Page 75 of Moonlighter
Rolf disappears, and for a moment I wonder if I’ve made the right call. It takes balls to talk your way into the CEO’s office. And now I’m rewarding that behavior.
But Ihadagreed to meet with him under other circumstances. So asking security to escort him out would be over the top?
“Ms. Engels.” I look up to see him framed in my doorway. He’s so imposing, and I’m not sure why. He’s a tall man, but slim. His expression is flinty, though. I have no idea why I find it unsettling. “Thank you so much for allowing me to impose like this.”
“I have five minutes,” I say, just to remind him that I know I’ve been manipulated. But it sounds bitchy, so I stand up to shake his hand. “I’m sorry I was unable to keep our meeting in Hawaii. I left the conference earlier than I’d planned.”
“That is perfectly all right. Medical problem, I heard?”
A tingle of unease runs down my spine. But I keep my face impassive. “Turned out to be nothing. Have a seat.”
He sits down opposite me, and Rolf casually takes the other chair, a pad of paper in his lap.
“I’ll get right to the point, Alex. I was impressed by your keynote in Hawaii. But not everyone can be trusted to manufacture The Butler. And I think you’ll be making a grave error if we don’t work together.”
Oh please. It’s the classic hard sell. “What sort of grave error?” I ask, just to hear what he’ll say.
“Change is coming to Shenzhen—both political and social. The older players will no longer be reliable.” He says all of this in a voice that’s slow and serious. Like the sound of someone predicting the end of the world. “And their new rivals will be overrun with demand. I can help you navigate this shift and bring your Butler to market without delay.”
Sure you can, pal. He makes it sound like I’m Goldilocks, skipping through the forest alone. I’ve been working closely with overseas manufacturers for a decade, though. And he’s not the first dude to underestimate me.
“That’s very kind, but I’m already set for suppliers. Delivery begins in two months. Surely you realize that my manufacturing needs are already met?”
“Are they, though?” he asks slowly, his brown eyes boring into mine. “Needs change. Loyalties shift. You may find that you need the assistance of someone new.”
I feel like I’ve been threatened, and I can’t even explain why. “Mr. Smith,” I say with as much bravado as I can muster. “I hope we will get a chance to work together. Perhaps next year, or the following one. The Butler will not be my last product launch. And you are a very interesting man.” That’s putting it nicely.
“How kind of you to say so. But I believe we shall work together sooner than that. Do not hesitate to phone me if you are in need of assistance.” At that, he stands gracefully, drops a business card on my desk, and then calmly exits the room.
Rolf and I blink at each other for a moment. “What was that?” I whisper as soon as I’m sure he’s really gone.
“No idea,” he whispers back. “He’s flashy. But a little creepy, too.”
No kidding.
“Shall I summon your car?” Rolf looks at his watch.
“Yes, please. And do me a favor? Call downstairs and ask security who authorized Smith’s pass.”
“Will do.”
When I’m alone in my office again, I confront the two phone messages. It’s so tempting to call Eric back. I’d love to hear his voice, and I’d love to see him, too.
But we’re finished as a couple, so I’m not sure what good it would do.
Then there’s Nate Kattenberger’s invitation to the Hamptons. I should probably say yes. Nate has been one of my best friends for over a decade, but I’ve been dodging him lately. I’m still embarrassed about our hookup. Neither of us ever wants to be reminded of that again.
But—and this is the truly embarrassing part—during my darkest time this past spring, I was terribly rude to his new fiancée, Rebecca. I apologized profusely afterward. But I’m still embarrassed.
Let’s just say I’ve given the two of them a wide berth these past few months, in spite of the fact that they’ve both been very gracious about the whole disaster.
At some point I have to show my face again, though. Nate and Rebecca are planning their wedding, and I intend to cheer the loudest when they are pronounced man and wife.
So now I type in the URL for Nate’s charity event, just to see if I’d like to go.Raise money for the Boys' and Girls’ Clubs of Brooklyn!There’s a slideshow of last year’s event, showing hockey players on ice and on the golf course.
When the third photo slides onto my screen, though, it makes my heart drop. It’s a photo of Eric Bayer in a suit and tie, with a beautiful young woman on his arm.
The photo is a year old, of course. But it drives home the point that I don’t want to run into Eric socially. I have absolutely no interest in watching him pick up another lucky woman to take back to his hotel room.
