lives. So, in a way, I have thousands of bosses.”
Addison sniffled a bit at that and ate another sushi roll. After she’d chewed some, she responded thoughtfully. “I wish that Mr. McDermott had been that way. I felt like I was such a failure, that there was nothing I could do to be perfect enough. Though, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he was being rude to even other business associates. Some of the things I saw him do…frankly, I don’t know much about business but I had to wonder if it was even legal.”
Pay dirt .
Zahir leaned forward and tried not to come off as overeager. “Now what would that be?”
Addison opened her mouth and was about to reply when the main course arrived at the table. The distraction seemed to be enough to keep her from succumbing to her desire to blab again. Grinning broadly at him, she readied her chopsticks for the next course.
“Never mind. It’s all in the past, and this looks amazing. Let’s eat!”
“Yes, let’s,” he said, knowing for the time being that he’d missed his window.
***
Addison was very worked up as they made their way to the window. He’d had the sense not to order another sake, but the Buddha Bar had a generous-sized pitcher, clearly intended for a full table and double the size of normal containers, if not larger. He hadn’t stopped her from drinking, not wanting to upset her or seem overbearing, and yet she’d easily downed at least four cups over the course of dinner. She was lucid but had erupted into a flight of giggle fits as they got to the limo.
“That was really great. Thank you!” she said. “I didn’t know I’d ever like fermented cabbage so much, but that was some of the best food I’ve had in months. Definitely have to give you props on that one.” She giggled again and slumped into his arms as the limo started off toward her apartment.
“Are you alright?” he asked. “You seem very, well, comfortable.”
She giggled again, this time ending in a snort that he couldn’t help but find adorable. “You wanted me relaxed, and I definitely am. I think that if oranges actually tasted and made me feel like that sake then I’d eat my fruits and vegetables every day!”
“That’s true, but you seem also more friendly,” he said, nodding to where her hand was clutching his. “I just want to make sure that whatever we do tonight, that you know two things. First, I will want to work with you no matter what. You’re easily the most organized and one of the best assistants I’ve ever had.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “At least I don’t feel like I’m about to walk the plank any day at work. I love it here and Dubai’s gorgeous. I just wish I had more time to see all the sights. I just haven’t yet. I really was nervous moving out here from Boston, but it’s been great, and I’m talking too much again.”
He chuckled. Zahir definitely liked this playful and insecure side of her. When the sake loosened her tongue a bit and helped her shed her inhibitions, he could see that playful side of her—the girl who had to be so in love with spending her time creating whimsical outfits for those convention goers of hers. It was such a shame that she buried that away, that such an ass like Clayton had made her ashamed to be anything more than a meek mouse during work hours.
One day, he was going to enjoy buying the company out and bankrupting Clayton McDermott and everything he was.
“You’re not,” he said, reaching down and stoking her face, letting his fingers stray over those soft and delicate lips of hers. Addison’s sapphire-blue eyes looked back at him, and Zahir knew that he could lose himself forever in her gaze. “I find everything you do utterly fascinating. I just need you to know the rules. First is that we’ll still be working with each other, no matter what happens tonight.”
She exhaled and her breath was soft and gentle on his hand. “What’s the second rule?”
“If you want to do anything more
Addison sniffled a bit at that and ate another sushi roll. After she’d chewed some, she responded thoughtfully. “I wish that Mr. McDermott had been that way. I felt like I was such a failure, that there was nothing I could do to be perfect enough. Though, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he was being rude to even other business associates. Some of the things I saw him do…frankly, I don’t know much about business but I had to wonder if it was even legal.”
Pay dirt .
Zahir leaned forward and tried not to come off as overeager. “Now what would that be?”
Addison opened her mouth and was about to reply when the main course arrived at the table. The distraction seemed to be enough to keep her from succumbing to her desire to blab again. Grinning broadly at him, she readied her chopsticks for the next course.
“Never mind. It’s all in the past, and this looks amazing. Let’s eat!”
“Yes, let’s,” he said, knowing for the time being that he’d missed his window.
***
Addison was very worked up as they made their way to the window. He’d had the sense not to order another sake, but the Buddha Bar had a generous-sized pitcher, clearly intended for a full table and double the size of normal containers, if not larger. He hadn’t stopped her from drinking, not wanting to upset her or seem overbearing, and yet she’d easily downed at least four cups over the course of dinner. She was lucid but had erupted into a flight of giggle fits as they got to the limo.
“That was really great. Thank you!” she said. “I didn’t know I’d ever like fermented cabbage so much, but that was some of the best food I’ve had in months. Definitely have to give you props on that one.” She giggled again and slumped into his arms as the limo started off toward her apartment.
“Are you alright?” he asked. “You seem very, well, comfortable.”
She giggled again, this time ending in a snort that he couldn’t help but find adorable. “You wanted me relaxed, and I definitely am. I think that if oranges actually tasted and made me feel like that sake then I’d eat my fruits and vegetables every day!”
“That’s true, but you seem also more friendly,” he said, nodding to where her hand was clutching his. “I just want to make sure that whatever we do tonight, that you know two things. First, I will want to work with you no matter what. You’re easily the most organized and one of the best assistants I’ve ever had.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “At least I don’t feel like I’m about to walk the plank any day at work. I love it here and Dubai’s gorgeous. I just wish I had more time to see all the sights. I just haven’t yet. I really was nervous moving out here from Boston, but it’s been great, and I’m talking too much again.”
He chuckled. Zahir definitely liked this playful and insecure side of her. When the sake loosened her tongue a bit and helped her shed her inhibitions, he could see that playful side of her—the girl who had to be so in love with spending her time creating whimsical outfits for those convention goers of hers. It was such a shame that she buried that away, that such an ass like Clayton had made her ashamed to be anything more than a meek mouse during work hours.
One day, he was going to enjoy buying the company out and bankrupting Clayton McDermott and everything he was.
“You’re not,” he said, reaching down and stoking her face, letting his fingers stray over those soft and delicate lips of hers. Addison’s sapphire-blue eyes looked back at him, and Zahir knew that he could lose himself forever in her gaze. “I find everything you do utterly fascinating. I just need you to know the rules. First is that we’ll still be working with each other, no matter what happens tonight.”
She exhaled and her breath was soft and gentle on his hand. “What’s the second rule?”
“If you want to do anything more
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