Somehow Noah and I managed to get through the rest of last night and through our workday today without any major incidents. I suspect it was because we hardly saw each other. I stayed in the suite today working on all the background checks and doing research deeper into the staff and the key suppliers and distributors that Strong Incorporated work with.
Tonight, I was planning to go to dinner with Marcus Chen, partly because he was a powerful man who might have more information, but also because he certainly should be someone we looked into. I felt a little guilty about that because he had been a vital part of our expansion here. His success and our success were mixed together, and I couldn't imagine why he'd want to sabotage that. But I decided that I would look at anyone and everyone who was involved here and that included Marcus Chen.
Having worked for Margaret for years, I learned that I needed to be prepared for anything at anytime, anywhere. It was for that reason that I had thought ahead to pack a nice dress in case I needed it. In reality, I thought it wouldn’t be worn on this trip, but as it turned out, I'd once again thought ahead and prepared well.
I brought a blood red velvet dress that always made me feel regal and powerful. From the front, the cut was nothing spectacular, except that it was fitted to my shape. In the back, it scooped low enough to be tantalizing, but not so low as to be vulgar.
Although this was going to be a professional dinner, I decided to go ahead and wear my hair down letting the thick dark hair cascade over my shoulders. I was fortunate to have the kind hair that didn't require a lot of time because of its thickness and its natural wave. My makeup was a little more dramatic than usual, but still subtle enough so it didn't look like I was planning a night on the town. I wasn't a woman that had a lot of jewelry, or who dated men who gave jewelry, so I went without. But as I looked in the mirror, I decided I looked just fine without accessories.
Satisfied I looked fined, I headed back out into the living area. I’d left my laptop on so I could check on a few last-minute things before I closed it down and went to meet Marcus for dinner.
"What are you doing?"
I looked over to where Noah was sitting on the couch hiding behind his laptop and his noise canceling headphones. I almost didn't realize he was there.
"I'm doing what your grandmother asked me to do. I'm going to look into what is going on, and dinner with Marcus Chen is going to help me with that."
His blue eyes took a long inventory of my body and I was about to make a snarky comment but then he set his laptop aside. "Give me a minute."
"For what?"
But he was already in his room with the door shut. I checked my watch, and I had another half-hour before Marcus would be there, so I sat down at the table checking my email and reviewing my notes of the day.
When the door opened, and he stepped out I was immensely glad that I was sitting down. My knees were like jelly as I took him in. I'd seen Noah in a suit before at his brother's wedding, and admitted only to myself that he was handsome. But this suit looked like it was tailored by God as it fit him perfectly. It was a dark charcoal and underneath it was a white starched shirt pulled tight over his broad chest. He wore a tie that I swear to God was the same color as his eyes and it was knotted up under his chin as it should be instead of pulled loose like he almost always wore when he was forced to wear a tie. His hair, which had always seemed to me something he never bothered with, was now combed back. He looked like he'd stepped out of a men's fashion magazine and all my feminine bits started humming inside.
When my gaze drifted back to his face, he was looking at me with his brow arched. I realized I'd given myself away. He knew that I thought he looked hot.
But I didn't have to admit it. "Where's Noah?"
He smirked. "Come on let's go."
I stood slowly in case my knees were still wobbly and picked up my purse as I made my way to him. "I thought you weren't coming."
"You made a compelling argument, so I'm going with you."
Now wasn't the time to get in a battle with Noah, so I shrugged and exited the door that he held open for me.
When we made it to the lobby, a concierge stepped up to us. “Mr. Strong, Ms. Walker, Mr. Chen has sent a limo. It's waiting outside for you.”
As we walked, Noah whispered to me. "Mr. Chen doesn't seem to think we're so important as to meet us here."
I nodded in agreement. But trying to give Marcus the benefit of the doubt, I said, "Maybe he's wanting to show off a little bit, so that we don't think he's small potatoes."
/> Noah looked at me. "Small potatoes?"
"I think he just wants us to think he's important. That he is an appropriate partner for Strong Inc."
"I don't see how insulting us makes us think he is more important, but okay."
I frowned up at Noah. "Since when are you all into manners and propriety?"
"I'm just trying to think like Gran."
I got onto the limo and Noah followed me in. The restaurant wasn't that far, and when we got out there was someone at the door to meet us to escort us inside the restaurant.
Just inside the door an immaculately dressed Asian man met us with a large smile.
He extended his hand toward Noah. "Welcome Noah Strong. I’m Marcus Chen." Marcus turned his attention to me, and he took my hand bringing it to his lips kissing the back of it. I glanced up at Noah, wondering what he thought of all this pomp and circumstance. His jaw tightened and his eyes were fierce. I rolled my eyes.