I have butterflies in my stomach because I want it to go well.
Thinking about it all week, I’ve hyped myself up for this meeting. I’ve convinced myself that this has the opportunity to change my life. Isn’t this what I’ve always wanted? To grow my company to the level where I can sell some stock and control so I can use the money to invest in something else? Another business idea?
I try to keep calm. I’ve eaten very little since I woke up but had two cups of coffee already.
A small legal team will be accompanying me to this meeting, but I’m seeing them directly at the Habitat offices.
When I leave my apartment, my small tote bag hanging off the crook of my arm—Trevor steps out of his apartment at the same time. I pull the door shut behind me, and he passes me a look. I don’t know what that look means.
He looks exceptionally handsome today. I want to roll my eyes at him because his good looks are so unfair. A crisply tailored suit that fits him like a glove, accentuating all those muscles he keeps hidden underneath his clothes.
“How is Anya?” I ask as we step in the same direction, headed for the elevator.
“Good. Rachel’s taken her to school,” he says. “And you look like you’re headed somewhere important.”
I’m secretly glad that he’s noticed but I don’t want to admit it.
“I treat all my professional work as important to me,” I reply as we stand together in front of the elevator.
“Is that one of the mantras that contributes to your success? Should I take notes?”
Is that an actual grin I see on his face? I turn away from him, rolling my eyes. I can feel his gaze burning through me. Does he like what he sees? I would love to peek inside his head.
There is still that nagging part of me that wonders if I should be more affable towards him. Considering what I know about his ex…Anya’s mother. But he makes it so damn difficult to be nice to him. I’m sure I don’t do myself any favors either.
The elevator doors ping open, and he waits for me to step in first. At least he has some manners.
The doors close on us, and suddenly, I realize we are now in a closed space together. So close to each other. I am surrounded by the luxurious scent of his cologne and I feel a bout of dizziness hit me.
I shouldn’t have had that second coffee!
“You look nervous,” he says while I try to appear busy searching for something in my purse.
I give him a glare in return.
“What makes you think you can accurately decipher the expression on my face?”
“So you are nervous,” he says with a grin, and I snap my purse closed.
“You know what? I’m not going to let your words affect me today.”
“My words affect you usually?” He’s enjoying this. The grin is growing on his face.
“Not the way you hope they do.”
“No, of course, they don’t. Otherwise, you’d keep the music down in your apartment.”
“What’s your problem, Trevor? Have you never thrown a party before?”
“Civilized parties, yes; not ones with bad singing.”
“So you’re telling me you don’t know how to have fun,” I snap. I can feel my cheeks flushing. I have been trying so hard to not let him get to me. Not today, on what could end up being the most important day of my life.
But he has a sneaky way of getting under my skin that I can’t stop.
“I don’t think you have any idea how to have fun, Blaire,” he insists in a firm and even tone.
The elevator stops on the underground floor, and the door slides open. There are a few people on the other side, and we step out, making our way past them.
I could have walked away while I had the chance, but something makes me stay. He has stopped in his tracks too. Trevor and I are looking at each other. It’s like both of us are trying to come up with a way to get the last word, but we’re falling short. He has no idea how he turns me on and pisses me off at the same time.
“Best of luck with whatever it is that’s got your panties in a bunch,” he finally says, and my cheeks flush even deeper now. This is the first time he’s made reference to something like that. I know it’s just a phrase and doesn’t imply anything intimate,