Vanilla On Top(52)

In spite of my inner reservations regarding a drunken girls night, I agree. If today’s workload is any indication to go by, I might need to blow off some steam by the end of this week.

The hours drag after our call. Dinner in my office is not fun. I never have enjoyed working late. After a certain time, the numbers blur and I can’t concentrate worth a damn. Some of the assets I need to move are thankfully on west coast time, so I get a bit more accomplished before shutting down for the night.

Anticipation thrills through me at the prospect of showing up at the next Apollo meeting and informing them we don’t have to take their offer, no matter how much it’s for. Guilt wars within me over the underhanded negotiation techniques I used on Tony. I wonder if he’ll be able to get the higher amount approved. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the deal doesn’t fly. Seven million is no small amount.

As I ride the elevator to my apartment, sheer exhaustion takes its toll. I don’t think we slept much last night and I’m really wiped out.

I want to see Tony, but I also want to sleep so I can be recharged for the full day I’ve got ahead of me. The board wants an update at two and I want to maximize what I can report to make a good impression.

I let myself into my apartment and drop my belongings on the dining room table. It’s almost nine and all I want to do is sleep. I grab my cell to call Tony. He answers on the second ring.

“I was getting worried about you. It’s late.”

“Yeah, sorry.” My voice warps a little as I suppress a yawn. “Someone kept me up late last night and I’m pooped. Who would’ve thought?”

Tony’s masculine chuckle warms me to my very toes. “If I recall correctly, it wasn’t all my doing. You were quite the active participant.”

“Well, I paid for it at work. Today was chock full of excitement.” Crap! I probably shouldn’t have said that.

“Oh, really? How did your meeting go?”

“Um, not bad. Better than expected. After all, your company did drop quite a surprise on us.” I might not be able to tell him what I’m doing, but I can speak in generalities and be safe. “The ramifications sent everyone into a tail spin, trust me.”

“I figured that might be why you worked late. I bet you could do with a neck massage. How about it? Want the address to come over?”

“Would you mind if we postponed ‘til tomorrow? I’m bushed.”

Silence greets me as I wait for a response.

“That’s fine, I understand. I’ve had days like that myself. Tomorrow it is.”

Relief floods me at his gracious acceptance. I don’t think I could have handled guilt tonight. We end the call and I take a long, hot bath and then slip into bed. Tomorrow promises to be another long day of deciphering spread sheets, balancing losses, and organizing data to do the impossible—saving Parkerson Advertising.





Chapter Fourteen

Tony

I click off the phone and pace like a caged lion. There’s a tightness around my chest and I’m not sure why. Returning to the dining room, I blow out the candles on the table. She didn’t know I’d planned a light meal or set things up. I can’t take her canceling personally. It has nothing to do with me and is purely a work stress.

One I’ve experienced many times myself over the past decade.

Sure, I can mumble all the platitudes I’d like, but at the end of the evening, I’m the one left cleaning up the dinner and sleeping by myself. Of course, she’d be busy with the added workload our buyout offer has caused, but the disappointment still rocks me. I wonder if this is how the women I dated felt when I called last minute and bailed on them.

Pretty shitty, no matter how you cut it.

I clean up and place the gift I bought for her on a side table near the door. It will keep ‘til tomorrow. Waking up this morning to the unmistakable sound of an electronic camera shutter gave me a great idea, and I checked her camera before slipping into the bathroom. It didn’t bother me that she was taking pictures—hearing the camera shutter was kind of sexy.

I took another moment while she was getting dressed to reexamine the pictures hanging throughout her apartment. She has a real eye for the medium. After cutting out of work at five, I spent my early evening shopping for the best professional camera money can buy. I can’t wait to surprise her with it.

Most women want fancy clothes or jewels. But I have a feeling the way to this woman’s heart is by unconventional means—and I aim to find it, no matter what.

Climbing into the large, empty bed in the company apartment, I can’t help but wish I was at Heather’s place. This unit might be huge and tastefully decorated, but nothing in it is mine except for the clothes. I need time in Jersey this weekend, working on my building to regain balance.