Micah (The Corsetti Empire)

Chapter Three

“You’re fussing again.”

“I am not. You have lint on your jacket. Where did you find this thing, anyway? I didn’t see you come in with it on.”

“It was hanging in my office. I was running behind this morning and left my suit coat on the kitchen counter.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have run by and picked it up.”

“Because you are not my assistant anymore and no one can tell the difference between one black suit coat versus another.”

“Maybe you can’t, but it’s obvious to me. Stay here. I think I have a lint roller in my desk.”

Isabel turned and headed back out of the conference room. Micah designed the entire office with glass walls so he could easily see her rushing down the hallway to where their offices were. Her heels had to have been four inches high, and he had no idea how she moved so quickly in them. A smile came to him when he remembered the day he asked her about how she got around in them. She told him the Cuban women in her family were taught to walk in heels when they took their first steps. She always had a way to make him laugh, and he loved that about her. He loved it almost as much as he loved the look of her ass in the tight form-fitting black dress she had on that day. Anytime they had a big meeting she would text him and tell him what color to wear. It didn’t stop there. She’d explain what suit, if he needed all three pieces, tie or not, everything right down to the best shoes. Micah was never a bad dresser, but he noticed she liked them to coordinate for big meetings and events. Her power colors, of red, black and blue, had to be changed accordingly. Since they were in Miami, the dress code could change drastically from one event to the next. Isabel planned everything to a tee and never complained one bit. He knew it was one of her favorite parts of the job, so even when he promoted her, he still followed her wishes.

“I knew I had one. You never know when they will come in handy. My mother always says lint rollers are a waste of money when you can just use leftover tape. Can you believe that? The woman saves tape.”

She hadn’t even taken a breath. He realized she was nervous about the meeting they were about to have. He was too. If they secured the Morales business, then they wouldn’t have a thing to worry about. With nearly a half a billion dollars in assets, the trades alone would cover expenses for more years than Micah would care to count.

“Hey,” he said softly, stopping her hand that was running a lint roller all over his suit jacket, “Look at me Iz.”

The tingling feeling he got every time they touched seemed amplified lately. She finally looked up, and he reached for her cheek, placing his hand on her soft skin. He watched as her eyes fluttered shut, then quickly opened as she straightened her head and looked him in the eye.

“It’s going to be fine. In fact, it will be better than fine. You have done an amazing job on this project. They would be fools to say no.”

“I just really want this.”

“I know you do, and we’ll get it. Together.”

“Oh Marco, I told you they were together. I don’t know why you always argue with me about these things. A woman just knows.”

Micah felt Izzy tense and try to jump back from him at the sound of Mrs. Morales’ voice. He couldn’t blame her, his heart nearly stopped at the things the woman was saying, but he couldn’t let Izzy know that, so instead he dropped his hand from her cheek, yet held her other hand in his. He could feel the tension running off her body as he turned to their potential clients, and a rather confused looking receptionist.

Turning his smile up to a million watts, he kicked on the charm and jumped in with two feet.

“I guess we’ve been caught now, haven’t we?” he said with a chuckle, “Mrs. Morales, we certainly couldn’t pull a fast one by you, now could we?”

“No, you could not. I told Marco after the first time we met that you two just had to be a couple, and he insisted that wasn’t possible. He claimed you were a big old player. I told him there is no way a man looks at a woman the way you look at Ms. Diaz, unless he is head over heels in love with her.”

Isabel coughed next to him, clearly trying not to choke on her own tongue. “Here honey, have some water. And Ashley, can you take this and return it to Isabel’s office?”

He watched as Isabel took the water from him, then handed the lint roller over to the receptionist. By the look on her face, there was no doubt the office rumor mill would have them married and expecting their first child by the time the meeting was over. That was something he’d have to deal with later.

“Let’s all have a seat so we can get started. Would you both like coffee? I have Cuban and American as well as lunch being brought up.”

“I’m fine. No need to fuss over us.”

“A water would be great,” Mr. Morales said, giving Micah a look that made it all too clear he wasn’t buying the charade. If being with Izzy was something Mrs. Morales wanted from him, then they could make that happen. Isabel needed this deal as much as he did. However, the way she was gripping his thigh under the table was making him wonder if the bruises would be worth it.

“Son, what happened to your face?”

“Funny you should ask,” he said, raising his hand to one of his bruised eyes, “This one here nearly broke my nose last night.”

“Is that so? Already screwing the pooch, are you?”

“Nothing like that Mr. Diaz. We had a late Saturday night, so I let Izzy nap while I made dinner. When I went to wake her, I must have startled her and before I knew it, I was nose first into the top of her head. It’s not broken, but it bled for a while. Other than a bruised ego and two bruised eyes, I think I will survive. Isn’t that right, Iz?” he said, leaning over and placing a light kiss on her cheek.

“Relax,” he whispered as he pulled back.