Let's Play A Dirty Ass Game, Mr. CEO

Chapter 25: HAND’S IN THE DARK

LAURA

"Do you mind scooting over?"

Tristan stood directly in front of Mara and I, lasering us with those electric blue eyes.

Mara seemed unaffected by it as I was, glaring right back at him. I shook like a leaf as I struggled to keep my composure and not melt from the heat coming off this man.

Harlan watched us quietly, unmoving. I wondered if he was simply just trying to stay out of the drama.

"Excuse me?" Mara snorted. "Who do you think you are?"

"I’m the CEO of Pierce Holdings," Tristan responded in a matter-of-fact manner, "and I would like to have a private word or two with the CEO of Phoenix before the meeting commences."

"You know it does not work that way, Mr. Pierce," Harlan’s voice rang from behind. "Protocols exist for a reason."

Tristan scoffed. "Come on, man. Don’t be a pain too."

Mara snatched my hand and pulled me further away from Tristan’s space. "What is he thinking? That he can just waltz into your life and pretend like everything is fine?"

"Mara, keep it down!" I hushed.

"I don’t fucking care who hears!"

I looked back to see Tristan against the wall with his head slightly thrown back. He was watching me. Always watching me.

And Harlan? Kept his gaze on Tristan’s face like he was a predator ready to jump me.

"You could have taken any other elevator," Harlan lashed at him accusatorily.

Tristan shrugged. "I wanted to ride this." His eyes darkened to a dark blue color as they observed the heat exploding across my cheeks.

I tore my gaze away and swallowed a gulp of air.

In the next second, the elevator lurched once and the lights went out.

Mara went still beside me. "What the hell?"

Harlan’s voice rang out tight in the darkness. "It’s a blackout. Everyone hang tight or—"

The elevator lurched again. This time harder and faster. My heart swooped right into my chest as I was flung from where I stood moments ago to heaven-knows-where. Mara’s shriek of panic reached me as I collided against a solid build.

The air quickly rushed back down my lungs and I stilled. "Mara! Are you okay?"

"Like hell I am!" she yelled back, sarcasm ringing in her tone.

I scoffed in relief. Only to realize a strong arm was holding me in place, burning into my waist like it belonged there.

My breath quickened as whoever it was leaned in and splayed strong fingers across my hip. I felt a rush of hot air on my face.

This body was too familiar to not know who it belonged to. And I was not sure I wanted to be this close to it, wrapped in it’s furnace.

Harlan’s voice rang out from a short distance away. "Laura, are you okay?"

My throat was clogged up, too dry to work up a response.

The body beneath mine moved again, slightly, and a hot breath tickled my ear. "Are you?"

Tristan’s heart was beating so fast, rocking through my breasts.

My response tumbled out in a breathless whisper. "Yes."

"Just hang in tight, okay? It’ll be reserved in a couple minutes." Harlan’s voice jolted me from the dilemma I was sliding into.

I tried to pull away from Tristan in the darkness, but he held tight.

"Can you feel that?" he whispered directly in my ear.

Of course I could feel his terrific heart beat against my chest, which sent waves of heat straight between my legs. Even more horribly, I could feel the thick length of him pressing into my lower abdomen.

"Let me go," I whispered as quietly as possible.

The lights came back as soon as the words left my lips. Too soon. I was beginning to enjoy the feel of Tristan’s body against mine. The warmth of his breath against my skin.

For a second, I forgot I was supposed to jump away from him. We shouldn’t be seen this way together, in a compromising position again!

Tristan’s eyes twinkled beautifully as he asked, "everything okay, Ms. Hayes?"

The words were like a juicer breaking up the spell. I quickly jumped back from him and swallowed a painful lump down my throat.

Tearing my gaze from his and glancing around to see Mara staring right at us.

"Well," she snickered, her eyes ablaze with coals of betrayal, "she looks pretty comfortable to me."

I rolled my eyes and looked away, because her face said everything she was thinking.

Harlan. I didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. Not him.

When I looked his way, he was already watching me. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I croaked out. "Fine."

The elevator dinged open and there were a couple of uniformed staff standing there with apologetic expressions.

"We would like to apologize for the—"

Harlan lifted his hand, stopping them. "Save your explanations for later."

Tristan gave them his best glare as he strode out.

Mara ignored me until we were in the suite for the meeting, which commenced moments after we walked in.

Legal counsels were here to represent both teams. Charlotte and very few members of the Phoenix board were at the table.

Tristan sat on the other side of the table with his team, watching me like a predator. At some point, it got really uncomfortable, and he noticed. But he wouldn’t stop staring.

Was this deal even a good thing at all? Good enough for me to be here, contemplating letting Tristan back into my orbit? Or was it me about to enter his scorching orbit?

I found myself wondering the whole time corporate whispers rang through the space.

"Thank you for being here tonight, everyone." Tristan leaned forward and cleared his throat. The table fell quiet. "I would like to start by saying it’s an honor to have you, Ms. Hayes, and your team here with us."

I managed a small smile, keeping it professional. "It’s my pleasure. Our. Pleasure."

His eyes twinkled a second before he looked away. "Tonight, we’re gathered here to discuss a strategic partnership that could change the world of fashion in New York and globally, from the way we know it, to an unstoppable, scaling force."

His eyes swept across the table and found me again. "Only a few people in the world has got talent like Ms. Hayes. And we at Pierce Holdings would like to convert that talent into the force we speak of. What do you think, Ms. Hayes? Work as my top model, and you have the best partnership deal in the world."

I scoffed. "I have my own thing going, Mr. Pierce, and I must say I’m doing really wonderful. So, when you say partnership...what do you really mean?"

Daniel Burton, my legal counsel, got the cue to step in. "What she means is...what is the partnership package? The deliverables?"

Tristan leaned back and cocked his head sideways. The man sitting three chairs from him spoke next in a confident tone.

"We’re offering your brand an equity investment with about 45% in—"

Harlan’s voice cut like a blade through the air. "Investment?" he scoffed, his eyes growing dark. "Perhaps, you’re not trying to take over her company?"