Chapter 1
Harper
“If you treat all women this rude, how do you even get a date?” I ask Owen, my arms crossed tightly over my chest as I glare at him. He just continues to read from the document in his lap, blithely unaware of the death glare I’m giving him.
“So, this is how we are going to play this, you are just going to ignore me?” My teeth are clenched together so hard my jaw is starting to ache.
He looks up from his paperwork, his glasses slipping down his nose, and I feel something like a flutter in my belly. It is the same flutter or whatever you want to call it I’ve had since the first day I came to work for him six years ago. I have no idea why because there’s no denying it, he’s a first-class jerk.
“Lots of women find me kind, charming, and good looking. You Harper are the only woman who seems to be able to bring out my temper.” Owen gives me a delicious grin that is known to melt the panties off any woman within ten feet.
“Mr. Slade do you need any refreshments?” the sleek blonde flight attendant asks him, her lashes fluttering in his direction making me roll my eyes.
“Yes, can I get a ginger ale Tamara thank you.”
Tamara turns to me with a cool smile, “And for you Miss Jefferson?”
“A ginger ale would be lovely thank you Tamara.” I give her an overly sweet smile. She is probably going to spit in it or something. Women are always fawning over Owen, not that I can blame them.
He is the definition of tall dark and handsome. He works out in the office gym every day and it is something of a spectator sport. His dark hair is always glossed in the same style and his blue eyes twinkle at me behind his wire rimmed glasses. He looks like Clark Kent right before he has to rush off to be Superman and save the world.
“I saw that eyeroll Harper. Are you jealous? Do you want to be the one fetching my drink?”
Narrowing my eyes at him I ignore his comment. He is just trying to rile me up and it isn’t going to work. As much as we bicker, we make a good team. When it comes to work, we are partners, making sure the financials of the company are always in good shape.
“Now we are here to negotiate with the Mancelli family to get them to be our new canvas supplier. The company has designed this new stretchable version that is going to make next year’s items fly off the shelves.”
The Slade Outdoors company is the baby of the Slade brothers and their father. An outfitter company they have grown from one small store to over a thousand all over the United States. They are the go-to for camping and outdoor equipment, and by the numbers they are pulling in this year that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. It is a great company to work for and I love my job, despite working with Owen being challenging at times.
“I want you to be the point person on this one Harper. Antonio Mancelli loves a beautiful, charming woman,” Owen says, not looking up from his laptop.
“Did you just call me a beautiful and charming woman?” I ask him with a fake gasp.
“You know you are both of those things… at least with other people you are charming, you seem to save the sass for me.”
“Only because you know you love it boss.” I give him a sunny smile and he chokes back a laugh.
Sure, we fight all the time, but I can’t imagine going to work and not being able to needle Owen.
“We will be landing in Rome shortly, please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing,” the pilot chimes over the speakers and I fasten my seatbelt, close my eyes and take a deep breath.
This is going to be a whirlwind trip even though we are only here for a few days. I want to squeeze in sightseeing time, so it is going to be busy. This might be the last bit of peace I get for the next few days.
???
“Now remember to be charming. The Italians do business differently. We are going to have to suffer through all this social crap before we can get down to business,” Owen grumbles as we get out of the town car. I look up at the large villa and let out a whistle.
“These people must be selling a lot of canvas.”
Owen snorts, “They sell fabrics to the best design houses as well.” He takes my arm, and a little tingle zips up it. I shove it aside. This stupid attraction I’ve got for Owen just makes him even more annoying.
“As to your charming comment from earlier, remember who has been on all your business trips for the past six years. This isn’t my first rodeo cowboy,” I tell him in a fake Southern drawl.
“Have you even ever been to a rodeo?” he asks as we walk up what feels like a million marble steps. My feet are going to be killing me in these heels later, but they make my legs look amazing so it is worth it.
“That’s beside the point Owen it’s a figure of speech.” I roll my eyes. He can be so literal at times it makes me want to pull my hair out. How can I be attracted to a man that is this opposite to me? It is one of the things that has always made me grateful that he never reciprocated my feelings. We would be like oil and water in a relationship. I bet the sex would be amazing though.
“Bon journo,thank you for coming to my home.” A tall handsome Italian man stands at the top of the stairs chasing thoughts of sex with Owen out of my head.