Only You (Sweet Torment 2)

I wanted to ask more about what had gone on today, but it wasn’t my place. He was the boss, and this was his company. I was curious and if I was being totally honest, I wanted to be part of it. But I stood silently.

“I have another task for you”—he looked me over and, as if seeing my exhaustion, finished with—“if you’re up for it?”

“Of course.” I straightened the best I could and hoped my body didn’t look as weak as I felt.

“I need you to help with a party for my family. Most of the details are taken care of, including entertainment and location. It will be about fifteen miles upstate at Regan’s property.”

“What do you need my help with?” I asked.

“Would you be willing to help with food? Nothing crazy. Pizza would work.”

“Pizza?” I said.

“Something simple to feed fifty people or so.”

I clicked on my tablet, making a few notes. “Yes, fifty people, family event.” If Leo’s family was going to be there, that meant I’d meet a couple more of his sisters for the first time when I dropped off the food. Maybe have a chance to make a good impression. Which somehow felt extremely important. A silly notion. It didn’t matter if Leo’s family liked me. I was his assistant. End of story. Yet it did matter to me. A lot.

“The party is next weekend and if the food can be there a little before it starts at two, that’d be great.”

“Consider the food handled.” I smiled. Pizza my ass. I would get the best caterer in town and hope to hell he could squeeze in a small order for me. Something without too much sugar that, with any luck, would blow Regan’s mind on how healthy and awesome it was. This was my chance to make it right. Show I could mingle with them. Even if, deep down, I knew I was nothing more than a temp. I still had to try.

“Great. How did dealing with Colin go?” he said. A loud huff escaped and I almost slapped my hand over my mouth. But it was too late. “That bad, huh?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” I said honestly. “I told him I’d be in touch to reschedule. I didn’t want to put anything on the books since I didn’t know your timeframe for going over the terms he sent.”

Leo smiled and beckoned me with a finger to come to him. I did. So quickly and easily, as if pulled by an invisible leash. Sad, but true. The effect he had on me was becoming more consuming.

“Want to take a look with me?” he asked, and pulled out the documents Colin had sent over. He got up and offered me his seat, then hovered over my shoulder. “What do you think?”

I glanced back at him. He was asking for my thoughts on such a serious acquisition? Pride bubbled just beneath my skin and I read over the thesis and basic outline of Colin’s proposal.

“He wants to sublet the number 2347 slip of New York for a term of one year at . . .” my voice died when I saw the price he offered. And I thought my rent last month had been high. “Wow.”

I flipped through a few more forms and read them quickly, which was difficult with Leo leaning over me. I could feel his breath skating over my neck and smell the spicy warm scent I was beginning to recognize as purely his own.

“So? What are you thinking?” Leo asked in a tone that sounded genuinely interested.

While politics and shipping were different, the basics of business remained the same. Plus, I’d spent the little free time I had reading about and researching the company to better understand the Savas shipping empire.

“I know I’m still learning, but there are several factors to consider,” I said, “like size of the slip, what kind of ships it supports, the amount of goods able to pass through, and what kind of revenue it would create.”

I chanced a glance at him and he was smiling. “That’s correct. You’re on the right path.”

I smiled back, liking that Leo was helping me. Letting me learn while remaining supportive in finding my own answers. It felt like a fun quiz and the prize was Leo’s respect. Which made me desperately want to win.

“Are you using the slip?” I said.

“I could do without it for a small period of time. The other slips can support the extra load, so no money would be lost on my part by subletting to Davis for a year.”

“Okay, but you have to look at what’s in it for you, and that has to counterbalance the risk you take.”

I didn’t need to look at him to know he was staring daggers at me. He spun the chair enough so that I faced him and I had no choice but to meet his eyes.

“Do you think what’s in it for me is worth the risk?”

I swallowed hard. “Depends on what your end goal is. Do you want to build some kind of long-term relationship with Davis Shipping? Is this purely to turn a bigger profit? Or can he assist you in the future in exchange for providing this boon to him now?”

“You always look at things this way? What is stood to be gained?”