Page 5 of Handling the CEO

“Indeed,” I say, “she was extremely... helpful... eventually,” I comment diplomatically, though I remind myself how customer service was not her strong suit. That mouth definitely is.

“Umm, if you say so.” He appears to know exactly what type of PR nightmare his sister is. “Let me ring that up for you.”

“It’s great tailoring.” I change the subject since I think discussing how his sibling was of assistance is not something I want to bring up. “Do you have other styles? I would also like to look at some suits someday. The one in the window is great.”

He stares again at my Armani, hopefully trying to gauge what my style is, and not pondering if I was impaling his sister on my dick ten minutes ago.

“Sure thing, we have lots of options for you! Do you want to set an appointment, or I can come to your… office,” he says cautiously, looking at my outfit again “with a sample selection? Here is my business card if your assistant wants to make an appointment for you.”

Clever guy. With one look at me he pinned me as working in a busy office and as someone who rarely makes his own appointments. Though thinking about Anya’s skills or lack thereof makes me groan. I need to fire her when I get back, as missing my appointment isn’t acceptable, despite the outcome of the day. Speaking of…

“Is... DJ… still around? I would like to thank her for assisting.” Hopefully I sound bored, but the guy is no fool as he gives me a pointed look.

“I am going to stop you right here. I know exactly how ‘helpful’ my sister is and if I didn’t have a blasting toothache, she would have never been here. Normally Monday is our slowest day. I didn’t think we would get any customers. So, knowing she isn’t exactly ‘customer friendly’ and by your fake uninterested tone, I will assume that it’s not a ‘discussion’ you want to have with her. However, she isn’t having the best year, so I would appreciate it if you moved on. If you still want to talk about suits, give me a ring, but if not, it is what it is.”

Goddamn. Forceful comebacks must run in the family. I appreciate the brother’s spunk. He’s willing to lose an obviously rich customer for his sister.

“No worries, man. I won’t interfere, thanks for the warning. Once I get a new assistant, I will have them give you a ring,” I respond. Putting his card in my wallet, I pay for my shirt and leave the shop.

As I exit the store, I look at the card, hoping to get DJ’s last name, but all I get is ‘Marcus’s Tailoring’ and a phone number on the back of it. And I do not know why that upset me. I just spent half an hour with her; I was not looking for more. Hell, I wasn’t even expecting a quickie in a fitting room, especially with her attitude.

I do not need the complication, and that hellion is nothing if not that. Sex was fantastic, but pursuing a mouthy shop girl—woman— even one who is bold and clever, is definitely not what I need right now. So even if something in me makes me want to check out who Marcus is and find out more about his sister, I force myself to go back to the office.

DJ

Asmymothersetsthe table on Sunday, I take a moment to look around her house. It’s a lovely cottage I bought her last year, with large windows overlooking a magnificent garden and pool, and a veranda where our family gathers for lunch from time to time. My nephew’s laughter is sounding off the walls as he plays on his Xbox and my mother’s nagging is coming from the kitchen.

“Mi hijayou need to add more salt, it has no taste otherwise.” She chastises my older sister, who somehow at 37 still needs indications—in my mom’s opinion—to make a recipe she has been making with her since she was 13. Mymamáat least gave up trying to teach me after a couple of kitchen incidents, but Laura still gets a stern teacher every Sunday we get together.

Marcus is playing backgammon with Uncle Antonio at the table, and I am nursing my mojito inmamá’s rocking chair, absolutely NOT thinking about green eyes and sleeve tattoos hidden behind an Armani suit.

I still can’t believe I jumped one of Marcus’s customers, nor that we banged in the fitting room. Since Richard, I went on a few dates, but none of them seemed to challenge me as that messy-haired jackass on Monday. That massive cock pumping me as he claimed my hips and smacked my ass... let’s just say my vibrator had quite a week as I recalled Monday’s lunchtime events.

When he opened that curtain, all I saw was miles of skin, tribal tattoos on his arms, that six-pack I was expecting and a most delicious happy trail... and then I could see how hard he was as he was looking at me… Well, I snapped and poured years of frustration into eating him alive.

“DJ, you seem a bit distant,” Marcus mentions, “are you OK?”

I nod, breathing through my nose and massaging my temples.

“Nothing Marcus, just big day tomorrow, need to get all the money off those guys at McAv after the whole Richard debacle.” I lie and touch the bite mark he left through my t-shirt on my shoulder which has almost faded now, but has been reminding me of my moment of insanity all week.

“Hmm.” Marcus’s eyebrow goes up, not believing a word out of my mouth. “So has nothing to do with Thor in the shop the other day?”

“What Thor?” Uncle Antonio perks up from the anchor play he likes. “Does our little DJ have an admirer?” he continues like I’m 10, not 35!

But just as a 10-year-old, I roll my eyes at him. “No admirer,TíoAntonio. I helped Marcus in the store on Monday and one of the customers bought a shirt.”

My younger sibling moves closer to me and whispers, so my uncle doesn’t hear, “I think there was a bit more going on based on your red face and quick escape from the store when I got back from the dentist. However, he looked like he could lift you with one arm and drag you to his expensive man-cave, maybe a sex dungeon? Do you want his name? He paid by card. OK, that may be a bit stalker-ish and probably breaks a few privacy laws, but I won’t tell if you don’t,” he winks.

“Yeah Marcus, maybe we don’t invade the man’s privacy for fuck’s sake!” I shake my head at him. “But ignoring the legal implications you of all people should know of, I really don’t want to get involved right now. Frankly, he was an arrogant ass. No need to pursue thatpendejo.” I keep telling myself as I get out of the rocking chair.

“I need mentally prepare for tomorrow’s meeting, which I need to ace to get back some of the money Richard got off me. Let us leave jerk-Thor in Asgard for today. Maybe after tomorrow, I will reconsider.” I head away from the porch, towards the pool, needing a bit of space from my family.

Sitting on the bench at the other end ofmamá’sgarden, I admire the quiet and greenery around me. Again, I wonder what possessed me to assault a guy in the shop.

Hearing movement beside me, I recognize the click-clack of her cane against the footpath, and my big sis Laura slides next to me on the bench and puts her arm around me. Her dark hair with red ends brushes my shoulder and the smell of her reminds me of growing up and being held when I cried or just because I needed it.

“So lil D, man trouble? I saw you and Marcus whispering, and you were a tad... blushing.”

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