I picked up the phone to make a few other calls to put my plan to hire her in motion.
Before coming into work in the family business, I was involved in my own entrepreneurial efforts. Because I lived fairly modestly and I had no family to care for, I was able to invest my money wisely, which was how I'd come to own several businesses, including an art gallery and an upscale restaurant/nightclub. Tonight, I planned to use them both to, as Ryan said, sweeten the deal for Natalie.
That evening I arrived at Cesare’s early to make sure that everything would run smoothly. I noted her arrival on one of the security cams. I watched as she entered looking out of place in the upscale establishment, and at the same time looking completely like she belonged. I wondered how she did that. She had a style about her that should've looked ridiculous in a place like Cesare’s, and yet she looked very chic, confident and sexy as she made her way to the maître d' stand.
"That's her. Make sure she gets taken up to the private dining area. And bring a bottle of whatever our best red is in the house,” I said to my assistant manager that I enlisted to assist me tonight.
"Yes, Mr. Strong," he said, and he hurried out the door to greet Natalie. My irritation at her grew a little bit as I realized I was trying to show off. I was trying to waive my wealth and influence around. I wanted to impress her, and that rubbed me all wrong. Why the fuck was this woman under my skin?
I waited until I knew she was seated in one of the private dining areas that overlooked the restaurant, and in particular the club dance floor. It was early enough in the evening that that area wasn’t very loud nor very crowded, at least not as much as it would be in a couple of hours. It would make it easy to talk to her and yet at the same time for her to see what the Strong family could offer her.
Of course, she already knew what the Strong family could offer, because it had already brought in her sister Kellie. But Natalie was resistant to anything that would be considered a norm or good sense. So much so that she seemed to be willing to cut off her nose despite her face. I was offering her a great opportunity, and after tonight, once I sweetened the deal, she'd be a fool to walk away from this job offer. Even so, I suspected she was foolish enough to do it. That irked me as well. I wasn’t a man who was used to hearing no in business. When I was done dealing with business tonight, maybe there would a woman on the dance floor who’d be willing to help me work off this frustration I was having with Natalie.
As I walked into the private, she was drinking her glass of wine sitting in the booth looking out over the restaurant. She had to hear me walk in, but she didn't even glance over at me. Did I mention she was stubborn and obstinate as well?
I moved into the booth sitting across from her.
She finally tore her gaze away from the dance floor to look at me. She had a bored expression on her face. Clearly, she wasn't impressed. And I suspected, she knew that that's what I'd been trying to do, which made me feel like an idiot.
"You know, Hunter, you're way too young to be all wrapped up in all this fancy-schmancy gourmet traditional fake assery."
My jaw tightened as I took offense. This was my place. There was nothing fake assery about it.
"I think a man like you would want some spice and variety, some actual real food like they have down in the food trucks along the marina." She quirked a brow and tilted her head. "Or maybe you just like spice and variety in women?"
I held my hands up in surrender. “Hold on there, Attila the Hun."
She flinched slightly, and I was glad that she felt something at my rebuke of the way she led off with an attack on me.
"First, I came here as part of a truce, so it would be nice if we could have a cease-fire, at least for a moment. Second, I guarantee you that the food here is most excellent, as is the wine." I nodded at the half consumed glass of wine in front of her.
She shrugged. "The wine is most excellent."
I let that sit for a moment knowing that it might be the last time we'd ever had an agreement on anything.
But of course the cease-fire and truce couldn't last very long.
"Places like this don't sell real food. Yes, they dress it up real pretty, so that it looks like art, but food doesn't just have to look good on the plate, it needs to taste good too. It needs to have a burst of flavors and a variety of textures."
“I didn’t realize you were a food critic along with being a starving artist.”
“I like to eat,” she quipped.
“Have you ever eaten here?” I asked.
She turned her head to look out the window and I knew the answer was no.
"Perhaps you could reserve judgment until after you've eaten the food." I studied for her for a minute. "Do you go through life swinging your fists first with everybody, or is it just with me?"
Her jaw tensed at my comment. She turned her head and her fierce gray eyes locked onto me. "So, what's this deal you have to offer me?"
6
Natalie
There was no doubt in my mind that I was sitting in this fancy restaurant trying not to feel completely out of place because Hunter was flaunting his power, his wealth, and influence over me. I resented the hell out of it. I hated even more how he was able to turn the tables on me and make me look like the jerk. I would have much preferred to have met in his office or a coffee café instead of having to dress up and look like I belonged with the elite of San Diego. Right now, I was that round peg in a square box I always tried to avoid. I was sure everyone could tell that I did not belong here. At least we were in a private dining area. I had no idea things like that even existed, which just went to show how much I didn’t belong in Hunter Strong's world.
It was clear to both of us that we did not get along at all. At the same time, my hormones couldn't help but get all warm and gooey at the sight of him. The room had been a fairly good size, but the moment he walked in, the immensity of him, of his personality, filled the space until I felt claustrophobic. Raw male energy radiated off him and all my nerve endings tingled at his nearness. My hormones were betraying me. It was another thing to resent him for.