Fate (The Edge of Forever) (16 page)

I glared at him, “Whose side are you on here, Shawn!” I shouted, not loud enough to disturb the other patrons at the restaurant.
 

“Yours, Gabs. Always yours. But this isn’t about picking sides. I think what you’ve done is hurting you and I don’t want to see that, especially when I don’t think there is a logical reason for you to be hurting.”
 

I sighed, “I told you Anton...”
 

“Threatened Grayson without actual knowing there was someone to threaten. I know,” Shawn said, cutting me off mid-sentence.
 

I exhaled a deep breath. “Do you wanna hear my plan or not?” I asked.
 

“Shoot.”
 

A smiled spread across my face before I started. “Alright. Grayson thinks by pushing for me to head up this thing, I’ll be forced to talk to him, but Ralph has given me a team to work with. All I have to do is delegate someone else to make those phone calls and possibly send someone else over to present what my plans are. This way, I don’t have to have any communication with him at all.” There was a long pause once I finished. Shawn just sat there, face colored with confusion.
 

“Do you know how stupid that sounds? Yeah, you might be able to get away with the phone calls, but Grayson, not to mention, Ralph, would never let you not attend the meetings with him. And trust me, baby girl, after what you told me about yesterday, phone calls are going to be the easy part.” God he was right, and I hated it.

“Ahhh! What am I going to do?” I shoved my fingers in my hair, clutching the roots, squeezing them to release some of the tension I felt. 

Shawn reached across the table and squeezed my arm, “You’re going to take a deep breath every time you have to deal with him. And when you go to meet him... Whatever you do,” he paused holding my gaze, “make sure to keep your panties on at all times.” I slapped his arm. Shawn chuckled.

If he only knew that keeping my panties on was never an issue. Grayson could always find a way around them. He didn’t need to remove them.

***

Over the next week, work kept me busy. I, well my team, had arranged interviews and were working side by side with an advertising agency. This was Grayson’s first hotel. He was trying to branch out his business into other areas. The advertising agency would help get the word out, but I remained in charge of the direction they would take. The ad agency was one we worked with many time before, so they knew how we liked to run things. 

I had managed to avoid phone calls to Grayson’s office. I had Rachel making the calls whenever they were required. “I never speak to him directly. I always just talk to his secretary.” Rachel mentioned after one of the few calls I had her make. She knew about the break up and knew I wanted to avoid Grayson at all costs. Therefore, she willingly accepted her new role as phone call maker.
 

The Friday after our break up, the tabloids had posted the pictures of Grayson and me at the opening. I walked past them on the newsstands on my way to work, noticing they named the mystery woman as his new significant other. They didn’t even show my face so no one knew it was me. I even saw them online when I did a Google search for Grayson, just for my masochistic fascination. The sight of us together, and knowing how happy we were when the picture was taken just broke my heart more. Shawn called the same day making sure everything was okay, but wouldn’t give a reason for his concern. I knew he was trying to figure out if I’d seen the pictures yet.

The following Wednesday, a week and a half after I took over Grayson’s account, I received a phone call from the ad agency around lunch. “Gates and Summers. This is Gaby, how can I help you?” 

“Hey Gaby, this is Carol.”
 

“Hey Carol. I’m guessing this isn’t a social call.”
 

She snickered, “Unfortunately, no. I was calling about the Alexander account.”
 

“Alright. Was there a problem?”
 

“Not exactly a problem per say. More like a minor issue. It seems the magazine we were advertising in, is going to press at the end of this week, instead of next, like we were told. Some communication problem. Well, our meeting was set up with Alexander Holding Incorporated next week, for the final decision of the layout.”
 

“I see.” I sighed, “Alright, let me call and see if I can set up a meeting with Grayson. Would you be available tomorrow to come in for the pitch?”
 

“Definitely. I am available anytime Mr. Alexander is.” I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy, by her suggestive statement. “He’s our biggest account, Gaby. If we have to show up at midnight to present, we will.” I shook my head trying to rid myself of the bad thoughts.

“Okay, Carol. I’ll call you back with the time.” I hung up with her and I looked over at Rachel’s desk. She was still out at lunch. The call needed to be made sooner rather than later. I took a deep breath. “It’s okay,” I told myself. “It’s not like I’ll even have to talk to him.” I picked up the phone and dialed directly to his secretary.

“Alexander Holding Incorporated?”
 

“Yes ma’am. This is Gabriella Carmichael over at Gates and Summers. And I….”
 

“Gabriella Carmichael?” She asked, cutting me off.

“Yes…?” I said, not sure why my name was so important to her. 

“Hold, please.” Without giving me a moment to object, I heard the soft click and the sound of the hold music. I wasn’t on hold for more than thirty seconds when the line clicked back on.
 

“Gaby?” My stomach clenched at the warm, velvety sound of his voice. I froze. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak. “Gaby, I know you’re there.”

I exhaled the breath I didn’t even know I had been holding, and put on my best professional mask hoping it would hide the unease I felt. “Mr. Alexander, I’m calling because we have a problem with the meeting scheduled for next week.” 

“Really, Gaby? You’re going to put on the professionalism cloak? I’ve had my mouth on every surface of your body for Christ sakes.”

“Grayson!” I shouted letting my mask slip a little bit. 

“So now it’s Grayson,” he asked. I sat there quiet for a moment, unsure what to say. “Fine! What is the problem,
Miss Carmichael?
” He spat my name like it left a bad taste in his mouth. I relayed everything that Carol had told me, including the need for a sooner meeting.

“The magazine goes to press Friday.”
 

He let out a long exhale. “The problem is I don’t have an opening tomorrow.”
 

I shook my head. I wasn’t sure if he was being difficult to me on purpose. “I can always pick out the layout I believe is best. The one that goes with the image we are trying to get people to perceive.”
 

“I appreciate that Miss Carmichael, but as I told your superior when I selected your organization, I want the final say in all the decisions. We will just have to have the meeting today. I presume you can handle that?” He asked with his best professional voice, full of authority. Grayson was the CEO of his company. The man was unfamiliar with the word “no.”

“Of course. I’ll arrange for the ad agency to be there at whatever time you prefer.” 

“Great. I’ll see you all at, say, seven.” What? No not me. This was just something Grayson needed to handle with the ad agency. This was their project after all. Before I could protest, Grayson had hung up the phone. What was it with everyone at his company not waiting for a response before they reacted?

***

Carol met me outside of Alexander Holding Incorporated. It was like most of the skyscrapers in the area. It was tall and cold, mostly glass, and built in a semi-circle. The flat side rose higher than the rest of the building coming to a point.
 

“Where’s the rest of your crew?” she asked.
 

“I let them head on home. We just need to pick a layout and discuss an upcoming interview, most of which could be done via email and phone calls, but Grayson insists on physical meetings,” I rambled.
 

“Grayson, huh? You on a first name basis with him?” she poked.
 

I rolled my eyes. She had no idea just how familiar I was with him. “Come on, Carol, let’s not keep the boss man is waiting.”

We arrived outside Grayson’s office, where his secretary still sat at her desk. “Miss Carmichael?” I nodded, acknowledging her. “I’ll let Mr. Alexander know you’re here. Is there anything I can get either of you while you wait?” 

“I’m fine. Thank you though,” I said as I took a seat against the wall.
 

“I’ll take some water. Sparkling, if you have it,” Carol stated sitting beside me.

Ten minutes after Carol received her water, Grayson appeared at his office door. I felt my heart skip a beat at the sight of him. It hadn’t been long since I’d seen him, but in a way it felt like it had been years. My mind flashed to the chills he caused when he caressed my skin. The way he smelled, tasted. My mind cleared when he spoke. “Send ‘em back,” he whispered to the lady at the desk. “And Ms. Giles go ahead and head home for the night.” She nodded without reply.

Carol and I stood walking over the threshold into his office. I refused to make eye contact as I walked past him, even though I could feel his deep penetrating gaze on me as I moved.
 

“You have an amazing office, Mr. Alexander,” Carol stated.
 

He smiled at her charmingly and I hated it. “Thank you, Mrs...?”
 

“Miss Tate. Carol,” she replied matter-of-factly. It was amazing. Looking at his office, I could see it inspired his home; floor to ceiling glass walls that showed off the city, and a huge mahogany desk fit for a king. I guess, in a way it was for a king. Grayson was the king of his company. Gray carpet, and two chairs sat in front of his desk. There was a rectangular table large enough for six that sat to the right, but not too close to the window. Two accent chairs sat in the corner to the right of his desk around a small round table. It looked like one might eat lunch there while still in the office, enjoying the view. To the left was a door that led to a full-sized bathroom, complete with a shower.

“Please, take a seat,” he gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. 

“Well, Mr. Alexander, as you know...” I zoned out as Carol started repeating everything I already knew and had already relayed to Grayson. I did my best to focus on anything other than the fact that I was sitting in the same room with the man who held my heart and knew it. I mentally sighed.
 

“Gaby?” Carol nudged me.
 

“I’m sorry?” I looked between them trying to figure out what I had missed.
 

“I was asking,
Miss
Carmichael, what layout you preferred,” said Grayson, emphasizing my name again. 

I smiled, “As we discussed on the phone,
Mr
. Alexander,” I said his name just as snidely, “my opinion is not of consequential value. You, after all, have the final choice and I believe you will choose whichever you believe is best suited to you, no matter what I think.”

The room fell silent. Grayson sat across the desk from me; his elbows resting on top of the desk with his fingers steepled. A small forced smile on his face. Carol sat with her mouth open, eyes wide, absorbing what I said.
 

Grayson turned his gaze to Carol. “Miss Tate,” he stood coming around the desk, “I believe this will do.” He pointed to the one I would have chosen myself. “Please make sure it goes to press. Now if you would please excuse us. I believe that Miss Carmichael and I have something we need to discuss, in private.”

“Of course,” she said. After Carol gathered her stuff, she gave me a small sympathetic smile. As Grayson led her to the door, I sat frozen, too aware of his body moving. I was attuned to him. I could hear the beat of his heart, the blood rushing through his veins. I wanted him buried inside of me with my fangs buried in him, to feel the connection of our two bodies.

I heard the door shut then the room went silent. I felt Grayson approach me.
 “Gaby...” he whispered, his finger brushing my shoulder. 

I couldn’t let him touch me. The last time he touched me, I almost gave up trying to protect him. I couldn’t be that selfish. Using my vampire speed, I was out of my chair and across the room before Grayson could blink an eye.
 

“Don’t touch me!” I hissed, clinging to the wall for dear life. It was the only thing stopping me from launching myself across the room and begging Grayson to take me on his desk.
 

His eyes looked at me with such sadness. “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth. He took his seat behind his desk gesturing for me to do the same. I took slow, unsure steps almost like I was walking across a frozen lake instead of a sturdy office. “Miss Carmichael...”
 

“I know.” I looked down avoiding eye contact at all costs. “My outburst earlier was unprofessional. I wish I could say it won’t happen again, but we both know I’d be lying. So I understand if you want to replace me.”