Nope, the absolute best way to win was to show no reaction. No fear. No anger. No emotion of any kind. I tilted my head to the side, away from him, and said, “I’m sorry, what was that? I didn’t catch what you said.”
His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned and he snarled, “You heard me.”
“No, I’m afraid I didn’t,” I said. I shrugged and used the gesture to move away from him. I glanced at the numbers on the elevator and saw that we had arrived. The ding of the elevator had never been such an appealing sound. I glanced at him over my shoulder and added, “Perhaps it’s because I don’t speak asshole.”
The doors slid open and I stepped into the lobby, taking an enormous inhale. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath, but with his cologne giving off an olfactory assault and his menacing presence crowding me, it was small wonder I’d forgotten to breathe.
“Annabelle, you’re here!” Lexi bounced up from the couch where she was seated.
She was dressed in a charcoal gray skirt and blazer with a black blouse underneath. Her jacket was unbuttoned and she was wearing very high, spiky-heeled pumps. Her hair was fastened in a loose bun at the nape of her neck, and she wore just enough makeup to accent her eyes and lips. She had a laptop bag on her shoulder, completing her woman-of-business look.
I immediately felt like a jerk for being late, especially given that my extracurricular activities with her brother were the reason I was tardy. I felt my face get warm as she opened her arms and gave me a quick hug.
“I’m sorry. You weren’t waiting long, were you?” I asked.
“Not at all. I just arrived,” she said with a shake of her head.
“I was going to get Lexi a cup of coffee, can I get you one, too?” Nyah asked from her spot behind the reception desk.
“If it’s no trouble, that would be amazing,” I said. Caffeine in any form including a solid would be more than welcome at the moment.
“No trouble,” Nyah said. “It gives me an excuse to get one for myself. Should I bring them to your office?”
“Yes, thanks,” I said. I glanced back at Lexi. “I’m going to have Soph and Miguel, the owners of Vasquez Squared, pop in to meet you while we figure out our initial timetable.”
“Sounds good,” she said.
“Whoa, who’s this?” a voice asked from behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was Carson.
I also didn’t have to acknowledge him, especially after his intimidation tactics in the elevator. “Come on, Lexi. I know your time is valuable, let’s get to it.”
“Hey, how about an introduction?” Carson called after us.
I ignored him. I walked through the lobby with Lexi at my side, casting me furtive glances. We pushed through the meeting room and cut into the main work area. There were several people in the room. I smiled at Christian and Shanna, but I could feel Carson behind us, closing in. I didn’t want to have to introduce him to Lexi. I’d spare her that if I could.
“Ms. Creative Director, I’m talking to you.” Carson raised his voice as he entered the room after us. I felt the gaze of everyone in the room swing from Carson to me and back. He managed to say my job title with just the right amount of contempt to make me grit my teeth.
“Everything cool, Annabelle?” Lexi asked in a low voice.
“Yup, everything’s fine,” I lied. I was still rattled by my time in the elevator with Carson, and I was trying to rally but he was not making it easy. I pointed down the hall. “My office is this way.”
We passed both Soph’s and Miguel’s offices. The lights were on and their doors were open, signaling that they were here. This would make things much easier. In fact, I decided to slow down just outside their offices and let Carson catch up. Naturally, he decided to shoot past me and then stopped, turning around and blocking my access to my office. Predictable.
He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Lexi, then he turned to me. “No introduction? I thought a Boston girl would have better manners than that.”
I stared at him.
“What? It’s just a joke,” he said. He made an exasperated face. “You need to lighten up, Annabelle.”
I did not take the bait. This would have been a fine moment to ask him if his calling me a bitch in the elevator had been a joke, too, but I knew better and I didn’t go there. Shocking, I know.
“How can I help you, Carson?” I asked. I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking his stance, and met and held his gaze. “I assumed you said everything you needed to say to me in the elevator.”
I saw his eyes flash at that. Let him wonder if I was going to make a thing of it.
He turned to Lexi with charm oozing out of his every pore. “Hi, I’m Carson West, the senior art director, and you are?”
He held out his hand. I wanted to slap Lexi’s hand away from his. I didn’t want him to contaminate her. Instead, I watched as she shook his hand.
“Lexi Brewer,” she said. “New client.”
She gave him nothing more. I could have hugged her right there, but it would have been awkward so instead I gestured to my office behind him and said, “Lexi’s on a very tight schedule, so if you’ll excuse us.”
Unfortunately, Carson didn’t take the hint. Instead, he looked from Lexi to me and asked, “And what is it we’ll be doing here for you, Lexi? As the senior art director, I’d like to be in the loop.”
I blinked. Was he insane? Was he actually standing there, including himself in my meeting with my client? That was . . . no, just no!
“Um.” Lexi looked at me, obviously sensing the bad vibe between us and uncertain of how to answer.
“As the creative director, I’m the key client point person, so I’ll be managing Lexi’s account,” I said. I hoped my voice came out firm, shutting down any idea he had of jumping in on this project without being invited. “When we’re ready for your input, I’ll let you know.”
“I know the collaborative thing is a struggle for you, Annabelle,” Carson said. He glanced at Lexi and added, “She’s new. But that’s how we do things here. We’re not solo units. We work as a team. Right, Miguel?”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Miguel standing in his office door, watching us with a speculative stare. I realized Carson had said what he did to make me look bad in front of Miguel. Argh.
“That’s right,” Miguel agreed. He glanced at me. “New client?”
“Yes,” I said. To my relief, Sophie came out of her office as well. Finally, I had some backup. Sophie’s eyes met mine, and I could see the question in them. Is this the big client? I nodded and she ran with it.