Page 13 of Embracing Love

“We are in contract with another agency and Russell was fine for us to continue working with them. But now—” of course now that the Zimmerman Group were expanding, his boss and hers were eager for them to work together. And here they all were. He continued, “I’m sure I have no choice but to agree and work with you.” But he didn’t like it one bit.

“You don’t have to sound so enthusiastic about it, Mr. Valois. I don’t bite.”

“I wasn’t so sure yesterday, Ms. Braun.”

“You weren’t sure?” She said it in a way that demanded a response but he had a meeting across the city in half an hour. “I’m so sorry to do this to you again but I have a meeting I need to attend and I have to cut our meeting short.”

If she was annoyed, she didn’t show it and gave a quick shrug of her shoulders. “As you wish,” she said, leaning forward to gather her paperwork. “But I’d like to remind you that I was here on time, and—”

He knew. She was right. None of this was her fault and he instantly regretted his email to Russell. He unfolded his shirt sleeves and did up the buttons on his cuffs.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting. Perhaps we could schedule another meeting later this week?”

She closed her briefcase, got up, shook his hand. “I look forward to it.”

“I’ll get my secretary to check my schedule and be in touch.”

They walked outside together, into the bright light of the afternoon.

“Are you sure you don't want a lift?” he asked but she was resolute.

“Thank you but I prefer the long walk.” They stepped out onto the street where the taxi was already waiting for him. “We could discuss the Flight campaign in more detail,” he suggested.

But she obviously had no intention of spending any longer in his company than could be helped, and turned to leave. “I think it would be better to have a proper full length meeting. We need to get the ball rolling on this, Mr. Valois, the delays aren’t helping. Not that any of this is your fault.” She added quickly.

“But you’re saying it as though it is.” He told her. There was something about her words not matching her actions that made him say it out loud.

She laughed. “It wasn’t my intention to apportion any blame on you, Mr. Valois.” Her lips curved out into a perfect smile, and she got out her sunglasses, slipping them on easily.

His breath caught at the sight of her. With her hair up and tiny wisps framing her face, her lips so lush and in stark contrast to her dark shades. He found himself mesmerized by her face; now that they both stood close enough for him to enjoy the view.

Close enough.

“I hope not,” he murmured, content to leave it at that. There would be other opportunities to find out more about her.

“We’ll meet soon,” he promised her and opened the door to the taxi. She turned to walk away and her stiletto jammed in the pavement crack. For a few seconds, she twisted her foot trying to wrench it free.

He almost stepped towards her, but she’d managed to free her foot. “The offer still stands.” He said.

“I’m perfectly fine, she told him,” and bravely walked away.

Gabriel slid into the taxi and as it slowly moved away, he watched Tanya Braun walking past. She had a fine pair of shapely legs too. He’d been so engrossed in the fine delicate features of her face, and the way she’d worn her hair that he hadn’t checked out the whole package as he usually did.

Probably because a woman that age was not the type of woman who usually caught his eye. He liked them younger, when they were firm to hold, perky, svelte. And they had less emotional baggage then too.

The other problem for him was now Vanessa. He had promised her more Flight work. The running shoes, especially the new ones in bright colors were taking off and were catching on fast as trendy casual wear.

Vanessa had pinned her beady little eyes on potential ad work ever since his company had been acquired by Flight. And especially since last year, when the new product line started to take off.

Only he couldn’t give her the new business anymore, because the Zimmerman Group were going to get it.

Things were no longer as simple as they had been in the early days when the main thing for him had been getting her into his bed. She’d come willingly, and besides there had been no other advertising company as good as Spiral around. Giving them his business had been a no-brainer.

He was forced to work the Zimmerman Group but today, for some reason it no longer felt like a bad choice. He felt more inclined to doing business with Ms. Braun.

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