I hummed and my body sang in anticipation. I was just about to say that was both bossy and sexy as fuck, but he crushed his mouth to mine and took me to bed.
Chapter Four
Bryce
“Thank you for meeting with me,” I said as we took our seats at a table. I’d had dinner at his place last week, but this was more of a work lunch.
“You’re buying me lunch,” Terrence replied. “I wasn’t going to say no to that. Plus, Tuesdays are the new Monday. I welcomed the break today.”
“If Tuesday is the new Monday, then what’s Monday?”
“They’re both Mondays. It’s been a week. Actually, it’s been a month.”
“From hell?”
“A month of Mondays.”
“Ouch. I saw the ASX has taken a hit.”
He groaned. “Yeah, ouch. Add in the fact that my dad is stressed about it. Like hearing your dad yell is bad enough, but when he’s your boss too? No thanks.” He shot me an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologise. I get it, believe me.”
“How is your old man?”
“Same. He’s in Perth for a few days. And speaking of, I have this.” I handed over my business plan. “It’s not finalised. I wanted your input before I give it to my father. Pretty sure he’s gonna tear it to shreds anyway, so I’m not sure why I’m bothering, to be honest.”
Terrence flipped the first page, then the next, then the next. The waiter came for our order, and Terrence rattled off something without even looking at the menu. The waiter nodded, so I assumed it was fine, and I held up two fingers. “Make that two.”
All the while Terrence kept reading.
And reading.
And flipping pages and reading.
He had a great eye for data analytics and statistics, and he didn’t need a calculator for percentages and bottom lines. He could do maths in his head faster than I could enter them into a spreadsheet.
Our meals came and he was still reading. And I was nervous. “I didn’t mean for it to take up your entire lunch break.”
Without taking his eyes off the report, he shoved a dumpling in his mouth, then waved his chopsticks at me. “Shh. I’m reading.”
I chuckled and I was almost finished with my meal when he closed the folder. He took another bite, and before the suspense could kill me, he smiled. “It’s a very thorough report.”
He sounded surprised. “Um, thanks?”
“Bryce, it’s very thorough. And it’s good. Like really good.”
“I just want my father to know I’m serious.”
“Fuck your father,” he said. “Give him this report and he can’t say shit. And anyway—” He ate his last dumpling. “—you don’t need him. You’ve got a solid idea, thoroughly researched, and the figures are great. What you need is an investor with some financial backing.”
“I’ve got an appointment next week to see my business banker.”
“And your first location? I take it you have scope for further development.”
“I have a few places in mind. Just need to know where I stand financially first. Then I can move forward, I guess.”
“It’s exciting, Bryce. You should be proud.”
“I’ll feel better after my dad has his say. I mean, I’m moving forward with it regardless, but I need to get that out of the way first.”
“You know what you need?”
“About two million dollars?”
He snorted. “That too. But seriously, you need a night out with the boys. No ditching us for the first guy who looks at you this time. I mean, a full night out with us. Drinks, laughs, more drinks, and questionable stall food at three in the morning.”
“I didn’t ditch you guys,” I replied. “It had been a while for me, as everyone knew, thanks to you and your big mouth.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So I had some pressing concerns that needed to be addressed. I didn’t ditch you.”
Terrence laughed. “You totally did, but that’s okay. I get it. But no ditching us this time. Ditching is forbidden. This Friday night. Eight o’clock.”
I winced. “Actually, Friday’s aren’t great for me . . .”
His eyes went wide. “Oh, that’s right. The nameless guy. Seeing him again?”
“Well, yeah. We have a thing on Friday nights.”
“So change it.”
“I don’t know . . .” Then I remembered I had his number now. I could change it if he was amenable. “I’ll ask.”
Terrence blinked. “You need his permission?”
I snorted out a laugh because Mr Bossy would probably think I did. “No, I’m just being considerate.”
He seemed confused for a second, then stunned. “You like him.”
“Well, yeah. I’m not gonna keep seeing some guy I don’t like.”
“No, I mean you like him.”
“As in like like?” I scoffed. “I don’t even know his name.”
“How can you not know his name?”
“Easy. We don’t talk about personal stuff.”
“What do you talk about?” He made a face. “I mean, do you even talk?”
I laughed. “Yes, we talk. We just don’t discuss names or occupations or anything like that. We are otherwise occupied.”
“So he has no idea who you are.”
“Nope. None.”
“No idea who your dad is or that he—and technically you—own Schroeder Hotels.”
“Nope. None.”
“That was your idea, I take it. The secrecy thing.”
“More his, but I don’t mind one bit. Actually, I like the fact he doesn’t know who I am.”
Terrence let out a breath but he smiled. “So shall we take a bet as to how long it is before this no-complications thing gets complicated?”
I leaned in and motioned for him to do the same. When he was close enough, I whispered, “Fuck off.”
He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Drinks this Friday.”
I took out my phone and found Bossy’s number and sent him a quick text. I have a thing this Friday night. Can we change to Saturday or Sunday?
“Okay, I’ve asked,” I said, putting my phone on the table.
“And if he says no?”
“Then I still meet with you guys on Friday night and he can find someone else.”
My phone beeped with a message.
How’s Saturday at eight?
God, I felt giddy. I sent a quick reply. Perfect.
Good. I’ll order dinner.
Hm. Dinner. Dinner wasn’t complicated, was it? It wasn’t crossing our no-complications rule, was it? After all, I was the idiot who forgot to eat and he had to feed me. So no, it wasn’t a complication. He was just a decent guy.
Sounds great.
“Ah, Bryce,” Terrence said, startling me. “You’re doing an awful lot of smiling at your phone for a guy you don’t like.”
I pressed my lips together in some attempt to not grin. I put my phone on the table, screen-down. “Drinks with you and the guys on Friday night is fine. And you’re right. It’s just what I need.”