“I need to see you in my office,” Colin says. “Don’t worry. It won’t take long.”
I know there’s no point in asking if it can wait until tomorrow. Waiting until tomorrow isn’t an option in the ad world. And you don’t get to where I am by moaning and rocking the boat. I follow Colin through the now deserted open-plan space and into his office.
“We have a chance to land Cartier. They’re not happy with their current ad company and they’re shopping around. They’ve heard your name and they’re interested, but landing a client like that isn’t as simple as sending them a quote. Their chief, Charles Milton, wants schmoozing. He wants someone who gets him and who listens to him. He wants the whole package. Are you up to that?”
I nod, suddenly forgetting the fact I wanted to leave. Working with a company like Cartier is the dream.
“I’m up to it,” I say.
Colin smiles. “I knew you would be. You remind me of myself when I was your age. Hungry for more. There’s a big conference coming up. It’s a two-day thing, and Cartier will be there, along with several other big fish we wouldn’t mind landing. It’s in the Beverly Wilshire, so it’s only a couple of hours’ drive, and you’ll be staying in luxury, of course.”
“I’m in,” I say.
I know Denton won’t mind. He gets me. He gets that this is important to me and that I was never going to be one of those girls who marries someone successful and throws their own career down the drain.
“Fantastic. Go home and pack a bag. You leave tomorrow. The conference starts at noon and will run the day after too. You’ll stay overnight for the two days and come back the day after.”
I can feel disappointment weighing me down. Today is February 12.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I can’t go.”
“What?” Colin demands.
“It means I’ll be away for Valentine’s Day. It’s my and Denton’s first Valentine’s Day together.”
Colin frowns. “For fuck’s sake, Robin. Valentine’s Day? You’re a grown woman with a career most people would kill for, not a twelve-year-old girl with a stupid crush.”
I shake my head. He can think what he wants, but this is important to me.
“I can’t,” I say again.
Colin sighs and sits forward, resting his forearms on his desk.
“Let me make this clear to you, Robin. I asked you out of professional courtesy, but if you want to remain at this company, it wasn’t really a request. The conference is mandatory. Cartier is the whale, and I’m not going to let them slip through my fingers so you can go home and play house with your husband. Do we understand each other?”
I have a thousand thoughts running through my mind. Colin has laid out an ultimatum I didn’t see coming. I should have seen it coming. I should have seen it coming a mile away. Of course it wasn’t a request. And it’s Cartier. Surely Denton will understand. We could do something on the weekend instead. He won’t be happy about it, but I can make it up to him.
“I’m on it,” I say.
“Good,” Colin says.
He hands me a thick envelope.
“That’s your room booking, directions to the hotel, and everything you need to know to land Cartier.”
I glance through the papers. It’s immediately clear to me that Colin was serious when he said I didn’t have a choice. My name is already on the hotel room booking. I was going to this conference whether I liked it or not. At least it is in a nice hotel. It could be worse. I could be spending the most romantic night of the year away from my husband in a dirty little dive.
“Is that everything?” I ask.
Colin nods and I stand up.
“I’ll land them. And another company as well,” I promise him.
I’m not going to be with Denton for Valentine’s Day, so I might as well make it count. I make my way to the door.
“Robin?” Colin says.
I glance back.
“I’ll meet you halfway. Drive back early on the fifteenth and take the day off.”
“Thanks,” I say, forcing a smile.
I know it’s an olive branch, and I accept it graciously, but inside, I’m anything but gracious. I hate being in a position where I have to choose between work and Denton. I know he’ll get it. He’s a CEO, and as such he understands the workaholic mentality, but it doesn’t make it sting any less to know I won’t be with him on the most romantic day of the year. I know he’s got a special night planned, and now I have to ruin it.
As I walk to my car, I can’t help thinking about what we might have done. I see Denton naked before me. He kisses me and runs his tongue down my body to my pussy. He licks me, sucks on me, makes me come again and again. By the time I reach my car, my panties are soaking, and I am throbbing with need.