Asher gives me a puzzled look. "What do you mean? I was just having a friendly chat with a woman who, as much as I hate to admit it, might just match my financial genius."
"She didn't look too friendly," Ryker points out the obvious.
"That woman is the head of Odermatt's finance department," I state another fact.
Asher shrugs. "I know."
"So you're aware that she has Odermatt's ear. If she hates you, which she seems to, she could very well convince Odermatt to walk, and then everything we just discussed in that room will go up in smoke. The acquisition gone."
"Relax." Asher pats my shoulder. "She isn't like that. She's very professional."
I narrow my eyes at him. "And were you? Did you try something?"
Asher snorts. "Oh, you of little faith in me."
"Did you?" I demand to know.
"No," he tells me firmly. "I didn't do anything. I swear."
"And you won't, right?" It's an order as much as a question. "You'll behave yourself while you're here in Zurich?"
"Don't worry," Asher tells me. "I won't cause any trouble."
I hear a "but" coming.
"But I can't promise you that you'll be the only one having fun. That's not fair, right?"
I should have known he would bring last night up. Of all people, why did he have to be the one to barge into my room this morning?
"What are you talking about?" Ryker asks.
"Nothing," I tell him.
It's enough that I have one brother with his nose in my personal affairs.
"I think I see the car," I tell them both. "Let's go back to the hotel."
~
I wanted to go straight up to my room and just order room service, but Ryker wanted to have dinner at the restaurant and he did so well at the meeting that I felt like indulging him. Asher joined us, too. And everyone else. Including Stella.
She's sitting three chairs away to my left around the large table, still close enough that I can hear her voice when Asher isn't saying anything. I try not to pay attention to her, but it's hard when she's still wearing that red dress and Asher seems to be talking to her a lot. In fact, I daresay he's flirting with her, which annoys me more than I can tell.
Wasn't he just trying to get into Violet Cleary's good graces earlier? And now he's using those same charms on someone else? And not just anyone else. He does know that Stella is my assistant and therefore every bit as off limits as Odermatt's head of finance, right?
I try to be patient. I try to focus on the good food and drown some of my frustration in the wine. I remind myself that Asher is my brother and that's reason enough not to strangle him. I remind myself that we're in public and so I should get a hold of my temper. For the most part, I succeed. But when Asher ambushes Stella on her way back to the table from the restroom and starts to whisk her towards the garden, I lose it.
I excuse myself from the table and walk towards them. I stand right behind Stella and clear my throat.
"I'm going back to my room," I tell her. "I need those documents from Mr. Odermatt's secretary."
"Can't they wait until tomorrow?" Asher asks me.
"No," I tell him without averting my gaze from Stella. "Do you have them?"
"Yes." She starts to open her purse. "I - "
"I need you to transfer the files to my computer. Now."
Stella draws a deep breath and nods. "Yes, sir."
Chapter Nine
Stella
Is Ethan mad at me?
The question rattles my thoughts as I follow him quietly to the elevators.
It's not the first time. When I went to his room this morning, I got the feeling that he was upset with me, especially since he didn't say anything about my dress. Not that I was expecting a compliment. Just a smile, maybe? Some kind of approval? But I got nothing. Then in the car, on the way to the meeting, he didn't say a word to me, which made the trip seem much longer than ten minutes. He wouldn't even look at me. Surprising considering he's been so warm and kind lately.
Then again, that was before last night, before Ethan and I had sex.
I try not to blush at the memory as I step inside the elevators after him. Just in case I fail, I stay behind him in a corner.