We got settled and Mr. Hawthorne walked into the conference room, flanked by a man I didn’t recognize. The women around me immediately started to comment on him. He stood about six four with broad shoulders tucked beneath his suit. He had blond hair and light blue eyes that scanned the room once he took his place behind Mr. Hawthorne. He didn’t look like one of the fresh-faced interns we brought in and he appeared to be too old for a starting position with the company. Mr. Hawthorne waited u
ntil everyone was seated before he raised his hands to get the room quiet.
“As you know, we’ve landed the Energy Enhanced account and it is a huge opportunity for us. I’ve decided to bring in a consultant on the project, someone who has worked with energy drinks and energy supplements in the past with great success. Everyone, I would like to meet Adam Rutherford.” Mr. Hawthorne turned to the stranger who stepped up and cleared his throat.
“Adam Rutherford?” Gloria leaned towards me in a whisper. “He’s a legend.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hawthorne. As he said, I’m Adam Rutherford. I got my start in marketing about ten years ago, and after several successful accounts, I started doing consulting work. Some of you may know who I am, but I assure you, I’m just here to be part of the team. I’ll be working closely with some of you as we design a marketing strategy that will put this firm on the map.”
“He can work closely with me.” Gloria fanned her neck and grinned at me.
When the meeting was done and the normal office gossip began, I started to hear more about Adam Rutherford. I seemed to be in the minority with my lack of knowledge about all of his heroic efforts. To hear the people around the office talk, he had single-handedly put numerous companies on the map—and that was after he did a tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was in the Army. He made his way around the office, talking with people and discussing strategy. When he came towards my desk, I figured I was next up for a hint of his expertise, but he skipped right over me and started talking with the woman to my right. Eventually he met with everyone he seemed to be interested in and disappeared. I decided that a cup of coffee was the only way I was going to get through the afternoon, and when I walked into the break room, I saw him pouring the last drop of it into his cup.
“Abby Grant, right?” He smiled and picked up his cup of coffee. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I was going to come see you after I got a pick-me-up.”
“You just violated our long-standing office rule of starting a fresh pot of coffee if you finish it.” I clutched my cup in my hand and sighed.
“Can you forgive me? I’m new here.” He grimaced comically and fumbled with the coffee maker.
“I’ll do it.” I walked over and opened the top so I could change the filter.
“I hear you’re the one who pitched the idea for the new marketing strategy.” He leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee.
“Yep, that was me.” I nodded and hit the button to start the coffee maker.
“I’d love to sit down with you and go over a few ideas I’m working on.” He leaned towards me. “Over drinks, maybe? Dinner if you’re hungry?”
“Oh.” I blushed and raised my eyebrows. “I... I can’t.”
“Boyfriend?” He asked inquisitively.
“No...” I admitted with a light sigh.
“Husband?” He raised his eyebrows and his eyes drifted to my hand, clearly searching for a ring.
“No...” I shook my head back and forth.
“So, you just don’t like me?” He nodded and looked at the floor. “I see.”
No, you idiot, my pussy still hurts from getting fucked for the first time.
“It’s not that...” I let my words trail off.
‘So, you do like me?” He grinned and sipped his coffee.
“I don’t even know you.” I felt my face twisting to match my bewilderment.
“That’s generally why people have drinks together and sometimes why they decide to sit down across from each other over food and call it a date—they want to get to know each other.” His grin remained firmly in place on his face and he had dimples along each cheek hiding behind light blond stubble.
“I’m just not ready for that.” I shook my head back and forth, focusing my attention on the coffee pot like it was the only thing I could look at.
“Another time then.” He sighed and started walking towards the exit. “We still need to sit down and talk through some ideas. Mr. Hawthorne has asked me to assemble a marketing team from the current staff and possibly even bring in some people I know to help. I’m nothing more than a consultant, but I was hoping the woman who came up with the idea for this marketing strategy would be the Team Lead.”
I stood there staring at the coffee pot while a tightness spread across my whole body. Adam wasn’t just attractive, he was smoking hot, and he dripped with charisma. He wasn’t forceful like Max and that was a bit of a relief. As I thought about the good qualities I had already discovered, I felt my stomach twisting into a knot. Did I really turn him down for a date? Prior to meeting Max, I was literally hoping against all that was holy for a nice, attractive man to ask me out. I walked back to my desk with my coffee and finished my shift. Adam avoided me for the rest of the afternoon, not even making eye contact. When the clock his five, I was already heading towards the exit, dialing Mary-Katherine’s number.
“Are you at home?” I walked towards the parking deck, stomping my feet rapidly as I tried to beat the crowd.
“Yeah, what’s up? Do you want to come over?” She extended an open invitation, which was exactly what I needed.