Page 14 of Alex

Everything that is important to the meeting is already printed out in the packets that are in the folders. He should just stick to either the slides or the packets.

When everyone is sitting in their seats, Dad clears his throat and starts the meeting.

“Thank you all for getting here on time. As you all are aware, this acquisition is top priority for the company and for that reason, my son, Alex, will be here to help however he can, as well as give us his thoughts on the matter over the next several months.”

I mentally roll my eyes. I smile and nod because I need to play the part of the successful businessman’s son, but I know my opinions don’t really matter, and everyone knows that.

This is all just a show and I’m the show pony.

Elise’s gaze meets mine, and for a second, I see a genuine smile on her face, like she’s excited at the thought of me being at the office more.

My dick hardens as I stare at her. I have to discreetly adjust myself under the table to keep my dick from trying to break through the zipper on my pants.

If I get to see Elise every day, I’ll be here bright and early, but I can’t and won’t forget about the night we were together.

Chapter Four

ELISE

Normally,I’m more clear-headed and focused, but today was not like any other. My attention stayed locked on the man sitting across the table from me.

If Mr. Strickland asked for my feedback on the meeting, I wouldn’t be able to answer him honestly. I can’t remember what was spoken at all.

I can only recall how Alex twirled the pen between his long fingers and how his tongue would swipe along his bottom lip after taking a sip of his sparkling water, and how I wished his tongue was on me instead.

Shaking those thoughts from my head, I turn my attention to the slide on the screen.

It’s a graph of the potential revenue for the company in the first year after the acquisition and there’s a whole hell of a lot of zeros behind the first number. It’s almost as much as Strickland Enterprises is worth, and that’s saying something.

Everyone needs to play a part in this merger to make sure it happens and it happens on time.

Mr. Strickland changes the slide and shows us what he hopes for the future of Strickland Enterprises.

I read the slide slowly, letting the information soak in. My eyes get bigger and bigger with each bullet point.

An annual Christmas bonus equal to ten percent of the employee’s salary or yearly pay. Paid tuition for all employees to get a degree in their respective fields. Ten to twenty thousand dollars for a housing down payment, depending on seniority.

This will be life changing for employees like me. Literally.

Plus, it will help with employee retention. Not that there’s a lot of employee turnover here because everyone knows how rare this type of company is for a small town.

The other employees murmur amongst themselves as they read the slide and process what the future could be like.

Mr. Strickland clears his throat. “This company will not be this successful without employees that sacrifice some of their downtime. I know the longer days are exhausting, but I appreciate you putting in all the extra hours.”

He gazes at me when he says the last little bit.

Of all the employees sitting at this table, I’ve put in more hours than anyone else. It’s nice, but also a little awkward to receive recognition.

I give Mr. Strickland a slight nod before turning my gaze across the table to Alex. His dark gaze is already on me, and his sexy smirk makes me want to crawl across the table.

Mr. Strickland turns off the slide and clicks the button for the screen to recede into the ceiling before turning his attention back to the six of us.

“Anyway, great job team for a productive week, and I hope everyone has a great weekend. Meeting dismissed.”

Following my co-workers out of the conference room, I head to my desk to power off my computer and drop off the meeting notes before heading toward the stairs.

Alex and Mr. Strickland are standing outside of the conference room in a deep conversation when I walk back by.

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