“Good morning, everyone.” The cool voice of Grace Perkins, VP of HR, snaps me out of my daydreaming about how it would feel to be snug against Declan’s large body. “I apologize for the sudden convention, but we have some big news.”
“Oh, this is so exciting,” Patty whispers next to me as she quietly claps her hands.
“We have just landed a project with Carmine Capello,” Grace continues, smiling as cheers erupt from the crowd.
Carmine Capello is a reality show winning interior designer with high-end clients from coast to coast. Working with him will not only solidify our A-list branding but will also open doors to the big-screen clients.
“Very exciting indeed,” Grace beams before going on. “Mr. Capello has bought an empty lot down on Bleeker Street. He plans on building a luxury complex and has requested a dedicated team of our best from each division. As this is a passion project, he wants to assure the people working on it understand his vision.”
“Sounds like a high maintenance gig.” Patty scrunches her nose. “I hope they don’t pick me; I’m already raising three kids.”
I stifle a snort.
“Well, I don’t even own a cat, so I’m up for it,” I reply with a wink, and Patty crosses her fingers on both hands as we both return our attention to Grace.
“This opportunity was made possible by the relentless work and dedication of our very own Declan Moretti.” The room bursts into hollers, but I’m standing frozen, torn between wanting a spot on the team, and wanting Declan.
“Mr. Capello requested Declan take the lead, and after long consideration and meetings with division heads, Declan has handpicked one person from each division he thinks would be most suitable to complete the team.”
A hush falls over the rest of us as Grace calls Declan up to the front to stand by her. “Thank you, everyone,” Declan begins in his deep voice, and a smile that seems almost embarrassed stretches over his handsome face, softening the hard lines of his clean-shaven square jaw. “This is a big opportunity for this company. I’ve looked through all of your portfolios to choose those who best reflect Carmine’s vision for this building. I’m confident this project will be a huge success.”
I zone out as Declan commences to list the people from the different divisions joining the team, imagining that masculine voice whispering dirty things in my ear.
Yeah, I definitely want Declan more than I want the job.
Then I hear my name carry on that dreamy voice, and not in the sensual tone I was hoping for, but in an all-business intonation.
“And last but definitely not least, Eloise Bloom, from architectural.”
No way this is happening to me.
“Yay, Elle!” Patty bounces beside me, completely oblivious to the terrible turn the on-the-desk-office-sex-with-Declan fantasy I was immersed in just took.
“Also, due to exceptional recommendations and work ethic, I’ve chosen Eloise as my right hand for this project,” Declan informs the room, smiling at me with a hint of warmth. “Please, join us.”
Well, FML.
2
Declan
Eloise Bloom shakes off the shock and plasters on a big smile, nodding at all the congratulating faces as she makes her way to the front of the lounge. I move to the side, signaling her to stand next to me, so everyone is clear about her position as my number two.
There’s no denying she’s attractive, legs that go on for miles stretch elegantly from under her dark-purple wrap dress, hugging the curve of her narrow waist. Eloise’s dark blue eyes sparkle, and even with that fake smile, her bow-shaped lips are utterly kissable.
Her sandy-blonde curls are twisted into a messy bun that doesn’t quite manage to contain the unruly mass. Strands of hair bounce around her heart-shaped face as she approaches, and my fingers itch to reach out and gently sweep them back when she comes to a standstill at my side.
Not that I ever would; I worked hard to get to where I am today.
Joining the boys in blue after getting my degree as an electrician, I was trained in the bomb squad. Then I followed my SWAT team leader when he opened a private security company with his brothers, and busted my ass with their clients, climbing the ranks as much as I could considering Peak Securities is a family-owned business.
I met Hammond Zane while designing a system for one of his buildings, and he offered me a position with Z Luxury Living, his newest endeavor in Los Angeles, as the head of the security division.
My plan is to keep climbing the corporate ranks in his conglomerate. This project with Carmine is a steppingstone to VP at Z Luxury Living, and I have my sights set on CEO one day.
So, as a lifelong rule of self-preservation, I don’t screw around in the workplace, not even with women like Eloise, who looks like a goddess and smells like freshly baked pastry.
The deity of baked goods. I wonder if that’s a thing.
Pastry scent aside, my conviction is so high on that point, that she was the first choice I made for my team before I even looked at her resume. She’s always in the office bright and early, and I’ve heard her name said in awe not only in connection to her professionalism but also concerning her interpersonal skills.
The few words I’ve exchanged with her since she joined the company last year have always been pleasant. Something about Eloise makes you feel at ease, which is never a bad asset, especially with a client who is as big a handful as Carmine.
We grew up together, Carmine and me, and as Grace so insightfully pointed out, he’s all about the personal connection. That being said, he won’t cut me any slack because we used to play Guardie e Lardi when we were ten back on 84th Street.
And additional bonus points go to Eloise for being, well, gorgeous. Carmine always had a weak spot for pretty things, whether animate or inanimate, human or animal, male or female. He’s one hundred percent homosexual, but outside of the bedroom, he hovers toward beauty in all its forms.
And, as I’ve already observed, Eloise is a unique form of beauty.
It takes about ten more minutes of Grace rambling about what a great opportunity this is for the company, all during which Eloise stands next to me fidgeting with the strings that tie her dress at her waist until someone loses patience and cracks open the champagne in the middle of Grace using the word glorious for the umpteenth time in one sentence.
I use the distraction to slip out of the lounge and head back to my office. I think I’ve earned an early weekend.
“Mr. Moretti?” A soft voice stops me at the door, and I turn, smiling when I face Eloise. How can I not, when she’s looking up at me with big blue eyes full of wonder, her bottom lip caught between her teeth as a blush spreads over her cheeks.
“You can still call me Declan, you know.”
“Right. I wasn’t sure.” A small smile plays on her full lips at my words, and it may be the best thing that happened to me today, making her smile like that.
“I’d go so far as Dec, to be honest.” I’m suddenly closer to her. When did that happen? Did I step forward, or did Eloise? “Since we are going to be working rather closely. No need for unnecessary formalities.”
It was me; I was at the door, and now I’m not.
“I guess you should start calling me Elle, then.” Her smile broadens, and there’s a hint of a tease in there. “I wanted to thank you for the opportunity, this is a career-maker.”