Please see my previous email about the sensitive nature, and call my office to schedule the meeting.
I actually hissed at my computer screen.
Never had I been so incredibly annoyed and curious at the same time. What the hell was this about? Life would be just great if I didn’t see him again, even in a professional capacity. There were plenty of attorneys in Chicago. I’d gone more than a year without running into him, and it stood to reason I could go the rest of my career without it happening.
I dragged my feet about making the appointment, knowing if I wanted answers, I’d have to do it. Did he have a client he wanted to push off on me? Was this some sort of offering as a way of apology? Like throwing work my direction would make everything better?
Because if so, fuck that. I snatched up my desk phone and punched in the numbers with force.
“James, Franklin, and McCreary. This is Suzanne. Can I help you?”
I took a deep breath. “Yes, Suzanne. This is Ruby Carter, calling from the Law Offices of Sterns and Clifford. I need to set up an appointment with Kyle McCreary.”
“Sure, please give me a moment to pull up his schedule.” There was a short pause. “It looks like the only thing he has available is tomorrow at four. Does that work for you? He’s booked solid next week.”
I clenched my teeth. I didn’t want to meet with him, and definitely not on a Friday, an hour before close of business. If his office was anything like mine, the senior staff cleared out early, and the junior associates were scrambling to finish work before the weekend.
“Is he available during his lunch? I’m fine with meeting outside the office.” In fact, neutral ground was preferable.
“Sorry, no. His schedule is tight.”
I sighed. “All right, please put me down for tomorrow at four.”
“Do you need directions to our office?”
“No, thank you,” I gritted out. “I’ve been before.”
I wanted to add last time I’d been there, I’d told the younger McCreary to fuck himself in their conference room, but I refrained.
The couch in the lobby of James, Franklin, and McCrear
y looked expensive, and I perched delicately on the edge. The receptionist had offered to take my coat while I waited, probably to avoid my snow-damp wool from getting anywhere near the fancy leather furniture. My shoes were safe. I’d changed out of my lace-up sneakers into leopard print pumps during the elevator ride up.
I wore a thin, three-quarter length sleeve black cardigan over a white blouse, both tucked into a camel colored pencil skirt. I’d rolled up the sleeves to my elbows and left several of the top buttons undone on the blouse. I’d also tamed my hair up into a top knot, so the weather couldn’t get at it.
I wasn’t going to dress like I was an attorney who charged five hundred an hour, because I didn’t, and my wardrobe reflected that. Instead, I looked the part of a business professional, but there was also a hint of sexy. At least, I hoped. It was cold in the lobby, but I was already sweating and hadn’t even seen Kyle yet.
Approaching footsteps made me clutch my slim briefcase tighter. When he stepped into view and his gaze landed on me, my heart clogged my throat. He wore a pale gray suit, once again, slim cut to show off his lean form. The fabric was a matte silver. Beneath was a plain white dress shirt and a sapphire blue tie.
He looked handsome and devastating.
I pushed myself to my feet just as he thrust his hand out. “Ms. Carter. Thanks for meeting me.”
A handshake? Was he for fucking real? I gave his dick a handshake with my vagina just a week ago.
I stared at his offered hand for a full second before finally taking it. He wrapped his fingers around my palm with a sure grip, and then closed his other hand on top. It was unadulterated domination and, judging by the enjoyment in his eyes, he knew it.
The shiver that slipped down my spine was unstoppable, and it was embarrassing when the corner of his mouth twitched up into a smirk. Yeah. He definitely caught my reaction.
“It’s cold in your lobby,” I announced, my voice as tight as his grip still holding my hand.
“Sorry about that.” He released me and gestured to the hall. “Please. My office is this way.”
I straightened my posture and held my chin high as we marched down the corridor, determined to appear unaffected when the proximity of him had my heart racing. The urge to look around the office was strong. I’d left in a hurry last time and had been too flustered to realize since this was his family’s firm, there was a good chance Kyle’s parents were in this office.
I’d never met any of Kyle’s family. His sister had been studying abroad the year we dated, and the relationship between him and his folks was strained. He didn’t talk much about them.
Most of the offices we passed were closed and no light spilled from beneath the doors. As I suspected, the weekend exodus had begun. Down the line of offices, one door was open. He cast a hand out, but I hesitated before crossing the threshold. This is a professional meeting. Be a professional, Ruby.