the evening?” he asked her, as he winked.
Alanna had no idea how to respond to that. She’d grown accustomed to his flirtations but had reconciled it to being part of his personality and nothing more. While she would have loved to have him think of her that way, with the money she was making as his assistant, she didn’t want to create a situation where things didn’t work out and she’d feel the need to quit. Or worse, fired.
Giving him a slight curtsy, she looked at her watch. “Are we going to be late?”
The limo driver brought them to their restaurant; another Art Deco architectural wonder and Alexander placed his hand at the small of her back as he escorted her inside.
The warmth of his hand quickly heated her up, causing her to stumble slightly. Grabbing her elbow, he caught her before she could fall as she smiled at him gratefully.
Checking in, they were informed that the rest of their party hadn’t arrived yet, so they approached the bar, where he ordered drinks for the both of them. She’d promised herself that she’d keep the drinking to a minimum during these work events as she didn’t want to embarrass herself or Alexander in front of his clients.
“Cheers,” he said with his raised glass.
“Cheers,” she answered as she sipped the drink. Looking around the room, she was taken in by the décor, which made her feel as though they stepped into the 1920s. She felt his eyes on her and turned to look at him.
“You look lovely this evening, dear Alanna,” he said charmingly.
“Thank you. You look handsome, as well.”
“For the Mafioso,” he added with a wide grin.
Shrugging her shoulders, “That sounds so limiting. I’d say you represent more of the male population other than the mafia,” she told him blandly, as he started laughing.
At that moment, some of their guests arrived and they took their glasses and went to join them.
“This is my lovely, executive assistant, Alanna Vella,” he introduced her to a man whose beard was salt and pepper colored and well maintained.
“Alanna, this is Mr. Maksim Angeloff and his lovely wife, Anastasia,” Alexander told her as she offered them both a smile.
“It is lovely to meet you, Alanna,” Maksim told her in a heavy, Russian accent.
“It’s nice to meet the both of you as well,” she said in response. At that moment, the rest of their party arrived and Alexander excused himself to go meet them.
Turning to see the other couples walking into the restaurant, she was glad that Alexander had told her to go shopping. These women looked glamourous, as they laughed and kissed everyone on the cheek.
Nodding to the maitre’d, Alexander led everyone to the back of the restaurant where they had a large table in a private room. Standing by the door, Alanna smiled and introduced herself to everyone who walked in. Once they were seated, she joined Alexander at the head of the table.
“These are all of our investors from Russia,” Alexander whispered into her ear, as servers brought Champagne to everyone.
“A toast!” Alexander called out, as he stood to welcome everyone. Shifting back and forth between English and Russian, Alanna was only able to understand the English portion as the guests nodded at his words. As everyone raised their glasses in toast, Alanna did the same, taking a small sip of the sweet, bubbly drink.
After a couple more toasts, the investors quickly turned their attention to Alanna.
“So, you help Alexander manage his business and you’re gorgeous,” one of the investors said aloud with a grin on his face. His wife elbowed him, as she scowled at her husband.
“Yes, I handle the day-to-day requirements for his busy office.”
“Do you like the work?” another investor asked.
Nodding her head, she answered their questions. Pausing, she took another sip of her Champagne and asked herself why he needed her there. Since he was conducting most of the discussions in Russian, she didn’t see how her
Alanna had no idea how to respond to that. She’d grown accustomed to his flirtations but had reconciled it to being part of his personality and nothing more. While she would have loved to have him think of her that way, with the money she was making as his assistant, she didn’t want to create a situation where things didn’t work out and she’d feel the need to quit. Or worse, fired.
Giving him a slight curtsy, she looked at her watch. “Are we going to be late?”
The limo driver brought them to their restaurant; another Art Deco architectural wonder and Alexander placed his hand at the small of her back as he escorted her inside.
The warmth of his hand quickly heated her up, causing her to stumble slightly. Grabbing her elbow, he caught her before she could fall as she smiled at him gratefully.
Checking in, they were informed that the rest of their party hadn’t arrived yet, so they approached the bar, where he ordered drinks for the both of them. She’d promised herself that she’d keep the drinking to a minimum during these work events as she didn’t want to embarrass herself or Alexander in front of his clients.
“Cheers,” he said with his raised glass.
“Cheers,” she answered as she sipped the drink. Looking around the room, she was taken in by the décor, which made her feel as though they stepped into the 1920s. She felt his eyes on her and turned to look at him.
“You look lovely this evening, dear Alanna,” he said charmingly.
“Thank you. You look handsome, as well.”
“For the Mafioso,” he added with a wide grin.
Shrugging her shoulders, “That sounds so limiting. I’d say you represent more of the male population other than the mafia,” she told him blandly, as he started laughing.
At that moment, some of their guests arrived and they took their glasses and went to join them.
“This is my lovely, executive assistant, Alanna Vella,” he introduced her to a man whose beard was salt and pepper colored and well maintained.
“Alanna, this is Mr. Maksim Angeloff and his lovely wife, Anastasia,” Alexander told her as she offered them both a smile.
“It is lovely to meet you, Alanna,” Maksim told her in a heavy, Russian accent.
“It’s nice to meet the both of you as well,” she said in response. At that moment, the rest of their party arrived and Alexander excused himself to go meet them.
Turning to see the other couples walking into the restaurant, she was glad that Alexander had told her to go shopping. These women looked glamourous, as they laughed and kissed everyone on the cheek.
Nodding to the maitre’d, Alexander led everyone to the back of the restaurant where they had a large table in a private room. Standing by the door, Alanna smiled and introduced herself to everyone who walked in. Once they were seated, she joined Alexander at the head of the table.
“These are all of our investors from Russia,” Alexander whispered into her ear, as servers brought Champagne to everyone.
“A toast!” Alexander called out, as he stood to welcome everyone. Shifting back and forth between English and Russian, Alanna was only able to understand the English portion as the guests nodded at his words. As everyone raised their glasses in toast, Alanna did the same, taking a small sip of the sweet, bubbly drink.
After a couple more toasts, the investors quickly turned their attention to Alanna.
“So, you help Alexander manage his business and you’re gorgeous,” one of the investors said aloud with a grin on his face. His wife elbowed him, as she scowled at her husband.
“Yes, I handle the day-to-day requirements for his busy office.”
“Do you like the work?” another investor asked.
Nodding her head, she answered their questions. Pausing, she took another sip of her Champagne and asked herself why he needed her there. Since he was conducting most of the discussions in Russian, she didn’t see how her
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