***
KODE
I’ve been dreading this conversation since we got here, but I know how to sell something. Right now it’s time I put on my game face and sell this to her.
Her eyes look confused more than angry, so obviously she’s waiting on an explanation and not an excuse as to why I’ve meddled when she told me not to.
“Five of the leading cosmetic lines in the industry are based here in New York. Tomorrow all five will be in a conference room in one of the businesses I co-own here. You’ll be giving your presentation to them. That umbrella company is a possibility, and your line will stand a chance of being seen. I brought your samples, your binders, and your presentation notes.”
Silence. Her face is expressionless, and the room in encased in agonizing silence. Am I breathing? I don’t think I am.
“Kode,” she finally groans, gripping her head. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
At least she’s speaking, and she doesn’t seem particularly pissed. But before I can speak, she continues.
“I told you that I have to do this on my own. I don’t want something I didn’t earn, because where is the pride in that?”
Now I know she’s getting under my skin, because I respect the hell out of that. Just the promise of bringing Paul Colton’s stores into business with a cosmetic line would have sealed her this deal a long time ago, but she didn’t want to use her family for professional gain.
“Tria, I didn’t get you a deal. I got you a meeting that you can’t get on your own. Number one lesson in business is having contacts. You have a contact. Now you have a very important meeting to prepare for. Which I’m going to help you do.”
She looks torn between confused and frustrated, but not angry. Thank fuck she’s not angry.
“No. I don’t have contacts. You have contacts, and I can’t use you like that. Sorry. But cancel this. I’ll find a way to do this on my own, I promise.”
Come on, Kode. Get to selling.
“You do have a contact, Tria. I’m your contact. I’m not handing you anything at all besides a meeting. You’re not using me; I’m investing. Simple. That’s what I do, in case you haven’t noticed. I don’t invest in anything unless I’m positive I’ll turn a profit. It’s up to you to sell it tomorrow and prove I’m making a wise investment.”
Her eyes shift, though I have no idea what they’re saying right now.
“You’re investing? Why?”
Why? I’ve been asking myself that same question since I set all this up. Every day is a new answer. Tria is everything to me right now, and though I haven’t sorted out exactly what that means, I do know one thing; I can’t imagine letting Tria Noles go. I’ll do everything I can to make her happy, and she cares about this business.
“Because I see you, Tria. Now I’m giving some others the opportunity to see you, too. Believe me when I say it’s them that I’m doing this favor for. Not you. Once they see you, they’ll know how much I just helped them out, and they’ll owe me some favors in return.”
Just like that, the air in the room changes, and she closes the distance between us. I can’t tell if she’s going to slap me or ravage me. The second she jerks me down to meet her hungry kiss, I moan in relief.
Ravage me it is.
“You’re really sweet when you want to be, Kode Sterling,” she says against my lips.
“Miss the playground bully?” I tease, already working on getting her out of her jeans.
She pulls back, knocking my hands away, but her grin is enough to make me forg
et that we’re even talking.
“You’re still a playground bully, but now I happen to enjoy that side of you. But since you sprung this meeting on me at the last minute, you now have to help me get ready so that I don’t waste this chance.”
Shit. I should have told her earlier, but I didn’t want to take the chance of her being pissed and not getting to enjoy the day with me.
“Then wild sex?” I ask playfully.
She laughs while shaking her head. “Then lots of rest. No sex. I need to be alert tomorrow because I don’t want to let you down.”
I watch as she goes to sit down and type out a text, probably to her geeky business partner.