Page 79 of Imperfections Seduced
“May I help you?”
“Yes, I’m here to see Nick, um, Mr. Alexander.” I’m not used to calling him by his last name. I never had to before. It sounds strange coming out of my mouth, referring to him formally.
“Does he have an appointment with you?”
I put my hands in front of me and play with my fingers. “No. I was in the area and stopped by. If he’s busy, I understand. I should have called first.” I turn to leave.
“Wait.”
I stop and turn back around. I was almost out. Maybe he’ll refuse to see me. She holds her hand out to a sofa across from her desk.
“You can have a seat. I’ll see if he has time to see you. I can’t guarantee he will be able to see you today, but I’ll see what I can do. Your name?”
“Catherine Reed, thank you.” She presses a button on the phone and picks it up.
“There’s a young lady here to see you, Mr. Alexander—” She smiles at me and continues. “No, she doesn’t have an appointment. Okay, I’ll let her know.”
It doesn’t sound like she had much luck.
“I’m sorry, he won’t be able to see you today, but I can schedule an appointment for you.”
“No, thank you, that’s okay. It wasn’t anything important.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, thank you.” I open my purse and look for a piece of gum to chew away my nerves. As usual, I can’t find it or my metro card. My bag is like a bottomless pit. I keep throwing things in and when it’s time for me to use them, I can never find them. I need to downsize this suitcase to a mini bag. I fumble around some more till I find it.
The door to my right opens, and Nick walks out looking tall, handsome, and powerful in his midnight blue tailored suit. He doesn’t see me behind him when he walks over to the reception desk. From the tone in his voice I’m glad I’m not Karen.
“Karen, I asked you for the revised briefs fifteen minutes ago, where are they? I have a meeting with the client in two hours! I’m not seeing anyone not on the schedule today, unless they’re on retainer or on their way to a jail cell.”
Wow! I guess this is bad timing. Maybe he won’t notice I’m here when he turns around. He sounds seriously angry, like a dam ready to burst. I don’t want to be on the receiving end of that. Karen better have those briefs ready or she might be out of a job.
“And where the hell is Steve with my lunch?”
“I’ll call him to find out how far away he is, sir.”
I have to give Karen credit; she’s holding up better than I would be. I would have quit and told him to shove itwhere the sun doesn’t shine. Then I would have burst into tears on the way down the hall.
“Do I have to get it myself? Tell him if he’s not here in the next ten minutes he’s fired!”
I should have left when I had the chance.
Karen nods her head and points behind him to me. He whips his head around impatiently then pins me with a glare.
“I see you’re extremely busy,” I say, standing. “I can come back or give you a call later.”
He shakes his head and nods toward his door with one word. “Inside.”
That one word isn’t said with any animosity. His face is composed and void of emotion. If I didn’t hear him ripping into Karen, I would think he didn’t have a care in the world. He’s good, Nicholas Alexander, Esq. His only tell is the set of his strong jaw and the tilt of his head. He waits for me to walk into his office, turning back to tell Karen something. This time I can’t hear a word he’s saying to her. His office is nice—minimal and spacious.
It’s like him, not fussy or over the top, but spectacular nonetheless. There’s an entire wall across from his massive mahogany high-gloss desk which is floor to ceiling glass. I’m awestruck by the view. I’ve never been in his office before. I press the palm of my hand against the cool glass and look down at the people who look like little ants going about their business, Unaware someone is watching them at this very moment. I wonder if someone is watching me watching them. I’m nervous and my mind is wandering.
I hear the door close behind me and almost jump. I’m not ready to turn around and face him yet.
“This view is amazing.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
