Brooklyn
The look on his face right now is priceless.
“The fuck are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s one helluva way to greet your new boss,” I say with a smile.
“Excuse me?” The donut in his hand is paused halfway to his mouth and I can see his brain trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s cute, and I’ll savor it a few more seconds before he finds out who I am and what I’m doing here.
“Do you have an issue with having a female boss, Mr. Slade?” I bite the end of my pen, goading him. “That’s not very progressive of you.”
“What the fu—Trent, what’s going on?” He drops the donut and stands up, shooting his chair across the floor.
“Hey, I see you’ve met our new social media strategist.” Trent gestures toward me as he walks over to where Tyler is standing. “Brooklyn, this is my older brother, Tyler. Tyler, meet Brooklyn.”
I can see the wheels turning in Tyler’s brain as he’s still trying to figure out what the hell is going on.
“Why’d she say she’s my new boss?” Tyler looks frantically to Trent for clarity, and it causes both of us to laugh.
“She’s kidding, Tyler.” Trent arches an eyebrow at his older brother. “Your last name is the one on the building, remember?” He playfully taps Tyler’s elbow before walking to the front of the room to start the meeting.
“Good morning, everyone. This is our Q3 board meeting for Slade International Enterprises. I want to start out by introducing our newest team member, Brooklyn Dyer.” Trent gestures toward me and I offer up a pleasant smile and wave.
“I met Brooklyn this last spring at the annual wine and spirit trade show back in Chicago. She was basically running the entire thing and went above and beyond to make sure every booth had what they needed and then some. When we ran into a small emergency, Brooklyn herself ensured it was resolved.”
I blush a little at Trent’s words. He’s not wrong, though. We were severely short-staffed for that event, and while I was only supposed to be managing the social media aspect of the event, I took over a lot of the organization and day-to-day duties.
“She not only graduated top of her class from Northwestern in both undergrad and grad school, but she was also hired by the Chicago Cubs before she even graduated. Brooklyn is the younger generation that will breathe new life into this company.”
The men in the room actually applaud, leaving me to fiddle nervously with the pen in my hand.
I can feel Tyler looking at me. I glance up just in time to catch his eyeline. He leans over so he’s close enough to whisper. “Should I mention that you’re also an accomplished mechanical bull rider?”
I glance back to Trent, pretending to ignore Tyler before raising my hand. “I’d also like to mention that I was able to ride the mechanical bull for a full nine seconds at the annual Fall Fest in Grand Lake yesterday, one of my proudest accomplishments.”
The room erupts with laughter and clapping. “She’s already fitting in out west,” an older white-haired gentlemen says with a smile.
I lean back in my chair and slowly swivel it so I’m clearly looking at Tyler. I give him my best smile and flick my hair over one shoulder.
“She can give you all a much better introduction and insight into her first project here. Brooklyn?” Trent stretches his hand out to his side for me to come join him.
“Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome. It truly means so much to me coming into such an established and successful company like Slade Brewing International.” I turn to Trent, who is about to take a seat. I grab his arm to stop him.
“I want to say a massive thank you to you, Trent, for taking the time to talk to me at the trade show in Chicago and for having faith in me so quickly by offering me this job. I can’t thank you enough.”
The members clap again and I can feel Tyler’s eyes on me. I look over to where he’s sitting and his gaze has fallen to where my hand still rests on Trent’s arm. I instantly let go of it, his eyes finding mine.
When I saw Tyler at the Fall Fest, it was the first time I’d seen him in person. Through my research of the Slade family and business, I’d found a few photos of Tyler that instantly made me curious about him. He’s obviously attractive, tall, and built like he works the land. He’s rugged with dark brown eyes and even darker hair. Today he’s clean-shaven, but yesterday he’d had a few days’ worth of growth that had me wanting to reach up and feel the scruff.
I couldn’t find an exact age, but I know he’s at least mid-to-late thirties. I’ve always had a thing for older men. Today is the first time I’m noticing the gray coming in a little at his temples and the smile lines around his eyes. It gives him character. He looks exactly like a younger version of his father, Drake, who is by far the most handsome 69-year-old I’ve ever met.
I have to will myself to look away from Tyler—the moment feels so intimate and everyone’s witnessing it. I can feel a small bead of sweat at my hairline. It’s funny how I felt so in control of the situation last night when I was shamelessly flirting with him, but in the light of day, in his boardroom, I feel like I’m two seconds away from becoming a puddle on the floor.
“Like Trent mentioned, I’m from Chicago, born and raised. Go Cubbies! I studied marketing and social media in college. Growing up with the internet and right on the bubble of social media, I feel like it really allowed me to fully immerse myself in this world and know what people are looking for when it comes to advertising, engagement, etc.”
I keep my eyes moving from person to person around the table, avoiding settling on anyone for too long.
“During my research, I was incredibly impressed with how quickly Slade Brewing International grew from a microbrewery with two beers into an international beer and liquor company that now offers very high-end small-batch whiskeys, plus more than seven beers and even more seasonal beers, and now seltzers. Not to mention the presence you have not only inside Colorado, but across America. Since Slade is the official beer of the professional sports teams here in Colorado as well as on tap in several chains throughout North America, I think the new contract we just signed with Top Tier Foods Limited will take us to heights we’ve never imagined.”