“Thank you for this.” He brushed her hair back over her shoulder, his fingers lingering along the collar of her shirt. “Somehow, you always know just what I need.”
“Any time you need to be kidnapped, I’m your girl.”
He laughed. “Yeah, you sure are.” His arm settled around her shoulders, and they walked to the trolley stop, ready to get back to work on the Marradesi account with newfound focus and determination.
∙ 25 ∙
t wo days had passed since Vincent’s kidnapping, and he and Lexi had been working nonstop on the Marradesi campaign. They were still working on a number of good ideas, but what they didn’t have was that one great idea that they could look at and say “that’s the one.” According to Vincent, they would know in their gut when it was right, so they kept plugging away with the designs.
Lexi arrived at work early that morning and got to work. She had woken up from a bizarre dream involving a goat named Jade wearing blue eye shadow and figured it was easier to just go in and start working rather than try to fall back asleep. She was surprised to find Vincent already in his office. He was on the phone, which made sense, because when he had overseas calls to make he would come in early. From the tone of his voice, Lexi guessed he was talking to either Paolo or Francesca. She heard him use a few of the Italian phrases she had taught him and smiled.
His muffled voice eventually quieted, and he walked out of his office. “It’s six in the morning. What are you doing here?” he asked as he poured a cup of coffee and set it on her desk.
“Thanks.” She took a sip and wrapped her hands around the heated mug. “I kept having nightmares about the campaign. Jade was a goat. All i know is I couldn’t sleep, so I came in to try and get some work done. Were you on the phone with Paolo?”
Vincent sat down in one of her chairs and stretched out. “Yes, he was letting me know about a few problems they’ve had in the European market that he wants to try and avoid here.”
“Great,” Lexi mumbled.
“Exactly. Let me go over them with you real quick, then I have to run out for a while, but I’ll be back before lunch.”
They huddled around her desk for an hour before Vincent had to leave. He kindly left his office door open so Lexi could get the files and reports she needed from inside. After her fifth trip, it seemed easier to just stay and work from his couch, so she curled up on the black leather and went back to work. She was just beginning to develop a new campaign idea when the door opened.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” Jade’s whiny snarl made Lexi’s head snap up. It was the most Jade had said to her in almost a week.
“Working.”
“You do have a desk, you know. Out there.” She pointed her thumb toward the door.
“I do? Gee, thanks, I had no idea,” Lexi continued scribbling on her notepad. “Do you need something?”
“Yes. You, gone. Vincent needs his office back.”
“Vincent doesn’t mind. We work together in here all the time.” It was a low blow, but Lexi was not in the mood for Jade’s pouting.
“Well, I mind, so get out!”
“Jade.” Vincent’s cutting tone made both of them jump. “Apologize.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Jade shrieked. “I asked her to leave, and she gave me attitude. How about she apologizes to me?”
Lexi was uncomfortable being witness to their argument so she gathered up her things from the small table and stood up to make her exit. “I have a ton of work, so I’ll be at my desk if you need me. Excuse me.” She gave Vincent an apologetic smile.
“No one here needs you!” Jade seethed as Lexi went through the door. “Stop glaring at me, Vincent. I told you I don’t like her.”
Lexi returned to her desk, and their raised voices carried on for a half hour. Then there was silence. Lexi felt terrible. She knew her smart mouth had caused the argument, but she couldn’t help herself. Jade brought out the worst in her.
It was nearly lunchtime, and there was no sign that Vincent or Jade were coming out of his office any time soon. Still feeling guilty, Lexi made up her mind to be nice. She tapped on the door and decided to see if she could grab them lunch when she went downstairs for hers.
“Come in,” Vincent said softly.
When Lexi pushed the door open she saw the two of them sitting very intimately on the couch. Jade had her arm around his shoulders and was playing with the buttons on the front of his shirt. Vincent’s head was close to hers as he whispered something that made Jade smile.
Lexi’s stomach dropped at the sight of them. They were a couple. There was a familiarity between them, one that Lexi couldn’t deny. They had a history, a relationship, memories together. Lexi could understand Jade’s hostility. If she had someone as wonderful as Vincent, she would fight for him with everything she had. The problem was, he wasn’t Lexi’s to have, and that suddenly became very clear.
“Sorry to interrupt, I was going to get lunch in a bit and wanted to see if you wanted me to bring you something back.” Lexi’s words came out in a rush, her discomfort with the situation obvious.
Vincent quickly sat up and separated himself from Jade. “You don’t have to do that. We’re fine.”
Jade’s red lips pressed into a perfectly smug snarl. “Vincent got us a private table at La Tavola.”
“Oh, well, you guys have a nice lunch.” Lexi sputtered random niceties, fighting the urge to run out of the room.
“Do you want to join us?” Vincent offered out of the blue. It was like something out of the Twilight Zone. Lexi’s eyes got huge in shock, and Jade sucked in a breath so fast she nearly inhaled her tongue.
“What?” Jade’s smug façade was replaced by blatant rage.
“I think that would be a very bad idea.” Lexi shook her head from side to side in disbelief that he would even make that offer.
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I guess you’re right.”
Lexi had never felt more uncomfortable in all her life. “I’m gonna go.”
“Good idea,” Jade snipped quickly.
Vincent’s eyes were apologetic and embarrassed. “Thanks, Lexi.”
“Sure.” Lexi closed the door and traipsed back to her desk, still shocked. She logged off her computer to go to lunch when someone whirled into the room.
“Lexi!” Anna smiled and wrapped her arms around Lexi’s neck. “How are you? You look tired. Is my brother being a tyrant again?” She took a few steps toward the door. “I can go kick his ass if you want.”