“That’s why you’ve called to meet with me isn’t it, Miss Wilkinson?” I took a bite of the biscuit and let the tension spread between the pair of us. “I mean, the connection between our companies. The deals in which I’ve signed mergers alongside your brother linking our businesses.”
“No, Mr. Hillside, that’s not why I’m here.” Her arms tightened around her chest and pushed her breasts up and out further. My gaze struggled not to settle on her chest.
“It’s Tate; you know that already.”
“I do,” she replied.
“So please call me that, then,” I requested as I placed my cup down on the desk. “If you didn’t want to discuss the partnership then why arrange to see me?”
“Because they’re not partnerships,” she challenged. “I have been in San Francisco until recently and now will be taking over all future management decisions here. I don’t know what game you have with Asher…” She leaned forward and the fire in her gaze locked onto mine. “But Asher will now be reporting directly to me, and me alone.”
I watched her get to her feet and hold out her hand to shake mine. Fuck, had she just come in here to put me in my place? Damn, that was hot.
“Miss Wilkinson, just before you go.” Her hand was poised on the door handle as she turned to face me. “I don’t know who has spouted their mouth off to you, or what has been said, but I have fuck all to do with your father’s company. I’m very happy here,” I bluntly said without a care for my expression.
“You may say that, but I’m not blind. It stops now that I’m here. Goodbye, Mr. Hillside.” She opened the door and gave me a slight wave before she closed it and silenced the conversation.
1 - 0 Miss Wilkinson – you may have won this round, but I’m just about to get comfortable.
Chapter3
Sutton
I’d heard the rumours that Tate Hillside was an arrogant twat, who got what he wanted when he wanted; and that he didn’t care who or what stood in the way. Well, he hadn’t met me. I got out of that building as fast as I could and finally sucked in large gulps of the air that surrounded me. Yes, it was the highly polluted city of London, but it felt pure in comparison to the toxic poison that spread around that man. I couldn’t believe I’d actually gone through with it and called him out on whatever games he had been playing with Asher.
Dad may have been blind to what was happening, but there were just too many collaborations between the two companies that tied Asher and Tate together for my mind to settle. It’s like they thought I would ignore it and sweep it under the rug. I was like a pit bull; ruthless until I knew everything. I needed to about my opponent, and then I’d strike. Asher was easy; he’d talk like he was the big man but inside he didn’t know how to be cutthroat. He had been talked into this.
I went through every file meticulously, until the links stood out like a sore thumb. I could see that Wilkinson Holdings Corporation would start to lose shares through each project, minimal but it was still there. Each share added up and went into the pocket of someone else, Tate Hillside. It looked like Asher was being strung along, and it was time I dealt with the situation.
The untouchable Tate Hillside: well, he hadn’t met the powerhouse of Sutton Wilkinson.
He wanted to draw it out, build a dream and be the largest company standing. He should have thought about what obstacles he may face, because I’m one woman that doesn’t bend for anyone. He would have a battle on his hands if he thought anything else.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Asher’s number, but I got his upbeat voicemail instead. I put the phone down but decided to leave a message, so I tapped on the keys again in frustration.
“Call me back, we need to speak.”
I hated the fact he had to answer to me, that in the space of twenty-four hours my temporary visit had turned permanent. I knew I’d have to return back to San Francisco soon and tie up all my loose ends, but for now, my secretary back there said she’d start the process and email me anything of importance until I had a spare weekend to make the journey back. I was grateful for her support at this time and would miss her dearly after our time together. I was now the one in charge and all decisions ultimately rested with me. Asher’s outburst just sealed the deal when Dad told us both. He had been desperate for this, but at what price? I had to know more about the connection he had with Tate Hillside, and how worried I needed to be. But the fact he was ignoring all communication with me spoke volumes itself. Actually, the fact I’d called Tate Hillside out had probably made the situation worse with Asher, since he’d got his receptionist to ignore me with his apparently busy schedule. I mean, if my gut was right, I was scared what could’ve actually happened to the business, if it had been left to Asher.
If he wouldn’t answer the phone to his sister because he was worried about my reaction, then could you imagine how it would look if he ignored a client on this level? If a deal went wrong and he didn’t want to deal with the aftermath; would he run and hide then, too? It wasn’t acceptable. I knew what to try next.
I decided to make a detour on the way back to my desk and headed up to Asher’s office, in hopes of finding his personal assistant, Leanne. I had this feeling she was an assistant to him in many ways, not just on a work level, with her red painted lips and bright red hair, his type to a T.
As the lift doors opened and I rounded the corner, I walked toward the desk situated in the centre, past the lobby waiting area. It was decorated in the pale shades that drove me mad. It really did need a splash of colour, blue or maybe a green would look good, I thought. Leanne’s widened eyes met mine as she pushed herself back from the white streamlined desk to stand.
“Miss Wilkinson, I wasn’t expecting you,” she said in surprise as her chair rolled backwards and hit the wall behind. Her hand immediately went to the button on her black blazer and began to fiddle with it. “Can I help you?”
“I’d just popped by in hope of catching Asher. Is he in?” I asked as I flicked my eyes to the closed door with his name plaque on. I knew what she was about to say. It was a rehearsed speech by now.
“Sorry, he’s just gone out for a meeting. I can pass a message on.” She smiled sweetly.
Yeah, like the other fifty you said you would.
“Yeah, just say I stopped by and it’s important,” I uttered and gave a slight nod as I gathered my bag back onto my shoulder and took a step back toward the lift before I stopped. “Leanne, do you have any plans later?”
“Erm, sorry?” She frowned at my sudden change in subject.
“It’s just… no it’s alright, forget it.” I turned my back, crossed my fingers, and counted to three in my head.