Page 5 of Reckless Encounters

I smile through gritted teeth, biting my tongue from saying, “Well, as you know from experience, an elite membership to Masqued is over fifty thousand dollars a year.”

Instead, I go with, “Good point, Mr. Cole.” Pressing the clicker, I flip to the next screen, showing the French designs and highlights I combined as inspiration for this hotel. “These are schemes I have pulled together for your hotel, specifically. Some are just ideas so I can see what you all like and don’t like, which will allow me to design something uniquely curated for your desires. I also drew up my own visions for this place based off the things I knew you all wanted.”

The board oohs and ahhs and I can tell they are impressed, which lights a fire inside me. One of pride and excitement.

“These are amazing and spot on with what we’ve discussed. Almost like you were involved in these conversations previously,” Logan says with the same encouraging smile from earlier.

I notice Parker’s eyes flit to Logan, narrowing from the way he’s praising me.

Degradation is more of his thing.

Or come to think of it, maybe he saves his praises for something else.

His gaze moves back to where I stand, his grey eyes penetrating through me. With no emotion, he says, “Miss Pierce, do you have anything else you would like to show us? We have several more interviews this morning.”

Without answering, I click to the next slide, displaying my hand drawing of the in-house spa. Everyone’s faces—well, minus one—light up as they look over the display, and I let that reaction fill my chest with validation. I’m damn good at my job. Not wasting another second peeking in Parker’s direction, I go into detail on the layout and different ideas for the overall feel in the spa area.

When I’m finished, I ask if anyone has any questions, preparing myself for battle again because no doubt Parker will have some smart-ass remark.

A female board member with a big smile responds first. “No question, I just wanted to say thank you. This is amazing. I’m Olivia, and I’m the co-project manager with Logan. To reiterate what he said, it feels like you are already in my brain on this project. I just want to commend you on your keen eye for detail, especially when you had minimal information.” She gives me a wink, as if to say, you got this in the bag, girlfriend, and I instantly love her.

“Thank you so much, Olivia. It’s an honor to be here. I know no matter what, this place will be magnificent.” But I’m surely hoping you all do a majority-wins type of voting system here and it’s not just based on the head-dick-in-charge, then maybe I’ll have a shot.

“Any other questions?” Parker asks, barely giving anyone an opportunity to speak before he continues. “Thank you, Miss Pierce. Either way, we will be in touch within twenty-four hours.”

I nod with a gracious smile, one I direct to the rest of the room. “Thank you all for having me,” I say politely, then begin packing my things back into my bag.

“Ava, I can see you out,” Logan says, pushing his chair back from the table. But before I can speak, Parker is heading my way. “No need, Logan… I have to use the men’s room. I’ll make sure she sees herself out.”

Men’s room, my ass.

With my heart picking up pace, I give one last wave and follow Parker out of the room into the hallway. I know I should tread lightly here, but I don’t care how amazing of an opportunity this is, I’m not going to lie down and let someone walk all over me unless orgasms and consent are involved.

“Will you treat all your interviews today with the same kindness as you did me, Mr. Cole?” I ask, not bothering to contain my snark. Keeping my eyes ahead, we step down the corridor, his presence at my side putting me on edge.

“Well, Miss Pierce, it seemed to me that your fan club was already big enough. We wouldn’t want you to get too comfortable now, would we?” His low, husky voice is full of sarcasm.

I stop short in my heels, grabbing his arm and stopping him in place. “Look…” I demand, and boy does he. For the first time today, he focuses on me, and I feel it everywhere. But I push those thoughts aside, needing to say my piece to this man.

“Put whatever vendetta you have against me to the side…and promise me today you will pick the best person for the job. No biases, no discriminations. Just whomever you think will help make this place what it deserves to be.”

Parker surprises me and takes a step closer, and I have to tilt my head up to maintain eye contact.

Lifting his hand, he rubs his thumb over my bottom lip, slightly pulling it down. My breath halts in my chest, eyes unable to look away from his, frozen in the center of the storm darkening in his grey eyes.

“What you are implying would mean I would choose a vendetta over my company. There is only one person who would cause that reaction out of me, and I promise it’s not you.”

I instantly go from nearly pulling his thumb into my mouth and sucking on it to now wanting it between my teeth so I can inflict pain. Only, he’s not done.

“Stop being a brat and making everything about you.”

With a restrained huff, I shove his hand away from my face.

I’m not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but why do his words sting? And I promise it’s not you. I hate the way he gets in my fucking head.

One thing I do know is, “I’m not a brat…and you have no idea who I am, so don’t act like you do.”

Our eyes stay locked for a moment as I seethe, but I don’t let him have the last word.Not that he cares anyway.

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