Someone Unexpected(9)

"Wait, putting aside for a minute that you know all of this personal information about me, you are behind my promotion?"



As this sank in I started to think that I didn't actually earn my new  position. Of course you didn't earn it, what were you thinking? That you  could be promoted a bazillion levels that quickly? Wake up and smell  the lust, Elena! Sebastian Blu had a reputation for getting what he  wanted and didn't take no for an answer. It was obvious to me now that  he wanted me and would do anything to have me. Well, I was not for sale  and I needed to make that perfectly clear to him before I worked one  more day at the hotel.



"Yes, I arranged for you to be promoted, but I want you to know that  this is based strictly on the promise you have shown. And yes, a  background check was performed when you were hired, it's standard for  all employees."



"Mr. Blu, while I appreciate the promotion, I hope that we are clear that there will be no extra benefits after hours."



He looked amused as he watched me squirm a bit in my seat. I tried my  best to make sure that what I said came out sounding professional.



He held my gaze and would not let it go. "What do you mean by ‘extra benefits'?"



I could feel my cheeks flush, and I was completely embarrassed that I  had to spell it out to him. I didn't say anything for a solid minute and  he crossed his arms as a twinkle danced in his eye and his mouth curled  up in a small smile.



"I'm waiting, Elena." I loved the way he said my name, something about the inflection in his voice was so intimate.



Once again my heart was pounding and I felt completely mortified that I  had to say anything. I took a deep breath, decided to get it over with  and I spoke very softly as I looked down at my hands which were resting  on my desk.



"I mean just because I have been promoted does not mean that anything  will happen between us. Nothing will happen between us that is not work  related."



He was silent for a few seconds and I was too nervous to avert my eyes away from my hands.



"Elena, look at me please." His voice was gentle.



I raised my eyes to his and I could see the lust in his eyes.



"You were promoted based on the great results and feedback you have  received since you started with the hotel, not based on anything else.  Nothing will happen between us that you do not want to happen. But  something is going to happen between us Elena, it's just a matter of  time. I like what I see when I look at you and I know that you like what  you see. There is something here and eventually we'll both give in. We  will keep our personal life and work life separate because that will be  best for all involved, but I always get what I want." His eyes held mine  without hesitation. "And I want you. Have I made myself clear?"



I had no idea how to respond to him as my eyes searched his, his words  totally catching me off guard. He was right, I had to be honest with  myself. I had never reacted to a man the way I had reacted to him in my  life. He was sexy, gorgeous, rich and powerful. What woman would turn  that down? A woman who didn't think it was right to sleep with her boss.  I dug deep for courage and decided I would have to turn him down again.  My eyes were steady as I answered him.



"Mr. Blu, I take my job very seriously and I can assure you that nothing  will happen between us. Besides, I'm sure that your wife or girlfriend  would not appreciate your advances toward me."         

     



 



Amusement danced in his eyes for a couple of minutes and it looked like  he was trying to hold back a smile. Then the look in his eyes completely  changed and he was totally serious.



"We are going to São Paulo, Brazil next month to launch a new marketing  campaign, so I want you to put together a presentation for a meeting on  Monday with the head of the marketing department. Work the weekend if  you have to, the presentation has to be flawless. Blu Sierra São Paulo  opened a few months ago and we need more visibility. The hotel should be  sold out every night and we're not there yet. Reach out to the others  in the marketing department if you need help." He stood to leave and  straightened his jacket and ran his hands through his hair. "Have a good  evening, Elena."



He was so gorgeous that I was temporarily distracted by him and forgot  to instantly panic about creating a marketing campaign in a week. But  not to worry, the panic set in the second he left my office. When the  door closed behind him, I sat at my desk in a complete daze. What should  I focus on first, that he told me he wants me and he always gets what  he wants, or that I'm going to Brazil next month and have to create a  marketing campaign in a week? My head was spinning with what had just  happened in the last thirty minutes. That Monday would go down in  history as one of the most incredible days in my life.



I couldn't wait to tell Chloe what had happened to me that day. I didn't  leave the office until around 7:30 so she had already left for the day.  I called her the second I got home.



"Chloe? Guess what happened to me today?"



"I was waiting for you to call me! You were all anyone talked about  today! Is it true that Mr. Blu hand-picked you to be VP of marketing?"



"Wait, how did that leak out?"



"There are gossips all over the hotel Laney. So, is it true?"



"Okay listen, you can't confirm this with anyone, but yes, it's true!"



"Oh my gosh!" Her squealing voice nearly broke my eardrum. "Laney, that  is so amazing! I am so happy for you and of course I won't say anything!  You really deserve this and I know that you are going to do an awesome  job. But I have to say I will miss seeing you at work every day so we'll  have to do more dinners."



"Thanks Chloe, and yes, definitely more dinners. We'll have to plan dinner soon because I am going to Brazil next month."



"What?! Oh my gosh!" The squeal again was breaking my eardrum.



"Yep, Mr. Blu told me today that I have to prepare a new marketing  campaign for the trip next month. I have to present it on Monday so I  have less than a week to get it done. I'm probably going to get like 4  hours of sleep a night this week."



"Yeah, but you can do it Laney, you're going to really shine in this  position. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you."



"Thanks, Chloe."



We talked for a few more minutes and then I made a quick dinner and  hopped on my computer to work on my presentation. I called my parents to  tell them my good news and that I was going to Brazil the following  month. When I climbed into bed a few hours later my mind wandered to  what Sebastian said to me earlier, "something is going to happen between  us Elena". As much as I didn't want to believe him, my body was telling  me he was right.





Chapter Five  –  New Beginnings



I worked on my presentation all week and that weekend, and by the time  Monday rolled around I felt more than ready. When I walked into the  meeting Sebastian was sitting at the head of the table and every member  of the marketing department was present. I wasn't the type to get  nervous in situations like this, I thrived on being able to showcase my  skills. When the meeting started the head of the department spoke for a  while about his ideas and then it was my turn. I gave every person a  copy of the presentation and I went through each item in detail. I  glanced at Sebastian every now and then to see his reaction and he had a  look of pleasant surprise on his face and that really encouraged me. By  the time I was done everyone seemed impressed with me.



"Wonderful job Elena, this is exactly what I was looking for." Sebastian  did not hold back with his compliment in front of the room and I was  really proud of myself for what I was able to pull off in a week.         

     



 



The following Tuesday I was working late, buried in files, and my  stomach reminded me that it was time to eat around 7:30. I still had a  couple of hours of work to do so I was planning to just grab a sandwich  from the cafeteria and bring it back to my office. One of the biggest  conveniences about working in the corporate office building was that the  cafeteria was open until 10:00 p.m. I bent down to grab my purse from  the bottom drawer of my desk and when I sat up I was startled to see  Sebastian standing in the doorway. I jumped and quickly recovered but  not before he saw the frightened look on my face.



"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to startle you Elena. I saw that your  light was on and wanted to check on you." He looked at the huge pile of  papers on my desk and raised his eyebrows. "Are you being given too much  work? We do like for our employees to have a life outside of this job."



"Oh, no the amount of work is fine, I just wanted to get a good feel for  the new campaign. This is all so new to me and I don't want to be the  one to drop the ball when we go to São Paulo."