Annihilate Me by Christina Ross Page A

his
face as he focused on my feet.   He
was impossibly handsome and kind, regardless of the rougher, more dominant side
I’d seen in him last night.   And I
didn’t want this to end, just as I didn’t want to shortchange my career.   Wenn could offer me opportunities that I
wouldn’t receive at db Bistro.   Obviously.   But what was he
proposing?   Earlier, he said
anything I wanted.   But I wanted
something that complemented my skills.   I wasn’t about to take anything more than that.   If I did, I would regret it, and it
would cheapen everything that was blossoming between us.
    “That
night with Cyrus,” I said.   “I
didn’t enjoy the end of the night, to say the least, but I did enjoy
strategizing with you on how best to work a potential deal.   I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I
know that because of me, you landed that deal with Stavros Shipping.”
    He
looked up me.   “You think I don’t
know that?   You were
instrumental.   Even the board knows
it.   I told them what you did.”
    I
didn’t know that.   He could have
taken the credit for himself, but he didn’t.   I felt a rush of affection for him
then.   But then I checked myself,
and focused on my future.
    “If
I did this, I’d only consider a job that I had earned.   I don’t want any handouts just so we can
be together.   I want to be valued
for my contributions, and not like I’m there only because I’m Alexander Wenn’s
companion.”
    “Girlfriend.”
    “Companion.   I know you keep saying girlfriend, but
I’m not there yet.   Still, as I
promised last night, I will be exclusive to you.   I’ve never been in a relationship
before.   I need to see how this
unfolds, and I need for you to respect that it might take longer for me to say that
word than it took you.   It seemed so
easy for you.”
    “It was easy for me.   You’re not the first woman of interest
to come along since my wife died, Jennifer.   I think you’ve seen a slice of what I
have to deal with when I go out.   Since Diana’s death, I haven’t called anyone my girlfriend until I met
you because I haven’t dated anyone.   I said it for a reason.   It’s
what I want.   It’s what’s in my
heart.   I know this is right.”
    “I
just need time, Alex.   I need to let
it build in a different way.   Not
just sexually.   Though that wasn’t
so bad last night, as you clearly saw when I practically bumped into walls on
my way out.   But mentally and
emotionally too.   Does that make
sense?   I need it all before I can
say that word.”
    “I’m
just ahead of you, which is fine.”   He lifted my foot and kissed it before he started to rub it again.   “Eventually, I’ll get you there.”
    “Back
to that night with Cyrus.   I
consulted you that night.   I gave
you an angle you hadn’t considered.   I think you’ve seen that when it comes to what’s happening in the
business world, I’m pretty much on top of it.   I have good instincts and ideas.   I think a good fit for me at Wenn would
be as a consultant to you.   Maybe to
go to these events with you and meet the players.   During the day, we could see each other
in private and strategize about the next target.   I think I could succeed at that.   And because of the Stavros deal, which
will make Wenn hundreds of millions, I think I’ve earned that.   Better yet, I wouldn’t feel as if I was
just given something so we could be together.   What matters to me is that I’m in a job
in which I feel valued for my work and my contributions.   How do you feel about that?”
    “You’d
like to be my consultant?” he asked.
    “I
think that would be a good fit.   I
think we could get some work done together.”
    “If
I offered you the job now, would you take it?”
    “We’d
need to discuss salary first.   A
fair wage.”
    “What
did you have in mind?”
    “I
have nothing in mind.   So far, this
has all been off the cuff.   I was
expecting breakfast, not this