A Storm Is Coming (2 page)

One thing Braylee couldn’t stand were people who didn’t value her time. She’d only agreed to take this meeting as a favor. She’d known Lisa since college, and if she weren’t one of her dearest friends, she would never have agreed.

It had taken a miracle to clear her schedule. Now, here she was…and her appointment was nowhere to be found.

As Braylee sat around the mahogany conference table, it was clear that she was quickly losing her patience. Her mood did not mirror the blue skies and sunshine streaming through the panoramic windows.

Even the room’s incredible view on top of the seventy-sixth floor of Manchetti Towers held no appeal. The man had a 4D television that her assistant couldn’t resist texting her about, even though he was sitting directly across from her, a full-service bar, as well as every gadget known to man. However, it still wasn’t enough to change her quickly deteriorating mood.

The conference room wasn’t too pretentious, but one knew full well that the owner was a male.

Checking her diamond encrusted Pasha Skeleton watch for the third time, Braylee didn’t even try to hide her irritation as she continued to wait.

Her assistant, Nate Lansbury sat in one of the chocolate leather chairs with pen and notepad in hand…ready to get to work…when he wasn’t texting her.

Braylee didn’t know what she would do without Nate. He kept her on her toes that was for sure.

Yes, he was her dependable well-groomed right hand. The term metrosexual was developed just for him. She would have loved to have seen his closet because his clothes were impeccable. But, then again, she did pay him well. And, the man probably spent more time getting his hair and nails done than she did. His fade was always nice and tight. She wished she had his motivation for fitness though because Nate stayed at the gym, and it showed. He wasn’t muscular, more like very lean and…pretty. It had to be because of his cocoa skin. It always looked so soft and smooth to the touch.

Nate had been with her through all the difficult years of building her practice. And, because he'd worked with her for all of that time, he knew her like the back of his hand.

That’s why he knew if the meeting didn’t start soon…if it did start…it would start without Braylee. He could tell that little Ms. Hinsdale was about to bolt.

She’d been introduced earlier to Manchetti’s General Counsel, Giovanni LaPezzia, his Associates - Marcus Bailey and Joseph Ling, and his younger brother, Fabi Manchetti. The men were prattling on amongst themselves while they waited for Alexandro Manchetti.

It no longer even fazed Braylee that she was literally the only woman sitting at the table in a room full of powerful men.

However, when she uncrossed one long shapely leg to re-cross it, the light chatter going on around her, immediately ceased. Braylee knew it wasn’t the peep toe, platform, sling back Christian Louboutin’s they were staring at either.

Years of practiced self-control kept her from rolling her eyes into the back of her head when she looked up to see several pairs of eyes staring at her…legs.

Typical; Yes, she was a woman and proud of it. She made no apologies. Braylee had worked for far too many women who tried to fit in with the big boys by acting, dressing, and talking like them. Well…to hell with that. She was all woman and proud of it.

If the people around her couldn’t deal with it, then screw them. Her level of success allowed her that luxury. And, it would be to their disadvantage to underestimate her intelligence because of how she dressed.

Inwardly, she smiled because while Braylee knew she was a confident and attractive woman now, that hadn’t always been the case. Glasses and braces had been a big part of her life. Add to it that she was a late bloomer….that made high school and part of her college experience excruciatingly lonely.

As a matter of fact, she remained tall, lanky, and flat as a board until her sophomore year of college. Then overnight, she seemed to blossom. However, it probably worked in her favor. Not having many dates during that time gave her plenty enough space to develop good study habits.

To look at her now, with her womanly curves, full breasts, and small waist you would have never guessed that she’d been the African American version of Olive Oyl.

Could she have used being a woman to her advantage? Probably. But, she wanted respect, and there was no way she was going to credit her success to laying on her back. She worked hard to take her seat at the table as one of the best, not just women lawyers, but corporate lawyers in the country. She was proud of that accomplishment.

So, although today she wore an all-white Yves Saint Laurent sheath dress with a pearled collar that stopped a couple of inches above her knees…no one should let her look fool them. It would be a mistake.

Actually, having people judge her based on her looks had become less and less of a concern as her well-earned reputation typically entered a room before she did. Nowadays, she was able to pick and choose her clients because of it.

Tick-tock tick-tock…her patience had expired and just as Braylee was about to get up and leave, the door to the conference room opened. A very attractive blond woman wearing a smart black skirt and a matching blazer stepped inside.

The young woman smiled warmly, “Hi, I’m Kathy Stone, Mr. Manchetti’s personal assistant. I came to apologize for him being unavoidably detained. However, he should be here within the next few minutes. In the meantime, can I get you and your guest anything, coffee…water?”

It figured that his PA would look like she just stepped off of the Parisian runways. Just like his offices were beautiful, so was she. Kathy was tall, model thin, very pretty, with blue eyes, a pert nose, and perfect white teeth.

Braylee’s observation wasn’t anything personal against the young woman, it just figured. Powerful men always seemed to want to collect pretty things. But, just as Braylee didn’t want people to judge her by her looks, sometimes it took extra care to extend the same courtesy especially when she was in a pissy mood.

Irritated, Braylee did her best to be polite. Kathy was just the PA so she couldn’t take her frustrations out on her. “Thank you but no. I’m fine. Nate?”

He took his cues from Braylee, “No. I’m fine as well.”

Kathy nodded as she left the room and closed the door. Tick-tock tick-tock…the time continued to move glacially.

Braylee wondered what could possibly be keeping him. Finally, she heard footsteps in front of the door and couldn’t help but hope it was him. Patience was not something she had in ready supply to begin with.

The door opened a crack, then paused. There was a bit of conversation with whoever opened it and someone else in the hallway. And then, as if in a movie, the door slowly crept open. Finally, the great Alexandro Manchetti walked inside.

He acknowledged his team, “Gentlemen.” Then, he extended his hand and walked over toward Braylee, “Ms. Hinsdale. Please accept my apologies for being late.”

Braylee researched him, but the images from her dossier should have been shredded and burned. They were useless other than that dark hair. They didn’t hold a candle to the man standing before her. He was tall. He was very tall with a broad chest and wide shoulders. There was also no mistaking his athletic build even through his Tom Ford suit. That olive skin against that starched white shirt was such a contrast given this time of year. His was a naturally beautiful tan.

It wasn’t his scruffy little beard, which was a weakness of Braylee’s that drew her attention. It was his eyes. They were dark, intense and piercing. His presence filled the room and made Braylee sit up just a bit straighter.

She needed all of her training as a lawyer to mask her immediate attraction. However, just as beautiful women probably no longer had any effect on Alexandro, she was determined not to let him have any effect on her either.

And that was mostly true…until he smiled. His smile almost knocked her off of her feet…almost because she wouldn’t allow it. Men, especially handsome and powerful men were usually jerks and nothing but trouble. She was done wasting her time on them.

Braylee was never one to be controlled by emotions, and she wouldn’t start now. So, without a hint of warmth to her face, she stood and extended her hand for a handshake. A firm handshake. “Mr. Manchetti.”

Zing!

What was that? Was that an electrical current that ran through her arm? No way, it had to be something else; probably a nerve acting up. Anyway, she had to remind herself that this man had kept her waiting for over an hour! Good looks be damned he’d wasted her time.

Alexandro typically towered over most women with his six-foot four-inch frame, but Braylee managed to reach his shoulders. Granted she was probably wearing four-inch heels but she was still able to make almost eye to eye contact. And, they were a beautiful pair even though he could clearly see irritation and something else in them.

It didn’t escape his notice that she was all business as he took his seat at the head of the conference table. While Alex couldn’t be certain, it appeared as if she wasn’t just irritated but maybe even pissed.

Usually, his smile was enough to disarm a pretty woman but this didn’t look like it was going to be one of those times.

He’d heard about Braylee Hinsdale’s penchant for punctuality and her disdain for those who weren’t. But, he couldn’t avoid it.

At any rate, Alexandro opened his portfolio just as Kathy returned to pass out a small binder of documents to everyone seated.

Braylee accepted the slim portfolio and immediately began to scan the information on the pages. It was a gift that she could process complicated information quickly.

“Ms. Hinsdale, your reputation precedes you.” Even the part of her reputation that noted she was cold and calculating but damn good at her job. “However, Lisa’s strong recommendation is one of the reasons why I’ve asked you to be here today.”

He studied her as she studied the information. He couldn’t remember anything that might have been said about her appearance. When her name came up it was usually related to a brilliant legal mind. As a matter of fact, he didn’t have very much personal information about her at all. Not that it mattered because his focus was only about what she could do for him in a courtroom…not the bedroom.

However, professionally he’d also heard that Braylee was always well prepared, had uncanny instincts, and was a bulldog in court. She’d rarely lost a case.

Alexandro studied Braylee as she continued to scan the documents. When she brushed a wayward curl of hair behind her ear, like a magnet he followed her every movement. It was difficult to keep from staring. He never expected her to be so incredibly beautiful.

What the hell was wrong with him? Given his current situation, he should be completely focused on his personal and legal troubles. Alexandro cleared his throat, “After you’ve had some time to review my situation, I’m hoping to get your legal opinion of my options.”

Without acknowledging his comments, she quickly flipped through the pages. When Braylee was in lawyer mode, there were very few things that could break her concentration.

Alexandro was attracted to this woman. Of course, it was purely physical but still he had to force himself to tear his eyes away from her.

Needing a little room to get his thoughts together, he briefly turned his attention to the men assembled at the table. But, then soon returned his gaze back to Braylee, “My in-house counsel and my brother Fabi believe that if I take this case to trial it would be unwinnable and could take everything I’ve worked so hard for down.”

After Braylee finished scanning the documents, she slowly lifted her gaze to his. Their eyes locked. His gaze was too intense. It was as if he could see clear down into her soul. Nobody was allowed there.

She’d never been thrown off of her game by a man and wouldn’t start now. In a no-nonsense fashion she responded, “On the face of it and without doing my own research, saying this would be a difficult case to win would be an understatement. Especially if half the things mentioned in this report are true.”

What was that? Was there a flash of something in those eyes other than irritation? It was too brief to know if it had even existed. Maybe Alexandro was imagining it hoping to see something he wanted to see. He quickly reminded himself this was about the lawsuit.

How the hell was she able to absorb any of that information in the brief amount time they’d been seated? Impossible, but if she had, then he would really be impressed.

“Are you sure? You haven’t even had a chance to do a thorough review of the report.”

“I…have a gift of sorts to absorb a lot of information quickly. Along with what I already knew, and what I was able to gather from the report, I know I can say this would be an incredibly difficult case to win.”

Okay, so he was very impressed. At the same time, he still hoped that she missed something that would give his company a chance.

Suddenly, the room erupted in chatter.

“See, Alex. She’s confirmed our thoughts exactly.”

“It’s unwinnable. Just settle.”

“The company would suffer greatly if you go ahead with this.”

You could see the clenching of his jaw as Alexandro raised his hand to silence the chattering men. They stopped speaking in mid-sentence as his unflinching gaze returned to Braylee’s.

“I was hoping to get your opinion as quickly as possible. I am fully aware of how my team feels.”

Braylee carefully sat the documents back down on the table as she spoke, “I said difficult, not impossible. Nothing is ever impossible. We have too many guilty people walking around free for that to be true.”

Eager to hear her thoughts, Alexandro urged her to proceed. “Please, Ms. Hinsdale, go on.”

“Well, just skimming the surface, I would recommend settling as soon as possible. That’s the easiest route. Otherwise, you could be in for a very long and very expensive fight where your chances of winning at best are probably no better than thirty percent.”