Page 30 of Embracing Love

“No.” She said, unsure exactly why she felt like this. It was everything and it was nothing. “I’m focusing on Milan and I apologize if I seem a little distant this morning.”

The door handle turned and Michael entered the room, trespassing into their conversation.

“What have I missed?” he asked jovially, as he sat down.

~ ~

She felt a lightness in her limbs and her mood was somewhat lifted from earlier. Neither of these were from sitting in the taxi alongside Michael Zimmerman. Thankfully he was busy on yet another phone call, leaving her free to daydream about the recent meeting with Gabriel.

She noted the way his jaw tightened, especially on the right hand side of his face, whenever he was uncomfortable about something.

She concluded that her attitude this morning must have made him uneasy the number of times she’d witnessed his jaw clenching today.

“It should be interesting.” Michael chuckled as he got off the phone.

“What should be interesting?” She dragged her attention to her boss.

“This year’s marketing convention. Nadine’s doing three presentations.”

She would, thought Tanya, not without malice. “She’s going to have a busy weekend.”

“I’d like you to do a presentation as well and I’m going to invite Russell Trent to attend.”

“Russell Trent?” She asked in alarm.

Why?

“He’s a good guy. It will be good for business, and it will be interesting for him to see how we’re handling the joint international campaign. It would be good for him to see how we work.”

“Of course.” It made sense.

“They’re an important client and I’ve always valued relationships as you know and the power of speaking to people.” Tanya balked at this. Each time he mentioned Flight being an important client, she was reminded of him being here to check up on her. But she nodded her head in agreement anyway, and wished they could be back at the office.

She didn’t want to always be reminded of the importance of Flight.

“Naturally, he'll be there as my guest and obviously he won’t be attending all the presentations. But I think if you put one together about how our two offices have worked together, and how the Flight Europe campaign is evolving, it will further enforce our good relationship.”

“I’ll get started once I get to Milan.”

“Excellent.”

That was it then, Tanya decided. This would be her one chance to shine.

“You might want to book your ticket direct from Milan to the convention.”

Did he really not want her in the Paris office at all?

“Direct?” she could only murmur. It would be a nightmare of a journey, especially from Milan.

“It’s only two weeks away.”

Damn. There was so much going on. She’d barely have time to catch her breath in Milan before she’d be heading off to Sacramento.