I could feel my cheeks flush, and I was completely embarrassed that I had to spell it out to him. I didn’t say anything for a solid minute and he crossed his arms as a twinkle danced in his eye and his mouth curled up in a small smile.
“I’m waiting, Elena.” I loved the way he said my name, something about the inflection in his voice was so intimate.
Once again my heart was pounding and I felt completely mortified that I had to say anything. I took a deep breath, decided to get it over with and I spoke very softly as I looked down at my hands which were resting on my desk.
“I mean just because I have been promoted does not mean that anything will happen between us. Nothing will happen between us that is not work related.”
He was silent for a few seconds and I was too nervous to avert my eyes away from my hands.
“Elena, look at me please.” His voice was gentle.
I raised my eyes to his and I could see the lust in his eyes.
“You were promoted based on the great results and feedback you have received since you started with the hotel, not based on anything else. Nothing will happen between us that you do not want to happen. But something is going to happen between us Elena, it’s just a matter of time. I like what I see when I look at you and I know that you like what you see. There is something here and eventually we’ll both give in. We will keep our personal life and work life separate because that will be best for all involved, but I always get what I want.” His eyes held mine without hesitation. “And I want you. Have I made myself clear?”
I had no idea how to respond to him as my eyes searched his, his words totally catching me off guard. He was right, I had to be honest with myself. I had never reacted to a man the way I had reacted to him in my life. He was sexy, gorgeous, rich and powerful. What woman would turn that down? A woman who didn’t think it was right to sleep with her boss. I dug deep for courage and decided I would have to turn him down again. My eyes were steady as I answered him.
“Mr. Blu, I take my job very seriously and I can assure you that nothing will happen between us. Besides, I’m sure that your wife or girlfriend would not appreciate your advances toward me.”
Amusement danced in his eyes for a couple of minutes and it looked like he was trying to hold back a smile. Then the look in his eyes completely changed and he was totally serious.
“We are going to São Paulo, Brazil next month to launch a new marketing campaign, so I want you to put together a presentation for a meeting on Monday with the head of the marketing department. Work the weekend if you have to, the presentation has to be flawless. Blu Sierra São Paulo opened a few months ago and we need more visibility. The hotel should be sold out every night and we’re not there yet. Reach out to the others in the marketing department if you need help.” He stood to leave and straightened his jacket and ran his hands through his hair. “Have a good evening, Elena.”
He was so gorgeous that I was temporarily distracted by him and forgot to instantly panic about creating a marketing campaign in a week. But not to worry, the panic set in the second he left my office. When the door closed behind him, I sat at my desk in a complete daze. What should I focus on first, that he told me he wants me and he always gets what he wants, or that I’m going to Brazil next month and have to create a marketing campaign in a week? My head was spinning with what had just happened in the last thirty minutes. That Monday would go down in history as one of the most incredible days in my life.
I couldn’t wait to tell Chloe what had happened to me that day. I didn’t leave the office until around 7:30 so she had already left for the day. I called her the second I got home.
“Chloe? Guess what happened to me today?”
“I was waiting for you to call me! You were all anyone talked about today! Is it true that Mr. Blu hand-picked you to be VP of marketing?”
“Wait, how did that leak out?”
“There are gossips all over the hotel Laney. So, is it true?”
“Okay listen, you can’t confirm this with anyone, but yes, it’s true!”
“Oh my gosh!” Her squealing voice nearly broke my eardrum. “Laney, that is so amazing! I am so happy for you and of course I won’t say anything! You really deserve this and I know that you are going to do an awesome job. But I have to say I will miss seeing you at work every day so we’ll have to do more dinners.”
“Thanks Chloe, and yes, definitely more dinners. We’ll have to plan dinner soon because I am going to Brazil next month.”
“What?! Oh my gosh!” The squeal again was breaking my eardrum.
“Yep, Mr. Blu told me today that I have to prepare a new marketing campaign for the trip next month. I have to present it on Monday so I have less than a week to get it done. I’m probably going to get like 4 hours of sleep a night this week.”
“Yeah, but you can do it Laney, you’re going to really shine in this position. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.”
“Thanks, Chloe.”
We talked for a few more minutes and then I made a quick dinner and hopped on my computer to work on my presentation. I called my parents to tell them my good news and that I was going to Brazil the following month. When I climbed into bed a few hours later my mind wandered to what Sebastian said to me earlier, “something is going to happen between us Elena”. As much as I didn’t want to believe him, my body was telling me he was right.
Chapter Five – New Beginnings
I worked on my presentation all week and that weekend, and by the time Monday rolled around I felt more than ready. When I walked into the meeting Sebastian was sitting at the head of the table and every member of the marketing department was present. I wasn’t the type to get nervous in situations like this, I thrived on being able to showcase my skills. When the meeting started the head of the department spoke for a while about his ideas and then it was my turn. I gave every person a copy of the presentation and I went through each item in detail. I glanced at Sebastian every now and then to see his reaction and he had a look of pleasant surprise on his face and that really encouraged me. By the time I was done everyone seemed impressed with me.