Haze(37)

I'd shaved, taken a shower and dressed all before the soft sounds of a symphony filled the room. It was the ringtone on her phone and after it quieted, she'd explained in a voice still sultry from sleep the name of the composer and the subtle nuances found within the music.

I've never known anyone like her. I'd never tasted anything more delectable than her body. She's unlike any woman I've ever taken to the hotel. She doesn't belong there. It's not the place for her.

"Gabriel." Caleb's voice pulls me from my thoughts. "You're actually going to cut that little * a check to keep his mouth shut."

"Sit," I say hoarsely. "Sit down and shut up, Caleb."

There's no more than a moment of hesitation before he lowers himself into one of the two chairs in front of my desk. His head is shaking from side-to-side as he curses repeatedly under his breath. He's hot-headed. He's always been this way.

"Mother offered Dante Castro a position with the company," I begin before I take a large swallow from the now warm cup of coffee on my desk. "I was under the belief that it was a verbal agreement. I imagined she threw the offer out without any thought but apparently he's more astute than I've given him credit for. He drew up a simple contract on the back of a napkin while they were having lunch and he had it witnessed."

"That means nothing, Gabriel."

"It means he has leverage and this press conference he's arranged this morning to announce the lawsuit he's planning on launching will cast a negative light on us." I look past his head to the reception area where Sophia is finally settling in for the day. It's not uncommon for me to get to the office before her. It is rare for there to be this much activity before nine o'clock.

"So you're just going to give him money?" he spits the question out without looking at me. "You don't believe for a second that contract will hold up in court, do you?"

"Of course not," I pause. "It has no legal merit but that's not what I'm concerned with."

"What the hell are you concerned with then?"

I lean back in my chair, crossing my legs. "If this contract mother signed becomes public knowledge, the Berdine division is going to be upended. The design team there will be pissed that she's trying to replace them and we're going to lose some of the best people we have."

"I'm inclined to push him on it." He mirrors my stance, crossing his own legs as he runs his fingers along the arm of the chair. "I say we let this play out and see where the cards fall."

"That's not happening," I continue, "Berdine is running smoother than it ever has. I see no reason to tempt fate by allowing Dante Castro to take this public. I spoke with his attorney before you got here, Caleb. I'm having the papers drawn up now and I'll sign the check this afternoon. They're cancelling his press conference as we speak."

"What makes you think you can do that?" His right hand fists. It's a faint movement but it's not lost on me. "You make these unilateral decisions for all of us. What gives you that right?"

I sigh as I feel a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "I'm the CEO, Caleb. How the hell do you keep forgetting that?"

***

"She's not here, sir." Cicely motions towards the bustling sales floor. "Isla is on her lunch break."

I glance down at my watch. It's near one now. I'd spent my morning dealing not only with the loose ends of the Dante Castro debacle, but with a problem at one of the production facilities overseas. It's been a stressful day so far, and the calm from the storm I'm craving is a few minutes alone with Isla.

I need to explain what happened last night to her. I want her to understand that my body's desire to f*ck her was only tamed by my need to do it any place but there. When she was nude in front of me, her slick cunt waiting to be taken, I'd stopped myself because of my own selfish yearning to take her to my bed. I want her in my bed, the bed I've never taken another woman to.

"She asked for an extra fifteen minutes, Mr. Foster." Cicely shifts on her feet. "I think she had a lunch date. A man came in to get her."

My shoulders instantly tighten. "Did she introduce you to him?"

Her gaze narrows as she studies my face. "She didn't but he's been in here before. He came in last week to buy some lingerie. Isla helped him pick it out."

Jealousy hits me full on. It's not an emotion I'm that familiar with. I can't recall the last time I felt this burning pit in my stomach. "It's a customer?"

"I think he's more than that to Isla. He hugged her when he came in the door."

"What did he look like?" I ask before I even realize I've formed the question within my mind. What the f*ck does it matter what he looks like? What matters is who the hell he is to Isla.

"He's very attractive." She sighs. "He's tall, dark hair, green eyes. He was wearing a nice suit. It wasn't a suit from Berdine, sir, but you know, it was well fitted."

"Did she say where she was having lunch?" I look across the boutique to where one of the sale associates is helping two women. "What time is she scheduled to come back?"

Her eyes dart to the clock hanging on the wall behind us. "She should be walking back through the door any minute now. That is, unless she's late again. If she is, I'll handle it, sir. I can take care of it."