He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms in front of him and looked at me without saying a word. The way he looked at me made me want to look away, say I was sorry, hide, anything but stand there and look at him looking at me and wondering what the hell he was thinking.
“I’m really unsure why my background matters. I know music; I know talent when I hear it.”
“So you didn’t go to college for…”
“No.”
The elevator stopped and he straightened and waved his hand to the door showing me the exit. One that I gladly took. I stopped and waited for him to step off and he ran into the back of me. I nearly fell over and would have if he didn’t grab my waist from behind to stop my fall.
“Sorry,” we both said at the same time.
I looked back at him over my shoulder, uncertain why he was still holding me. The look in his eyes, they were darker than before.
“You alright?” He asked as he released me and stepped back.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“I’ll meet you up front.” His voice was gruff and he seemed annoyed as he walked quickly to the men’s room.
I walked up to the reception area of Steel Incorporated and stood in the corner so I wasn’t in anyone’s way. I kept my focus straight ahead at the four story glass wall.
I overheard the receptionists whispering.
‘How did she get this job?’
‘She must be one of his conquests’, another giggled.
‘The last single Steel. What a shame.’
‘Only one of the others is married. Cyrus and Zandor are still technically available,’ another whispered.
‘Not really.’
‘If I don’t see a ring it’s still available,’ one giggled.
‘All four of those boy’s eyes ooze sex. Xavier is the only one who doesn’t have those dark Italian eyes. Apparently they’re his father’s. Sexy as hell.’
‘I think I could get off just kneeling in front of him, sucking his dick as long as he was looking at me with those damn blue green eyes.’
‘How about a Xavier and Zandor sandwich? Can you imagine one in the back door and one in the front?’
‘This conversation needs to stop. I swear my panties are getting wet just thinking about them.’
‘I learned to wear a pad by the end of my first week. Jase Steel and Abe O’Donnell were my first fantasy. Could you imagine that?’
And then one moaned, she moaned! ‘Cyrus. I bet he’s an animal.’
And I thought living with three brothers was bad. Women are pigs. What the hell? I laughed to myself.
“You ready?” His hand pressed against my lower back and I jumped. I looked back at him and that smirk was back, “You okay?”
“Yes, I was just…”
“Let’s go.” He pushed me gently to the doors.
“Have a good day Mr. Steel.”
“See you tomorrow Mr. Steel.”
I glanced back to see how he responded and he winked at them, and then as he turned he rolled his eyes ever so slightly.
My face was on fire and I made sure to stay two steps ahead of him so he wouldn’t see. I wonder if he heard them? I wonder if he knew I had heard them? I wonder how long he had been standing behind me listening to me listen to them? Oh my good god, this was incredibly embarrassing.
He stepped in front of me and opened the door to the black town car. “Ladies first.”
I swear I heard humor in his voice and I looked back at him to see if I was correct. His eyebrow raised again. “That means you Miss Patrick. Start with your left foot and then your…”
“Thanks,” I grumbled as I bent to get in.
I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I wasn’t sure if he actually growled from behind me or if I was just worked up from what I had just heard those women say.
Get your shit together Patrick! I scolded myself as I straightened my skirt and sat waiting for Xavier Steel to get in the car. He slammed the door and took his suit coat off, draped it over his arm, and walked to the front of the car.