I turned around and did a double take. She’d changed into another dress, and she'd done something to her hair. It came over to one side, cascading over her right breast. It was light brown, almost blonde in the light filtering in through the window. Her brown eyes had been unfocused and watery on the plane, but now they were sharp. She looked absolutely stunning. Her dress was insanely seductive, dark blue with a round neckline and no sleeves. It was short enough that I could see her thighs, but not too short.
"I didn't hear you come in," I said.
She raised a rice cracker. "I stole something from the kitchen. I'm starved, even though I ate everything in the lounge. I guess my upset stomach emptied all my reserves. I'm really sorry about that, by the way." She looked uncomfortable, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.
"You don't have to apologize for being sick."
"Do I have to apologize for my sassy mouth?" she asked, the corner of her mouth lifting.
"I think you've been punished enough by being sick," I said.
"I see.”
"Ms. Summers, I’m in an even worse mood than before. You guessed that correctly. I'm not going to be an excellent dinner companion."
"Thank you for the warning. But why? What happened in the meantime? I couldn't have possibly pissed you off. Was it the chef? Please don't take it out on him. He seems to be prepping something delicious, and I don't want your sunny personality ruining his mojo."
I couldn't believe this woman. Was she for real? No one dared give me shit, ever.
"I received some unpleasant news from the office," I offered even though I didn't have to share it with her.
I gestured for her to walk to the dinner table and held out a chair for her. She chuckled as she sat down, and I did the same opposite her.
"What?" I asked.
"I like how you have your impeccable manners even with someone you can't stand."
I blinked. "Who said I can't stand you?"
"Oh, you mean you're like this with everyone you meet?"
I flashed her a genuine smile. "Ms. Summers, you're actually seeing my very best side right now—bad news notwithstanding."
Donald brought the same crackers Natalie was already munching on with a bowl of peanut sauce. It was my favorite. She immediately dipped a cracker in the sauce.
"So, tell me about the bad news."
She looked genuinely curious. I wasn't used to this. The women I dated didn't care about any of my troubles, only about the restaurants I took them to, the vacations I paid for.
Jesus, you're not dating her,a voice said in the back of my mind.
"It's complicated. My grandparents asked me for a favor, something I'm not able to give them."
"Could you possibly be more cryptic?” she challenged.
I laughed because she was right. I was being cryptic for no reason. "What do you know about Whitley Industries?" I asked.
"Honestly? That it's huge and successful."
"That's what most people think. Some branches aren't doing as well. Advertising is one of them. They asked me to take over for a while until it's back on its feet."
She stopped in the act of bringing a cracker to her mouth. "But you've got your own company in New York."
"Exactly. I promised I'd help them find a CEO, and I can't keep that promise. There’s no one on the market who’s suited enough for the job right now."
"Surely that can't be," Natalie said.
"Trust me. I've had a very good recruiting company try and find one for the past few weeks."