One Night With The Boss

Chapter 3

If Kate didn't know, she would have thought she had upset the man, but Kate knew it was impossible. How could he possibly make that man upset? the man had never even met her before. That unfriendly attitude is a reflection of his personality, not their relationship.

That man is no ordinary man. And obviously the man would not make an exception for her.

And that doesn't matter Kate told herself emphatically.

He didn't need that guy to like him. He only needed the man to agree not to withdraw his finances. With that in mind, Kate took the last few steps until she stood right in front of the man. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Downey."

Elgort Downey's mouth stiffened and his eyes shone with impatience. "It's not a social visit or a children's party, Miss Rutherford. I don't want or wish to be polite. I will not mince words. I don't care about the weather or your trip. If you find the business approach challenging, you better get going now."

And good day to you too, Kate thought, trying to hide her mounting anxiety.

Suddenly he wanted to do exactly as the man suggested. Looking at those deadly dark eyes, he really wanted to leave. But the helicopter was already far above them and the reason for his visit was still safely stored in his bag. He can't leave. He has work to do.

People depend on him.

"I can do facts and figures" Kate said quickly, hoping the man could not see her trembling legs. "All the documents are in my bag. Everything you need to help you make a decision."

"I've made a decision. My answer is no." Her jaw was rough by a dark beard and Kate noticed flashing muscles in her slender cheeks.

"But you made that decision before you could talk to me." Kate rubbed her skirt with wet hands, refusing to let the man suppress her natural optimism. "I hope that after I explain what happened, you can rethink."

Anxiety runs through Kate. "Once you look at the numbers and our plans for the future, I think you might change your mind to withdraw those funds." Kate looked at Elgort Downey's face expectantly, looking for anything, anything that might indicate that the man was willing to accept further negotiations on the topic. Anything that might indicate that he didn't waste his time coming here.

But the man did not answer. He gave her no reassurance or encouragement. There's no hope at all. She just watched him and from behind Kate in the trees sounded a sharp wail, followed by what sounded like a crazy laugh.

Kate turned her head and narrowed her eyes to the dense forest that surrounded them. With the loss of the helicopter, he suddenly noticed the background noise enveloping them. Forest sounds. Howls, calls, screams, chirps and chants. It was as if the entire forest was alive.

"It sounds like someone's being murdered out there." With laughing eyes Kate looked back at Elgort Downey, trying to build an emotional connection. There's no connection. No smile in return. And it was impossible to know what the man was thinking because his face did not reveal his thoughts.

"You're afraid of the woods, Miss Rutherford?" Elgort Downey's tone sounded flat. "Is there anything else that makes you nervous?"

Something else? Like the fact that his entire life was on the verge of collapse, or the fact that he was alone in the forest with a man who clearly disliked the entire human race?

There are so many things that make her nervous that she doesn't know where to start, Kate gets rid of the images of jaguars, snakes, and two thousand species of insects. "I'm not nervous."

"Couldn't you?" Elgort Downey watched him for a while and then narrowed his eyes. "Then let me give you a few more pointers on how to do business with me. Don't waste my time, don't lie and most importantly, don't cheat. And I never say yes to anything when I'm distracted."

"I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not lying to anyone."

But he wasn't really honest with Elgort Downey either. She did not reveal everything about herself when she took out her loan. Discomfort and guilt crept into her back and she quickly reminded herself that there was nothing in the contract that stipulated that she told everything about herself.

And none of his personal history has any relevance to his ability to run the company, he made sure of it. Nevertheless she felt the color of betrayal touch her cheek and saw the man smiling.

Just a blink and not a very sweet smile, but a sure indication that she had seen him blush.

"You're a woman, Miss Rutherford. Lying and cheating are embedded in your DNA, and you cannot change it. The best thing to expect is that you're trying to fight the evolution of thousands of years when you were in my company." Elgort Downey opened the door and stood to one side so Kate could pass.

For a moment Kate just stood there, staring at Elgort Downey. "Don't mock me Mr. Downey." Her voice was hoarse and slightly quivering but Kate forced herself to continue speaking. "My business isn't going well and I know we have a lot to discuss, but don't try and intimidate me."

"Did I intimidate you?"

Kate's gonna bet Elgort Downey scares everyone he meets. "I guess you could at least try to be a little more friendly."

"Together?" Elgort Downey's voice faintly mocked. "You want me to be friendly?"

Kate forced herself to hold Elgort Downey's gaze. "I just don't see why business meetings should always be cold and impersonal."

Elgort Downey moved towards Kate, and the girl took an instinctive step back. "You want to speak to me personally, Miss Rutherford?" Her eyelashes dropped, her eyes grazed Kate's and the heat and humidity in the air rose to suffocate.

"How personal?" Elgort Downey moved even closer and suddenly Kate found it hard to breathe. Elgort did not touch him, yet his body was well aware of every inch of his body, as if it had been asleep for the past twenty-three years and was suddenly revived. "I'm just trying to say that I've always felt that business can be both fun and hard work."

"really?" Elgort watched Kate for quite a while. "Well, your attitude explains a lot about the current state of your company account."

Elgort Downey moved away from Kate, but it took a while for his breathing to normalize and his heartbeat slowed to something close to his normal rhythm. He wanted to respond to Elgort Downey's less flattering comments about his company, but the man gave him no chance.

Instead the man walks through the open door, leaving Kate to follow him.

No wonder his wife left him, Kate thought sadly as she followed him, carefully closing the door between him and the forest.

Or is he arrogant and cynical because his wife left him? As Kate ponders the question, it takes a while for her to realize her surroundings, but when she finally looks around her, she realizes to her surprise that they have not left the forest outside at all. It was part of the inn.