before, so I leaned in slightly and scooted forward on my chair for a better view.
“Preston Medical is one of our bigger clients and they’re only growing. The trouble we’re having with them is that they’ve appointed some new operations manager who believes he can do our jobs better and for cheaper than we can. I know he’s wrong, but Preston isn’t convinced.”
“Okay, so in one deal, we’re facing two of the challenges I identified?” A rush of exhilaration traveled through me. I hadn’t been fooling myself. I really had gotten a bit of a grip on this.
Marco nodded. “Precisely, but we can’t allow our negotiations to center around those two things. We need to address them as secondary issues. But ultimately, it’s about providing our service to our clients in such a way that they want to use us again, despite the jackasses in the world who think they can do better.
” He stood up suddenly. “Come with me.”
I frowned but followed him out of the building. Once we were outside, he grinned and produced a pair of aviator sunglasses. As he slid them on, he turned to face me and started walking at the same time.
“Where are we going?” I asked, lifting a hand to shield my eyes from the sun.
“A field trip,” he replied with entirely too much sexy swagger for a boss to have. At that moment, right there on that narrow street with him in his designer suit walking backward and wearing a smirk, he looked every ounce the eligible billionaire bachelor I knew him to be.
He cocked his head until I caught up, then spun around and led me into a short alley. “So here’s the thing, right? I need to see how you interact with a client who doesn’t really want what you’re selling, even if you know it might help them.”
“You want me to be a salesperson?” I glanced up at him, doing my best to ignore the strong, slightly darkened edge of his jaw from this angle. “I can do that.”
Another thrill ran down my spine. Working with Marco, although he was terribly distracting, was going to be fun. He was easygoing while still commanding, respectful but firmly in control, and didn’t have a dictatorial vibe most of my previous bosses had given off.
While we walked, Marco slid his hands into his pockets and strolled along as if he didn’t have a care in the world, all the while explaining to me why he needed someone like me to work with the clients.
About ten minutes after we’d left the office, he led me into a large public park. Green grass stretched from one side to the other while gnarled old trees formed canopies above, and several ponds decorated the space.
There were many people milling around, and as soon as we walked in, he pulled off his glasses and looked right into my eyes. “I want you to sell an umbrella to someone in this park.”
My gaze drifted toward the sky. “It’s a beautiful day. There’s no rain in sight.”
“That’s exactly why I chose an umbrella as the product today.”
I was tempted to smack him in the arm, but considering I was trying to be professional, I managed to hold back. Just.
Besides, I liked the challenge. “You’re on. Where am I supposed to find an umbrella, though?”
“I’ll get one from the street vendors around the corner. You choose your target and I’ll be right back. Then we can get started.”
I nodded, waiting until he was gone before I started scanning the park. There were a lot of different options, from students lying in groups on the grass, to middle-aged people eating lunch, to older people on the benches.
Marco was back much sooner than I had been expecting, holding out a bright yellow umbrella to me. The corners of his mouth twitched up when he handed it over. “Good luck.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got this.” I flipped my hair over my shoulder, took the umbrella from him, and made my way over to the woman I had chosen.
She was fair skinned with light hair, sitting on a blanket on the grass while reading a book. I cleared my throat when I got closer, watching as she realized someone was nearing her and lifting her head to smile at me.
Five minutes later, I headed back to Marco with cash instead of the umbrella in my hand. I flashed him a wide smile and pretended to curtsy while he chuckled and clapped his hands.
“Well done,” he said. “What did you tell her?”
“Umbrellas aren’t only used to shield oneself from rain, but also from sunlight.”
“Brilliant. I’m happy to have you onboard, Addy.”
“Really?” My heart fluttered in my chest. “I’m officially on board now?”
“You have been since yesterday, but yes, you are. We’re going to work out well together as a team. I have to speak to some clients of a company I just bought tomorrow. I want you on those calls with me.”
If it wouldn’t have been extremely embarrassing for him to witness me doing it, I would have punched the air in victory. Instead, I just curled my fingers into a fist, bent my arm, and pulled back in a silent, small sign of my brilliant victory.
From here on out, I was definitely going to be able to pay my rent. And if I got really lucky, I might even be able to do some more traveling. My luck was turning around.
At least, it really felt like it was.
Chapter 11
Marco
Addy’s heat seeped into my side. Even through the layers of fabric between us, I felt her presence so acutely that it was almost painful not to reach for her.
Somehow, it was like my body had become fine-tuned to her frequency, and now that she was this close to me, it was difficult to pretend I didn’t feel any chemistry with her.
It was stupid, pointless, and unrequited, but I couldn’t help it. I felt the air crackle between us like there was a living thing trying to break out of it. And yet she was calmly studying the file in front of her, completely oblivious.
A tiny frown appeared between her eyebrows just before she lifted her gaze to mine. “If I’m understanding this correctly, they don’t want to do business with you—”
“With us,” I corrected almost automatically. “You’re in it with me now.”
If only. But no matter. I would get over this little crush I had developed with a little time. But God, do I want her.
It was early in the morning, and the sun shining into the office was soft and hazy. The sky outside was still streaked with pinks and oranges, and a breeze rippled through the trees on the sidewalk.
Maybe I felt my attraction to her more intensely because we were in that magical, quiet part of the day, the part before the sky turned bright and the streets got busy. It was like we were in our own bubble, and in that bubble, I was more desperate than ever to fuck her.
It was entirely too easy to imagine reaching for her face, less than two feet away from mine, to picture cupping her cheek in one hand and sliding the other into her blonde locks. She’d worn her hair loose today, and it tumbled past her shoulders in a shiny curtain that looked as soft and golden as the morning sun.
I would look into the depths of her blue eyes and—
“Are you okay?”
My head gave the slightest jerk as I came crashing back to earth. I cleared my throat and hoped like hell she didn’t notice the rasp that remained. “Fine. Yeah. Sorry. I just spaced out for a second. We need more coffee.”
“Yes,” she groaned, and hearing the sound falling from her lips did not do good things to me.
I pressed the heel of my hand against my crotch—discreetly—and waited a few seconds before standing up.
“Why did you want us to start so early anyway?” she asked. “I don’t mind starting early, but is it going to be this early very often?”
I shrugged as I made my way over to the coffee station. “No, not very often. It depends on the time zone of our client. This particular client is in New Zealand. That’s a ten-hour difference between us and them, so it’s difficult to schedule a mutually convenient time.”
She whistled under her breath, turning in her seat to look at me with her arm on the armrest and her back relaxed. She looked comfortable here in my office, like we’d been doing this together for years.
With her delectable body wrapped in a black dress with a pencil skirt and low heels on her feet, her pink lips slightly parted, and her eyes fixed on mine, she looked fucking gorgeous. My mind was constantly one minute away from conjuring up a very cliched scene from an office porno.
It was ridiculous, and yet somehow, it had become my reality.
I fixed our coffees and carried the mugs back to the desk, then took my seat beside her again. Another big problem with how close our proximity was as we waited for the conference call to start was that I could smell her.
Not in the weird creepy way. But there was a gentle lavender and vanilla scent that wafted over to me that I knew for a fact was not usually present in my office. It was all her, and it was tempting as all fuck.
The earthy floral scent carried the
sweet vanilla, and on the back end of it was just a hint of spice. I was yet to figure out what it was, though.
“I’ve structured our day today around this early start,” I said, banishing the inappropriate thoughts from my mind. “We’ll work in a few more calls with clients in similar time zones to this one before lunch. We’ll eat earlier than usual, and hopefully, you’ll be able to get out of the office earlier.”
“And you?” She tilted her head to the side as she asked, a small V between her light eyebrows. “Will you also be leaving earlier?”
“Nope.” I chuckled and tore my gaze away from hers. I already had all the details to be discussed on this call in my head, but I needed a break from looking right into her warm eyes when she was so close, yet so completely out of reach. So I focused on the papers in front of me instead. “I rarely have the luxury of leaving early, but it’s by my own design. I don’t enjoy wasting time. There’s no one waiting for me at home, and I rarely go out, so staying at work just makes more sense.”
“That sounds incredibly…” She drummed her fingers over her lips before allowing them to form a small smile. “Sad. That’s just sad, Marco.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Nah. I prefer it this way. The company is important to me. I’ve worked hard to get it to where it is today. Maybe there will come a time when I feel differently, but for now, it is what it is.”
She paused for a long second. Although I was still looking at the folder, I could see her in my periphery. “Yeah, I get that. I feel the same way, even though I’m obviously in a totally different position to you. For now, I’m also happy with the way things are.”
“That’s good. I can’t stand those people who are constantly complaining about their lives. If you don’t like where you are in life, move. You’re not a tree.”
“Did you just quote a meme?” She let out a surprised chuckle.
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