Page 18 of Tricky Business

“Why international instead of something a little easier? Everything gets complicated when you need translators.”

I shake my head as I say, “No, all the models need to be American. We’ll need to take them with us.”

He sighs, and I can’t help but worry a little. There are places in the states that would work, but I really want to have the old-world feel. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Madison. You’re cutting into profit margins for this, but we need a win in this market, so if you’re sure that this is the best way to do these videos, then I’ll make the arrangements.”

I can’t help the excitement that bubbles up inside me. “Thank you!” I exclaim before I’m able to control myself again. Not only do I get to do the videos exactly how I want them, but I also get to see Europe for the first time. Tessa’s going to be so jealous.

“I like what I’m hearing about this campaign, Madison. I told you my doubts yesterday, but now that everything is coming together, it feels like you might be on to something. Your approach to ChitChat marketing could become the industry standard approach if it bears fruit.”

It’s strange talking to Emery like this. He’s serious and intense, but behind the mask, I know there’s the man I drank wine with last night. Things are different today than they were last night, but I feel like I understand him more than I did yesterday. And that changes things.

“I hope so! It’s important that you and everyone involved remember that it’s almost impossible to predict what will go viral on ChitChat. That’s why we need so many videos to release over time. I’ll help guide you on how to manage them from an ad spend point of view, but there are no guarantees that any single thing will work. There’s a lot of throwing spaghetti against the wall with the right ideas in mind.”

Emery nods and stands up and grabs his bag just like yesterday afternoon. “Well, that’s something to talk about once we’re past the filming stage. For now, just make sure everything is ready for me by the end of tomorrow.”

I stand up and follow him out of the office, but he turns around suddenly, and I almost bump into him. I’m standing too close to him. For the first time since I met Emery Brooks, I’m close enough to smell his cologne, to feel the warmth he exudes. Smokey and dark, like standing too close to a fire, it fills my senses.

He smiles down at me, those wonderful green eyes of his staring into mine. There’s that sparkle to them he had last night. The one that made me realize he knew where that quote came from. The boy that never grew up, who sees every day as an adventure.

I expect him to say something, but he surprises me. He cranes his neck, and I’m frozen. I should run, or push him away, or at least turn my head as my boss tries to kiss me.

I remember the way I felt last night, and it stops me. I remember the way I’d wished he’d stayed longer and the way he made me laugh at his terrible jokes. The breadcrumb trail that showed me a part of him the rest of the world doesn’t get to see.

His lips find mine, and his hand goes to my waist. All of it is gentle, soft, and nothing like what I expect.

That wrongness breaks me out of my frozen state, and I pull away. He looks at me with the liar’s smile on his lips, and I react instinctively, my hand moving through the air before I can stop myself.

The slap hits his face hard enough that I wonder if people outside his office could hear it. Emery rubs the growing red mark softly, but the grin doesn’t go away. “You said women wanted passion,” he says.

“That was about as passionate as a wet towel,” I reply, a snarl in my voice. “And just as inappropriate, Mr. Brooks.”

He shrugs, but that grin never leaves his face. “You’re probably right. I had to know what kissing you would be like, though.”

“Huh. If we’re doing whatever we feel like, I’ve always wondered what it would feel like to kick a man in the balls. I wonder who I should try it on first?”

Instead of grinning, Emery lets out a loud laugh and takes a step back. “I hope you have a wonderful evening, Madison.”

He turns and walks out of the office without another word. That man is the most infuriating person I’ve ever met.

But that kiss lingers on my lips, and I wonder what it’d have been like if there’d been genuine passion behind it. How would it have felt to kiss the man I talked to last night?

Chapter 11

Emery

Noah flips the card over onto the felt as I look at my cards. My straight is busted, and I know that I’m going to fold. No need to even pay attention to what everyone else is doing. I look at the girl dancing in the cage within the secret back room of Club 86.

She’s cute, but she’s nothing like the woman I can’t get my mind off. Madison Carter has plagued my mind for nearly twenty-four hours now. I skipped the pool party to watch some of her ChitChat videos trying to understand her better.

I haven’t felt so at ease with a woman in my life. She’s no super model or actress, and she’s certainly no porn star, but damn it, seeing her sitting in that towel and wet hair last night was sexier than watching a stripper dancing in a cage by a long shot.

There’s no explanation for it, though. Dante and Noah wouldn’t understand it, either. There’s something about her that makes me want more than a night of fun with her. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t fit with my world, or maybe it’s because she’s not afraid to tell me I’m an asshole.

Or maybe it’s just that she saw the real me last night, and she wanted me more because of it.

Then I went and kissed her, hoping to repeat some scene from those smutty books of hers, but that went even more poorly than her attempt at using tanning lotion. I can’t remember the last time a woman slapped me. And then she insulted me.

God, there’s no coming back from that.

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