Page 49 of Van Cort
“It is a drink. I said drinks. If I need a reason to see you other than to see you, you might need to let me know.” His eyes lock onto mine, and my body heats at the intensity. “I also thought I could do you a favour.”
“Oh, wow. Coffee and a favour in one visit.” I try to mask the pounding of my heart. “My office is down here.” He holds his arm out for me to pass, ever the gentleman, and I lead him towards my office, but see Antony lurking near the conference suite – there’s no way we’ll be able to avoid him.
“Typical,” I murmur, as I turn to Everett, who’s already got his eyes pinned on my boss.
“Andie, I didn’t know you had a client meeting.” Antony stands in front of us, crossing his arms to prevent us from getting into the safety of my office, and is already sizing up Everett.
“Ah, it’s not quite—” I start.
“Yes, it is. I’m Everett Van Cort. Miss Anderson’s client.” He doesn’t hold out his hand but steps forward to Antony, as if he’s sizing him up. I’m left to watch as Antony takes in the name, the suit and the introduction as a client. I’m not in the business development department, and I’ve never brought in my own client before.
“Well, Mr Van Cort, let me say that perhaps you might prefer your business to be handled by a more experienced team and not just a senior analyst. As the head of the analytics department, I’d be happy to sit down with you—”
“No. My business, if I choose to move any of my assets, will be under Miss Anderson’s control. She, and she alone, will handle me. Do I make myself clear?” He puts an edge of authority behind his words and Antony shrinks back. His eyes bulge and flick between me and Everett.
“Of course. She’s a great asset to Thornton’s. I’ll personally ensure she’ll prioritise your work.”
Everett stares at him, and the tension builds as he holds his gaze but doesn’t answer. I see the flex of his jaw and don’t need to know that whatever he wants to say can’t be good.
“Mr Van Cort, this way?” I smile at him as I inch myself between him and Antony and watch as his eyes dart back to mine.
He takes another long second before answering. “Lead the way, Miss Anderson.”
He follows as we head back to my office, and I gladly close the door behind him, before taking a breath.
He looks at me with murder on his face.
“Want to clue me in on what that was about?” I ask. “I mean, I’m not upset about the way you disarmed him. I don’t know whether to kiss you or throttle you, but that was intense.” I shake my head.
Why is it that just a few words from Everett and Antony behaves. Yet he’d argue and question every word from my mouth.
“You told me he was an asshole.”
“I did. And he is. But I think he’s met his match with you.”
“That’s the plan.”
“Sorry?” I frown at him.
“Well, you said he was an ass. I wanted to see you and wanted you to introduce me to your boss.”
“To make him be nice to me?” My mouth obeys and doesn’t just hang open in shock.
“Just to give you some more ammo to throw at him. You’re more than smart enough to set him up to fail.”
“Thank you. Seems like you’re back in the habit of rescuing me from badly behaving men.”
It’s his turn to chuckle as he pulls out my chair for me to sit. “Maybe. Perhaps you need to stop associating with bad men?”
“I don’t.” I protest, but then my eyes rake over him sitting there in his pristine suit.
“You do. And I’m the worst of them all. Or have you forgotten the weekend already?”
“That’s different,” my eyes bounce anywhere but at him, even checking the door’s still closed, as the heat flashes over my cheeks.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EVERETT
