Page 32 of His to Possess
I invited August to join me in the lounge, gesturing towards the door. "Shall we? I prepared everything for our meeting in there."
August nodded, following me inside. As we entered, he paused, looking around the room before turning to me with a sudden spark in his eye. "You know, it's a beautiful day outside.Why don't we take this meeting to my favorite restaurant instead?"
His suggestion caught me off guard. I blinked, trying to process the sudden change of plans. Usually, such a suggestion wasn't an oddity. Men like him appreciated comfort and luxury more than anything else, but something inside me screamed that it was a bad idea—one I should not take him up on. Before I could respond, his gaze sharpened, taking in my rushed appearance.
"By the way you were hurrying earlier, I'm guessing you didn't even have time for coffee this morning? Or breakfast?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
I felt my cheeks flush slightly, embarrassed by my lack of preparation. "No, I… I didn't," I admitted, realizing just how hungry I was now that he mentioned it. Still, everything in me screamed to be cautious. I quickly dismissed it as paranoia. August had been nothing but kind to me, and a part of me wondered if Rex's attitude toward him had something to do with my unease. I caught a brief glimpse of the two of them back at the auction, and they seemed like anything but friendly.
August didn't miss a beat, though. "Well, that settles it then. Grab your bag and any papers you need for our meeting. We're going out."
I stood there, stunned for a moment. My mind raced, trying to find a reason to stick to the original plan, but I came up empty. The thought of fresh air and a real breakfast was tempting, and I found myself nodding before I could think better of it.
"I… alright," I said, moving to gather my things. "Just give me a moment to collect everything."
I quickly stuffed my laptop, notepad, and the project files into my bag, my heart racing with apprehension. This wasn't how I planned for the meeting to go, but something about August'sconfident demeanor made it hard to refuse. It was just a meal. Nothing else.
As I finished packing up, I turned to face August, who was waiting patiently by the door, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Ready?" he asked.
I took a deep breath, nodding. "Ready."
I followed August outside, the crisp morning air a welcome change from the stuffy institute. My gaze wandered across the trees that surrounded us, and the peek of sunrays that filtered through. It was beautiful, and a much nicer setting than the one inside the institute. August turned to me with a confident smile. "You'll love The Stuart & Oak. It's perfect for our meeting."
I tried not to act surprised, but my eyebrows betrayed me. "The Stuart & Oak? That's quite the posh spot."
August chuckled. "Indeed, it is. Best brunch in Chicago, if you ask me."
"I doubt we'll get a table on such short notice," I joked, but August didn't seem fazed.
"Don't worry about that," he said with a wink. I wasn't surprised, not even the slightest bit. Men like him and Rex more than likely got everything they ever wanted. They had the wealth to make it happen.
Before I could respond to his remark, a sleek black car pulled up. August's chauffeur opened the door for us, and I slid in, feeling out of my depth. My gaze remained locked on the blur of greenery behind my window, even more so as August's phone rang.
"Do you mind if I take this?" he asked. I gave a small nod, as if to let him know that it was more than all right. In fact, I welcomed the distraction because it meant his attention wasn't on me. My mind reeled. I was still unable to get Rex out of my head, and, after everything that took place last night, I doubted I ever would, unfortunately for me.
The ride passed quicker than I expected, and before I knew it, we were walking into The Stuart & Oak. The host greeted August by name, and offered a big smile that could only mean one thing. August was a regular here, and he'd leave quite a bit of money whenever he visited.
The Stuart and Oak had a reputation to maintain—and from what I could see, they more than delivered. Rich wooden tables paired beautifully with velvet chairs, each one set around a soft candle arrangement that flickered gently, casting a warm glow. Touches of greenery added a delicate charm, subtle but intentional. The waitstaff glided through the space in black suits, their smiles practiced to perfection, their manners refined and effortless.
The server led us to a corner table, cozy and quieter than the rest of the bustling restaurant. As he left, I took a deep breath, regaining my composure.
"So, Mr. Mendelson," I said, leaning forward slightly, "did you plan this from the start?"
His eyes sparkled with amusement. "What makes you think that?"
I gestured around us. "Well, the immediate availability of your car, the fact that we got a table here without reservations… It seems a bit too convenient to be spontaneous."
He leaned back, a smile playing at his lips. "You're observant. I like that. But tell me, does it matter if I planned it or not?"
I considered his question for a moment. "I suppose not. But I do prefer honesty in my professional relationships."
"As do I." His tone became serious. "Which is why I'll be frank with you. Yes, I hoped to bring you here. The Institute can be stifling at times. I find that creativity flows better in a more relaxed environment."
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing at my lips. "Indeed. This is certainly less stifling than the Institute.One might even say it's conducive to a more…umm…friendly atmosphere."
His eyes lit up at my words, a broad smile spreading across his face. "I'm glad you agree. In that case, why don't we drop the formalities? Please, call me August."
I maintained my smile, but my guard remained firmly in place. This man was as smooth as they came, and I needed to tread carefully. "Well, since we'll be collaborating on this project, I suppose you should call me Laurel," I replied, watching as his smile grew even wider. Still, I reminded myself that this was a professional relationship I had no intention of changing. A little bit of friendliness could most certainly work in my favor, but I knew better than to push it in any way.
