“Is that your favorite word? You don’t get overtime bonuses for asking more questions, Raven.”
I bite my bottom lip, trying to stop the smile from spreading. “No, I’m curious, and curiosity doesn’t require long-winded questions.”
He smirks. “Curiosity kills.”
I roll my eyes. “Whatever. Just answer the question.”
“Do you think you two could actually carry on a relationship of any sort while working together? He’s the boss.”
He makes a very valid point. One I’ve thought about myself.
“We’re not going to have any sort of relationship. But I would like to understand him and his motives a little more.”
“Take my advice, keep yourself at a distance. For both your sakes.”
I chew on my cheek, wanting to askwhyyet again, but refrain. Paxton has been nothing but kind since I first met him, and if he’s warning me off his friend, I have to believe he has both our best interests at heart.
Besides, it was never a question.
We kissed.
We touched.
We moved on.
“And I really don’t have to worry about that?” I ask, nodding my head toward Holly and Charles. “I ask purely for the sake of Diosa.”
“No. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Holly Morgan is married.”
My brows knit together. “And . . .That doesn’t bother everyone.”
“Her husband owns a bank. An entire bank. Cavendish, for all his wins, can’t outdo ‘owns a bank’.”
“Got it.”
I relax a little, knowing that Charles can put out all the charm in the world, and it won’t do any good.
Not that I care. I don’t. This is work.
It’s strictly about Diosa.
Keep telling yourself that, Raven.
“You should talk to her. She’ll appreciate your viewpoint on the campaign. If anything, I think you’ll be the one to seal the deal with her, and not for any reason other than your passion. She’ll see it, and I know it’ll excite her. It’s contagious.”
I smile widely at the huge compliment.
“I wonder what they’re talking about,” I say, watching as Charles’s eyes lift to the ceiling in what appears to be thought.
“Holly had a list of questions for him. She’s very excited about working with Diosa, but she won’t sign on the dotted line unless she feels she can do the brand justice and the brand can, in turn, benefit her brand. Money isn’t everything for Holly. Images are important. Representation is important. And the values of the company are most important of all.”
I nod. “I can’t wait to talk to her. I have a lot of ideas, and I think she’ll be very happy with the direction I’d like to go.”
“I saw your initial mock-ups, and I have to say, I’m impressed. What did you do before working at Cavendish?”
“I finished up my MBA and did an internship with Saks Fifth Avenue. I also worked part time in the Bloomingdales corporate office. After that stint, I helped with a couple of the boutique brands that Macy’s has picked up recently.”
He whistles. “How did you land those?”