Page 41 of Negotiation Tactics

However, there is a second side to this, too. A part of me insists I should challenge him, because as soon as the transition period is over, I will be the one making the decisions. Officially.

“I’ll sort it out,” I settle for, not specifying what and how. I’m feeling a little unsure about going against whathe said I should do, but I really don’t think it will hurt anyone if the commission did waste those few days, so for now I’ll leave things as they are… We can talk about it later.

Our short but tense exchange comes to an end, but I’m not off the hook yet. I’m reminded of the dinner with Christine, how my folks were chatting with her as if there was no ugly history between us. Frankly, it irked me, but I kept my mouth shut because what was I supposed to say? I can’t risk messing up the opening in Singapore just because I want nothing to do with her.

Brady walks into the lounge like this is his own house, tossing me and dad one of his huge grins. “Hi, Lewis. I’m here to kidnap your son. He ate too much yesterday and needs an emergency gym sesh.”

Brady can say some idiotic things, but I am glad that he showed up when he did because I am sure dad wouldn’t have let me go before grilling me some more.

Dad laughs, then picks up the newspaper lying on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Have fun, boys.”

The moment we are outside, I receive a deliberate over-the-shoulder glance. But I don’t say anything, pretending I didn’t see it. We get in his Lotus, and he reverses then steers us down my driveway, humming some song under his nose.

“Spill.”

“Spill what?”

“C’mon, dude. You know what I’m talking about.” We pass the gate and merge with the traffic. When I give him no reply, he sighs. “What was Joshua Anderson doing in your room and why did both of you look like deer caught in the headlights?”

I wince internally. Heknows, there is no question about it. He knows exactly what happened, but he wants to make me say it.

I catch his gaze as we stop at a traffic light. He makes a whiny noise, so I decide I’ve let him stew enough. “We hooked up.”

“Shit! I knew it.” He punches the air with one fist.

I roll my eyes. “Why’d you ask then?”

“I needed a confirmation, why else? Duh. Damn, dude. You are playing with fire.”

He has no idea how true that is. “I’ve got things under control. Don’t worry.”

He snorts. “Yeah, right. Is that why you were getting your ass chewed when I walked in? And let me tell you, Lewis was about to get nasty. I literally saved you.”

“For which I am grateful.”

“I’m serious though. You gotta be careful. Don’t let your guard down just because Mr. Union Rep has a killer ass. For all you know, he’s using it to distract you, so he can find some way to blackmail you.”

I can only laugh. He’s spot on. “Oh, he already tried. He was snooping around the house. I caught him looking through the folders in my room.”

“Shit, for real? No way! It sounds like the plot to some porn movie.”

“Modern porn movies don’t really have plot,” I point out.

“The ones I make do,” he counters, giggling like an idiot and wiggling his auburn eyebrows.

I shake my head. Amateur porn is Brady’s new hobby, but I don’t think he’s finished shooting the thing he was making, or he’d have sent me a copy already.

Once we arrive at the gym, I enjoy the high-intensity workout he forces me through despite my complaints. My body welcomes the strain and my mind—the distraction. Christine emails me at noon, asking to meet up for lunch. Since I’ve got nothing planned for the rest of the day, I agree.

“I’m thinking of holding the first photoshoot in two months. In Venice,” she informs me, frowning at her forkful of lettuce, quinoa and feta salad. She picks at her food like a chicken, which is so different from the bliss with which Josh devoured his on our not-date date. “I know it is just a couple of weeks after the transition period is over and Lewis officially steps down, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem for you. Brady is a capable substitute when you aren’t around.”

The timing doesn’t bother me since it’s not like I am tied down to the office. No one is, in this day and age, though it still seems some big companies are forcing their employees to sit in the office. Like those tech corporations. I’ve always found it baffling, kind of outdated too, but, well, what do I know about the tech world? Yet, that is. If I ever branch out beyond hotels and hospitality, you bet I’m going full remote.

“That’s no problem at all,” I assure her, poking at my own food despite making fun of her about it. We’ve only talked about business matters so far, so being in her company is a lot easier than I expected it to be, even if I was ready to leave ten minutes ago.

She flashes me a smile, showing off her dimples. Those are still just as cute as they used to be, but even with the added charm, she’s no match for Josh. I’m only half-listening from then on as she carries on explaining about the ad campaign, my mind too busy imagining thethings I’m dying to do to Josh the next time I get to have my hands on him.

I nod my way through the rest of our talk, though I think she notices at one point that I’m not really listening. It doesn’t seem to bother her, but then again, it never did because as long as things go her way, Christine doesn’t care about anything else.

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