“You can’t hold onto employees?” I sip the vodka, the familiar taste rousing my taste buds.
“I’ve had the same assistant for seven years.” He rakes a hand through his dark brown hair. “I pay him well and give him ample time off. This place pays shit and overworks everyone they hire. That stops today.”
“You’re in town to drop the hammer?” I look over at the bar and the women who are still blatantly gawking at us. “You’re going to mix some pleasure with that business, aren’t you?”
His gaze follows mine. “If I do it won’t be with any of them. What about you?”
The only pleasure I’m interested in involves the gorgeous brunette I met on the airplane this morning.
Time will tell if she takes me up on my invitation to join me in my room tonight.
“I may have plans later.”
“May have?” He asks as he watches Sherri greet the couple that just took their seats at a table near us. “You didn’t lock it down?”
I ignore the question to focus on the reason for this dinner.
I asked for a face-to-face with Rocco back in New York City last week to go over the details of a new product we’re launching in the fall. He was already committed to non-stop meetings, so we scheduled for next week.
When I mentioned in a text message that I was heading to Vegas to meet with a casino owner about serving Rizon products exclusively in his properties, Rocco told me he was on his way here too.
He suggested we talk over dinner, so here we are.
“What did you think of that sample bottle I sent you two weeks ago?” I look out at the bright lights lining the strip.
“It was excellent. I think you found our winner.”
I trust his judgment, but I trust my instinct even more. Since I took over running the company from the interim CEO my grandfather appointed before his death, I’ve branched out from our traditional vodka to a host of flavors.
The timing was ideal and our market share has steadily increased since. Our smooth vanilla vodka is set to be the newest notch in our belt.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” I raise my glass in the air. “Here’s to another successful launch.”
He taps his glass against mine before he tosses back the rest of his drink. “We need the launch of this to be in a different league. Throw me every idea you’ve got.”
I lean back in my chair and smile. “Buckle up. We’re about to bury every other vanilla vodka out there.”
Chapter 4
Linny
Harmony was only partially right. She’s enjoying the surprise she arranged. Priscilla is too. Kendra is having the time of her life, but I wish I were anywhere but here.
An incredibly muscular almost-naked man spins in front of me before his left hand dives into the front of the tight, white briefs he’s wearing. He cups the obvious bulge.
His blue eyes sparkle as he shoots me a wink while he skims his tongue over his bottom lip.
“Do you want a lap dance, love?” His voice is calm and controlled. It carries over the loud music that Harmony is streaming from her phone into a mini speaker on top of the bar.
We’re in the main room of the luxury three-bedroom suite we rented for the night.
My friends are dancing in a circle. In the middle is a tall blond-haired man with abs for days and an ass that Priscilla can’t keep her eyes off of.
The blond introduced himself as Jay. The man with the black hair who is fondling himself in front of me is Ray.
Jay and Ray. Two strippers for one low price.
That’s what Harmony whispered in my ear when Kendra opened the door to the suite with a squeal when she saw the men standing there dressed as police officers with wicked grins on their faces.