Fearful Cravings (3 page)

Every night for the next week, Chloe and Tom worked late to bring Reece's vision to life. They worked on marketing, advertising plans, budgets and a logo. Everything previously known about Walker and Sons was erased and a new, chic brand emerged. She fell into bed every night exhausted, but satisfied with the work completed each day.

As with every client, Chloe gave all her energy and creative flow to the cause. She wanted the company to succeed as if it were her own. She admired what Reece was trying to do. It couldn't be easy to fight against thirty years of tradition. Especially in a company that your father had built from the ground up on his own. Because of this, she gave him her best work.

A week after their initial meeting, Reece showed up to see her progress. Chloe was inordinately proud of the work she'd accomplished. She watched him as he studied the storyboards. He was handsome even when he wasn't giving her that grin. He had a square jaw with a hint of stubble. Shoulders that were strong, and not too wide with a tapered waist. She hadn't seen his ass. The few times she'd seen him, he'd been wearing longer blazers. She would bet a year's salary that it was enticing enough to want to sink her teeth into.

“These are a good start.” He pointed to the logo and one of the commercial boards. “These could use some work. The logo could be sharper. The colors don't work for me, think bolder. The scene for the commercial is too cute.”

She tried hard to hide her disappointment. Obviously not every client was happy with the first mockups, but she wanted him to love it. She frowned at her own reaction to his criticism.

He saw her frowning and touched her arm. “We can work on it together, if you like.”

Though he misunderstood her reaction, she realized that she would love to work closely with him. His hand on her arm was dizzying.

“We still have to present this to your father when it's finished. Can I assume you'll make it clear this was your direction?”

He laughed. “Oh, he'll know it was me.”

He paused, tilted his head and slid a glance to her, “We'll start tonight.” He consulted a slim expensive-looking watch. “I have some business to conduct, but I can be back here at four this afternoon.”

She nodded. She found herself nodding when he was around. It was like words fled her brain when he cocked that crooked smile at her. She forced herself to speak actual words instead of nodding at him like an empty-headed fool.

“That sounds perfect.”

Still, not her best, but it was all she had. She wasn't sure how she would work alongside him. Probably nodding her head the whole time like a marionette being powered by a puppeteer with hand tremors.

He came back promptly at four that night. They used the conference room since it gave them room to spread out. One by one, the office lights on her floor were extinguished as her colleagues went home. A few stopped to say good night. Most noticeable were a few women that Chloe wouldn't call close friends. They stayed a bit too long, hesitating, waiting to be introduced to the new client.

Chloe laughed and shook her head as the last of her female co-workers sashayed out of the office.

Reece flashed that grin at her, “Your co-workers are friendly.”

“That's one way to put it.”

“Is that jealousy I hear?”

She frowned, “Certainly not. We have a professional relationship. You are my client.”

She shut the conference room door, and huffed back to her seat.

He remained standing and walked behind her chair. He pressed against her back as he leaned over her and picked up a board from the table. “Should we talk about the elevator, Chloe?”

Her whole body trembled. Her eyes closed, and mentally she moaned. She was careful to give him no hint to how he effected her. They needed to work together for the next week. She couldn't get involved with a client. He wanted to talk about the elevator, though. Was he crazy? Should they talk about how he had exposed his date's breasts, or how he pushed the woman to her knees?

“No. There's nothing to talk about, Reece.”

“I believe there is, Chloe.”

There was that slight emphasis on her name. It was the second syllable that he elongated and made it sound like a light moan. It wasn't overt but she heard it. Hell, maybe she imagined it.

She cleared her throat. “The only thing we have to talk about is right here on this conference room table. Should we get back to work?”

“As you like, Chloe. I'm a patient man, but I'll only wait so long.”

She wasn't sure what he meant by that. She directed his attention to the logo he wanted fixed.

Over the next few days, they worked closely together. Many nights were spent working late. Chloe was  always the last one to leave. She was more relaxed, comfortable around him. He had a sense of humor and made her laugh but she wasn't interested in seeing him with a date in her elevator. Even when she was inordinately tired, she would stay an extra hour or two after he left. Time enough for him to go out or come home with a date in hand.

The project was almost ready to be presented to Reece's father. He was scheduled for a Monday morning meeting at 9 am.  Chloe was only slightly nervous about the presentation. The changes Reece had made were dramatic, but after seeing the clothing line for next season, she understood the demands and adjusted accordingly.           

Wednesday night they were putting the finishing touches on the commercials. For the ad campaign, he wanted more sex and less sophisticated elegance. The black and white stylized advertisements showed miles of skin, but Chloe definitely approved. The men were sizzling hot. Any woman seeing these ads would want her man wearing these pants. Any man would want to be these guys.

Chloe and Reece were in her office after a quick dinner together at her desk. They were discussing the phases of the campaign. She leaned back in her chair nibbling her bottom lip while contemplating the storyboards for the commercial.

“Chloe.”

She barely raised her eyes, “Hmm?”

“Perhaps if I was wearing the pants from that advertisement and nothing else, you'd pay attention to what I've been saying for the past five minutes.”

Her face flushed, and she laughed slightly, but she was feeling a bit turned on. It had been a long time since she'd been satisfied, and it made her throw out a reckless comment.

“If you were wearing these pants, you wouldn't be wearing them for long around me.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her, and laughed. “I wear pants all the time; whether I'm naked or not.”

He leaned on her desk, crowding her, invading her space as he grew serious. “Which means you wouldn't get to remove my pants unless I allowed you to.”

Chloe's mouth dried up as a rush of fear had her scalp tingling. She wasn't sure why she was poking at him. He scared her a little bit. She wasn't even sure what she was afraid of exactly. Only that when she thought about sex with him it turned her on and flooded her with fear.

Over the last few days, she'd tried not to consider him as more than a client. He'd been prying at her resolve. Picking at her resistance. Only the looming presentation kept her distant from him.

She backed off from his comment and refocused them on business. “What is it that you were saying to me?”

The smug smile was back as he relaxed into his chair. He nodded, acknowledging her avoidance and repeated himself. “Do you think we're ready for Monday?”

“Yes. I do think we're ready. Once I give this presentation to your father, the marketing team will take over implementation of the plan. I'll supervise, of course, but the team will run with the phases we've laid out here, in the time-line we've indicated.”

As Chloe walked him to the door of her office, she had lingering doubts and questions about her client. He was incredibly sexy. She became flustered around him the few times they weren't discussing business. She'd noticed him touching her more often, and she would lean into his touch in response.

The next night was the last meeting they had planned before the Monday meeting with his father. They would be practicing some of the finer points of the dialogue and the cues for each other.

“When I'm talking about the slogan, it would make sense for you to step in with some details about the market research regarding casual menswear.”

They were standing together in the conference room doing a dry run of the presentation. It was important enough to warrant this kind of extra attention.

She'd worn a short, black skirt today with a cowl-necked blue silk top. The cowl detail was subtle and the folds of it dipped low between her breasts. She'd accented her cleavage with a delicate necklace. It was where Reece was staring as she looked up from her notes.

A slow smile lit up his face. Instantly, she remembered the elevator. As he stepped towards her, she knew that was exactly what he was remembering.

He crowded her space. She backed up into the conference table. His eyes were dark and filled with desire. Hanging on the end of the chain between her breasts was a small blue crystal. He picked it up, brushing his fingers against the rounded flesh that it was resting snugly between. She gasped at his touch.

“This is a beautiful color. It matches your eyes.”

His lips were inches from hers. If this had been anyone else except her client, she would have jumped him by now. She got the feeling that he would turn away her advances if she did. He wanted to be in control. He'd all but announced it last night.

She whispered, “We have work to do.”

“Yes. We do, but after Monday, I will no longer be a client that you are working on a project with.”

Her breathing was shallow and she couldn't seem to speak over a whisper with him so close, “But, you'll still be a client.”

“That won't matter. You'll hand me off to your marketing department. It puts some distance into our customer-client relationship.”

He stepped back. “This is going to happen, Chloe.”

She didn't respond. She wasn't sure what she would say in response to that, so she turned and shuffled papers until she felt like she would be able to continue. He leaned one hip against the table and watched her.

Chloe cleared her throat, “Where were we? The marketing research?”

He chuckled, “Yes. The marketing research.”

Finally, Monday arrived. With Tom's help, Chloe put the finishing touches on the presentation. When it was time for the meeting, Chloe was ready. In anticipation of Mr. Walker's propensity to be early, she got to work at 8 am. Tom arrived a few minutes after her and together they prepared the conference room. She kicked off her heels to run around the room. She had worn stiletto heels which weren't made for running.

The outfit she'd chosen today was a little sexier than she normally wore to the office.

“So, how is Mr. Hottie?”

Chloe sniffed, “I have no idea who you could be referring to.” The working relationship between Chloe and Tom was extremely casual. She thought of him as a friend more than she considered him an assistant. They had worked together for years. He knew her better than she would ever admit.

He rolled his eyes, “Right.”

Tom left to bring in the clients while Chloe slipped back into her heels. Reece was as much the client in this case as his father even as he was taking a more active role in the presentation. It was his design and his vision, after all.

“Mr. Walker, Reece, it's nice to see you both again. Can I offer either of you coffee before we start?”

Mr. Walker shook her offered hand firmly and declined coffee. Reece shook her hand, but when he touched her there was an electric contact that sucked the air out of the room. He caressed her hand with both of his. It wasn't a handshake. The only name for it was a caress. He touched her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. She wished he hadn't done that. She was nervous enough, and instead of soothing her, the contact made her flush. She was now nervous and because of Reece, flustered on top of it.

Tom noticed her reaction. He smirked at her from across the room.

Chloe took a deep breath.

She'd worn a tight, form-fitting black dress with a tailored blazer. The outfit was sexier than she'd normally wear to the office, but it was important for the presentation as well as the heels. It reflected the styles and shapes of the clothing line that Reece was advocating. It was the female counterpoint to the menswear line. Presentation was more than the words on an overhead projector. Aura and image were important, too.

Between the two, they switched back and forth seamlessly as if they had practiced the presentation for weeks. She had to admit they worked well together. It was a charge for Chloe to work with someone who picked up her cues so smoothly and effortlessly.

They touched on all the reasons Reece's campaign worked better. The research, presentation and data along with the marketing that would bring the Walker and Sons brand recognition to a new generation of men.

At the end of the presentation, Chloe and Reece waited patiently, but with great anticipation for Mr. Walker to speak.

He took his time, shuffling through the various storyboards and reading the script they had presented for the commercial. He was deep in thought, his forehead creased and his face scowling. Chloe had a hard time not jumping to conclusions. He hated it. He was going to shoot them down. Chloe eyed Reece. The man was so calm. He was the type not to show emotions unless they were totally controlled. Reece had lived with this man for years. The long silences were probably common, and he knew how to wait them out. Chloe didn't, and she was starting to panic.

Reece noticed her staring and slid a hand to the small of her back. It was meant to reassure her but he couldn't help sliding his hand down to touch the top of her buttocks. He didn't know her well enough to read her signals. She was completely flustered by him. She took a step away from his hand. In front of his father? The man they were waiting on to make a business decision that could effect them both, and he was groping her. 

Mr. Walker let the papers flutter to the table, interlocked his fingers and stared at Chloe then at Reece with a thoughtful gaze.

“This business, Walker and Sons. It's been my life's work, and it all goes to you when I'm gone. I built this company up from scratch since you were a baby. It's my legacy. Is this where you'd like to take my company?”

Reece answered simply, “Yes.”

“I'm proud of you, Reece. You stuck to what you believe in even against me. It shows conviction and fortitude. Qualities you'll need when you're running this company.”

He turned to Chloe and bowed slightly at the waist. A gesture that touched Chloe. “Ms. Daniels, a wonderful presentation.”

“Thank you, Mr. Walker, it was a collaboration. Your son had a huge influence on the finished product.”

Tom followed Mr. Walker out of the conference room to show him out. Reece and Chloe were alone both of them beaming at the other.

Reece pulled her in for a hug. She melted against him. Her legs wobbled. He tightened his grip to hold her steady. He caressed her back. Before she could embarrass herself and become a puddle at his feet, she got hold of herself, pushed him away.

He held her at arm's length and smiled that crooked smile at her. This one she was unable to read.

“Have dinner with me tonight, Chloe. To celebrate our successful presentation, and to toast my company's new relationship with your firm.”

She inclined her head gracefully and smiled, “I'd love to have dinner...to toast the success of our presentation.”

After he left with the promise to pick her up at her apartment, she fiddled around in her office unable to concentrate on anything. Now that the presentation was over, she would turn the project over to the marketing, art and media department. They would have questions, meetings to discuss the plan but Chloe's portion of the project was only overseeing the overall completion. It would be weeks, months before the departments offered a finished product.

A few pink message slips sat on her desk. She shuffled through them continuously. Her mind and her heart wasn't in the office today.

She yelled, “Tom!”

He strolled casually into her doorway. “Yes, my Queen?”

She laughed and playing along, “My servant, I require your assistance in making my apologies to these fine citizens. I will be indisposed for the rest of the eve.” She waved the messages while packing up her bag.

“You never leave early. You must have something very exciting going on tonight. Care to share?”

She breezed past him, “Nope.”

That'll drive him crazy for hours, she thought. She would have to make sure she remembered to buy him a gift. He'd been great the past few weeks.