Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115737 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
The boardroom is big, a huge table taking up nearly all the space, with at least thirty executive chairs positioned around it. There’s a projector screen on the far wall and a sideboard loaded with glass bottles of water and platters of cakes. Richard is sitting at the table, along with three other suited men and a woman.
‘Annie, you know Richard,’ Jack says. ‘And this is Terrence, who I believe you spoke with.’
Terrence nods, his eyes glimmering at me as he stands and offers his hand. ‘Pleasure to meet you, Annie,’ he says around a big, toothy grin. ‘Jack’s told us wonderful things about you.’
I laugh, slightly uncomfortable, feeling my cheeks flush. I bet he has. ‘Nice to meet you, Terrence,’ I reply, accepting his hand. His delighted eyes take in my form, and I look at Jack when I hear a low, throaty growl emanate from his direction. His eyes, narrowed to slits, are trained on Terrence.
‘These are my partners Dick and Seth, and their PA Lydia.’ Terrence motions to the two men seated next to him, and then to the woman.
I shake hands with them all and take a seat as Lydia pours everyone a glass of water and sets some plates and the cakes between us on the table. Her smile is friendly and her fifties-style glasses suit her heart-shaped face perfectly.
Jack slips his jacket off and hangs it on the back of his chair – the chair directly opposite me. He lowers to the seat and begins to tap his pen on the leatherbound writing pad before him.
He smiles, the smile that’s so dazzling and genuine it makes me smile too. ‘You’ve got this,’ he mouths across the table.
My nerves vanish just like that, and the fact that he’s here suddenly fills me with comfort and ease. I’ve just fallen for him a little bit more.
‘Guys.’ Jack looks to the men from Brawler’s. ‘We’re working with Annie for the first time on a new art gallery in Clapham.’ He pushes the drawings across the table to them, and they all look down with hums of praise.
Like he’s read my thoughts, he glances towards me, a secret smile hiding behind his professional front. ‘She’s diverse, hugely talented and passionate about what she does.’
I melt all over the chair, and Jack breathes in, holding my eyes for perhaps a moment longer than should be acceptable for business associates. ‘She won’t disappoint.’ He clears his throat and realigns his focus. ‘I assure you.’
I just stare across the table in silent awe, watching his mouth move as he speaks. He looks so fucking sexy, relaxed back in his chair, reeling off words that are making me fall harder and harder for him. He recommended me. He set this up, gave me this amazing opportunity.
He takes his phone from his pocket and spins it in his hand. ‘So, guys.’ Jack waves his mobile between me and the people from Brawler’s. ‘Over to you. This is a long-term project. We need to get off to the best start.’
His grey eyes meet mine fleetingly, and I frown across the table at him, my head tilting. Long-term. Best start. My brain threatens to go off at a tangent, but I quickly rein it in. I can’t allow myself to think beyond today.
I cough and realign my focus, set on nailing my meeting. ‘So, tell me about the project,’ I say, giving the other people in the room my undivided attention. ‘Your partnership with a giant social media company means expansion.’
‘Yes. We’ve acquired a plot of land in Blackfriars,’ Terrence says, pushing over a portfolio. ‘It has planning permission for a ten-storey building, our new home.’
I open the folder and scan the details – square footage, surrounding buildings, etc., happy to see other modern buildings in close proximity to the space. ‘You want to stand out.’ I state it as a fact, because I know it is. Brawler’s has an ego as big as its share prices. Fucking huge.
Terrence smiles. ‘Can you make us stand out?’
‘You mean make you the envy of every company operating within the area?’ I ask, closing the file.
I hear Jack laugh softly and Richard smiles, as well as Terrence. ‘If that’s how you’d like to put it.’ Terrence links his fingers and lays them across his broad tummy, his smile widening.
I return it. ‘No point beating around the bush, is there, Terrence?’
Jack coughs and my eyes shoot across the table, finding him clenching his big hand around his tumbler of water, and as he lifts his glass to his mouth, he glances at me, his lips straight with displeasure.
‘Your top priorities for the new home of Brawler’s?’ I ask, pulling my attention back to the team of people that I’m trying to sell myself to. He’s feeling threatened, and while it’s quite an amusing sight, I can’t let it distract me.