Ionlyevercameto the company meetings when I needed to present something, or if I needed to catch Barrett or Dominic. I preferred to spend my time in the kitchen. That day, however, I was feeling so frustrated that I couldn’t stand in my kitchen for a second longer.
I’d been working constantly, pouring all of my energy into strengthening our kitchens, and by the time I got to my own recipes I was too tired to even try. Worse than that, I felt blocked. After sleeping with Sugar, I’d had ideas banging around my brain like mad, but now I felt like I was going through withdrawal. I hadn’t had time to so much as kiss her cheek and it terrified me that the two things could be related.
Looking across the conference room, I noticed the way she shrank into herself. She was upset. Her normal confidence was missing and I didn’t like it. I sat forward in my chair, staring at her harder, daring her to look back at me. When she kept her eyes on her hands in her lap, I grunted in frustration.
Barrett had given me a rundown of her near tantrum earlier in the day. I didn’t get it. I didn’t get other people most of the time. I’d never really tried. With Sugar, though, I wanted to get it. I wanted to know what she was thinking. I wanted her to stop ignoring me because I didn’t enjoy the things it was doing to me.
Dominic took the floor after a few of the other guys spoke. His presence demanded attention, but even that didn’t draw Sugar’s eyes up. I watched Dom and saw that by the set of his jaw, he’d noticed Sugar’s lack of attention, too.
“We all worked hard this week and I appreciate all that you’ve done for the team. The long nights and headaches will be worth it when you’re all lording over your own hundred person teams.” Everyone laughed and Dominic waited until they were finished to go on. “We absorbed several businesses this year because we’ve always known that the goal is growth, but also sustainability. The deal with Brandt Farms closed this afternoon. We’ve officially moved into providing our own beef, all raised and cared for under standards that meet the top goals ofanycountry.”
I felt the same jolt of excitement I always felt when we got closer to my dream. I wanted my hand in every part of our food. I already spent a few days a week at the four-hundred-acre farm we owned and operated to grow the best and freshest produce. We were always working on better ways to source the best food for our restaurant while leaving behind as small of a footprint as possible.
Without missing a beat, I pumped my fist in the air and then clapped loudly, startling Janet next to me. I patted her shoulder as an apology and grinned at Dominic. “Hell yes!”
Everyone cheered and took a moment to celebrate the news, understanding what it meant for the company. We’d be growing, and Dominic’s joke about them lording over hundreds of their own people wouldn’t be a joke for much longer.
“Alright. Besides that, we have to officially introduce our newest team member.” Dominic nodded over to Sugar. “I’m sure most of you have met SJ by now. She’ll be taking over all things social media.”
Sugar gave a shy smile to everyone, still managing to avoid my gaze. “I’ve met almost everyone by now. I’d love to have a chance to meet the rest of you whenever you’re free. If we do it by Cindy’s desk, she’ll probably give us snacks, so that’s the meeting place I propose.”
Even while feeling frustrated with her, I couldn’t help the odd sense of pride I felt while watching her. It was clear she was nervous, and I knew from Barrett that she was having a bad day, but she’d spoken clearly and confidently. She was fucking charming, and it didn’t take more than a glance around the room to know that everyone already liked her. Her spirit just called people closer.
A little too close at times. I narrowed my eyes at Nate Hughes, one of Barr’s marketing guys, as his gaze lingered on Sugar. He smiled and leaned over to pat her on the hand. It was no different than what I’d just done to Janet, but I felt the urge to rip his hand off and shred it with my teeth.
“I’ll take your first appointment at Cindy’s desk. I missed the meeting the other day and I had some things I wanted to run by you.” Nate grinned with his perfect set of what seemed to be one hundred teeth. “Plus, snacks.”
She smiled back at him and nodded. “Of course.”
Dominic cleared his throat and tapped the table, an angry tick he managed to control most of the time. Very few people knew it for the sign that it was. It wasn’t just me who Nate was pissing off, it seemed. “SJ is booked after the meeting.”
Nate smiled still, unaware that he was treading on thin ice. “Later, then.”
Sugar crossed her legs and shot a look at Dominic that could’ve melted steel. To anyone who didn’t know her, they might read it as focused, but the smile on her mouth wasn’t enough to fool me. “That meeting was canceled, Sir.”
I saw Barrett shift in his chair out of the corner of my eye and wondered if everyone else in the room had felt the temperature drop twenty degrees. Sugar was in a mood and I didn’t have a single clue what was wrong with her.
I rubbed my jaw while studying her, accepting that she was the first woman I’d wanted to understand. I wasn’t one for relationships, or any long-term situation, really. I’d never felt the need to delve into the ins and outs of the moods of the women I slept with. With Sugar, I was already getting a headache from my brain running in a circle around itself. I didn’t know why she’d be angry, but I wanted to know. I wanted her to look at me and smile.
“Who canceled the meeting?” Dominic tapped his fingers harder, his eyes deceivingly relaxed.
Sugar’s cheeks went red and I was pretty sure I could see a vein standing out from her neck. She eased herself out of the chair and slowly adjusted her shirt. “I’ll go check that right now.”
“There’s no need, SJ. Just consider the meeting back on.” Dominic moved to focus on the next item of business, but I could feel tension radiating off of him. The sound of the door opening and closing behind Sugar as she left the conference room did nothing to hide the sound of the pen in his hand snapping in half. Ink spread over his hands and he grunted. “If that isn’t a sign that I need to cut back on the weights, I don’t know what is.”
The tension in the room seemed to be solely felt by Dominic, Barrett, and me, as everyone else laughed easily. No one else noticed the snap in their boss’ control, thankfully.
“Alright, I think that’s it for today. We’ve worked our asses off. Take the weekend to relax and enjoy yourselves. The guys and I wanted to show our appreciation to you for the long hours you’ve worked, so we added a little bonus to your pay this period. It’s a long weekend. Use your bonus to do something nice for yourselves.”
I, of course, knew nothing about bonuses, but everyone thanked me the same way they thanked Barrett and Dominic. I kept my nose out of the money side of the business, but Dominic always gave me credit. I doubted it ever occurred to him not to do it. It was just who he was. The same way he was also the guy who liked to punish and reward the women he spent time with. It was all a part of him. As I thought of Sugar and the way she pushed his control, I couldn’t help thinking the man needed someone to rock his boat a little. Maybe we all did.
42
***Holden***
Dominicwantedtogostraight to his office to find Sugar, but Barrett subtly blocked the door after everyone else was gone. He held his hand out in front of him and breathed out a calming breath of his own before speaking. “We all need to take a breather before finding her.”
I shrugged. “I feel fine.”