Mr. Right Now: Vol. 1: Party Boys Who Get What They Want (2 page)

Dax fell asleep inside the large SUV before they were two blocks from the jail. Chloe didn’t have the nerve to make eye contact with him or even sneak peeks at him in the back seat. It would have been easy. All she’d have to do is glance in the rear view mirror, but she never did. His deep snores were proof enough that he was out.

To say Chloe runs from the SUV when she parks in front of the twenty-story building would be an understatement. It is more a picture of someone with raging diarrhea running from a herd of elephants. She sprints like her ass is on fire to escape being near a Sterling for any longer than necessary.

Chloe bolts into the foyer in search of Clint. The keys to the company SUV fly into his hands. He can be in charge of dressing and sobering the asshole up.

“Good luck,” Chloe throws out before she enters the elevator.

Her finger trembles as she tries to punch in the eleventh floor. This is ridiculous. Actually beyond ridiculous, Chloe thinks to herself. She takes a moment to steady her hands by pressing them down along her suit and exhaling a long, steady breath. This time her hand pushes the lit up buttons with a twinge of confidence. The steel doors drag slowly shut and Chloe melts into a puddle of nerves. Relaxing back onto the brown paneling of the elevator, she tries to play out this meeting several different ways.

If she can barely handle Dax, how in the hell is she supposed to keep her composure around all four of them? Her future and promotion replay over and over in her mind. Mr. Graves, CEO of Landings, Inc., promised Chloe her own division of contractors to manage if this deal goes through. And if it doesn’t, she’ll remain trapped under Clint.

He’s not the worst boss, but he has never allowed Chloe to work to her full potential. She’s fine and dandy doing all the leg work behind the scene and cleaning up messes like this morning, but when it comes to meetings, Clint rides the glory pony and takes credit for everything. Chloe has always told herself this is how it’s played when you are working your way to the top.

The metal doors creep open, inviting her to floor eleven, Chloe’s home away from home. The spikes of her high heels click loudly and rhythmically on the marble floor. Chloe walks straight into the meeting room to make sure her secretary has everything laid out perfectly on the table with all the appropriate documents in each Sterling’s folder.

She flips on the Apple TV and practices mirroring her information from her iPad. She rehearsed her spiel repeatedly last night, knowing she’d have to nail the presentation to convince the clients the increase of ten percent will benefit them. Chloe’s strong suit is economics, and she gets the best bang for your buck, but this club project has blown everything out of proportion with the sheer size of it.

Seidman is trying to land this deal not only in L.A., but also in Denver, Seattle, and Vegas, following the Sterling brothers to each city to build their clubs. It’s more than a simple business proposal. It’s more like a long-term commitment marrying Sterling, Inc., Seidman Construction, and Landing, Inc. It’s all or nothing.

Chloe’s voice flows smooth as butter around the empty conference room as she introduces herself and her business. She carries on, going straight into her presentation and focusing on eye contact and her visual graphics. Her nerves begin to swell with the thought of Eli Sterling sitting in the same room, possibly right next to her. She fights down the fear trying to push forward and throws down an iron curtain to block out those anxieties.

  He told her to leave. She left. End of their story. Finishing up her presentation, Chloe reminds herself business is business, and this is a fight she won’t bow down and lose to anybody. The Apple TV switches to the resting position, as does her iPad. Chloe pushes open the conference doors with confidence, ready for battle.

“Ms. Thompson.” Annabel, Chloe’s secretary, greets her with a warm smile and a fresh cup of coffee.

Chloe swoops the coffee from her outstretched hand, drinking it in rapid gulps. The sweet taste of white chocolate and coffee dance on her tongue as she waits for the immediate buzz of caffeine to take effect.

“Thanks, Annabel, but I could really use a hit of cocaine right now.”

“If anyone can seal this deal, it’s you. We all know who the brain is behind Clint.” Annabel winks in Chloe’s direction and shoots her a sly smile.

Chloe internally cringes thinking of having to leave Annabel behind if she’s given her own division. Annabel only has a few years left before retiring and won’t give up her spot in a division she knows better than the back of her hand. Life will be very different without her.

“I need to go check my email and freshen up. In case Clint has a panic attack, you’ll know where to find me.”

Chloe’s office sits in the far corner of the eleventh floor, giving her plenty of seclusion. It helps drown the ordinary clatter and static of the office and hallway. Her taste extends from her wardrobe, dripping over into décor. Ivory leather covers everything possible, from the couch to all the office chairs. Accents of gold and navy blue trim paintings, furniture, and knick-knacks. One single picture frame sits upon her desk holding an old picture of her and her mother.

Her office could be a showroom in a store. Everything is in its place at all times. It drives her nuts when Clint comes in and nudges a file or pen on her desk. Every single time she discreetly pushes the items back into place.

Chloe’s eyes zero in on her phone, quickly checking all her missed emails from the morning. She slips her shoes off and rubs her feet over the thick white carpet below her desk, trying to relax for a few moments. She has twenty minutes before she needs to head back down to the conference room. Several new bids and contracts flash on her screen as she scrolls down. As hard as she tries to focus on reading each email, her mind flashes to Eli. It’s been over six years since the last time she saw him.

He was her first love and all that jazz, stealing her heart on the playground their second grade year. They attended the same private schools growing up, and were best friends. It wasn’t until their freshman year when Eli’s lips found hers. It was an immediate attraction neither of them could deny. Not wanting to hear shit from their families, they snuck around for months until Eli asked her to a school formal.

Chloe’s finger brushes her lip and she wonders if Eli still works out. Back in the day he was a jock, playing every sport possible, and rarely wearing a shirt. Chloe always felt out of place hanging poolside with him. She was a stark contrast to his beautiful physique, and she wondered how and why Eli fell in love with her. She was a pale, stringy figure with bright blonde hair.

Chloe flexes her hips back in her chair, causing some friction to relieve the tension building up in her. Eli had always made her hot. He possessed a certain charm that melted her like putty.

“Oh my god, I don’t stand a chance,” Chloe says to herself, jumping from her chair. She opens the closet door in her office, revealing a full size mirror on the inside. Staring back at her reflection, she doesn’t recognize a hint of the Chloe from the past.

Her jet-black curls drape down to the middle of her back. Her firm figure hasn’t been easy to come by over the last four years, but she made it her priority. Long days of work and hitting the gym have toned her muscles. Her palms roam over her white blouse, admiring her boobs. Those have changed drastically. She bought them with her first bonus check when she moved to California.

Chloe’s finger goes to her necklace. She drags the diamond heart charm from under her shirt. It may be the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years. The one constant she wears every single day. Chloe doesn’t even understand why she can’t take it off. It was a gift from Eli. Quickly, she tucks it back into her blouse and tries to clear her mind.

“Chloe.” Annabel’s voice echoes through from the speaker and bounces off the office walls.

She flinches and her nerves are right back where they were. Her voice is shaky, but she responds.

“Yes.”

“Clint is on his way up with the Sterlings. It’s game time, sweetie.”

Never once since leaving her hometown has Chloe wanted to give up on this journey—until now. She wants to run far away instead of facing Eli. Life sure has a cruel way of playing jokes, and she knows she’s worked her ass off way too hard to leave now. There’s just one business deal lying between her and her own division.

Her heels dig into the white carpet as she strides to her office door, summoning every bit of courage she has. Her hand trembles as it grips the door handle, but when she peers down at it, it appears steady. It’s everything inside of her trembling and buzzing with anxiety at the thought of the familiar face she’s about to see.

The long hall sits unusually quiet. Everyone’s office door is closed. Chloe yearns to see a couple smiling faces before walking into the den of wild animals, but none is visible. When she approaches Annabel’s desk, the elevator dings. The metal door glides open while a group of men blur her vision.

Clint is standing in the forefront. Chloe recognizes Cole first as he steps off the elevator in full-on Sterling confidence, ready to get everything his way. Her heart can’t take the pain of seeing each of the men and the risk they might recognize her before the meeting.

She turns swiftly and knocks a container of pens and pencils to the ground. The clattering noise startles her, but doesn’t stop her from racing into the conference room. She’ll take her chances of one of the brothers recognizing her in the middle of the meeting. The men are all business, and she hopes it’s enough to distract them.

Chloe looks over all the folders and technology, triple checking everything is in its place. Her finger presses the home screen button on the iPad to ensure the mirroring is still working on the big screen TV.

    The manly chatter causes her gut to twist and brings tears to her eyes. She finally hears him, the one who has always mattered to her. She hears Eli crack a joke, and the whole group erupts in laughter. Chloe twirls to face to the large picture window, staring out over the city skyline. Her forearms clutch around her stomach, trying to numb a bit of the lingering ache.

The noise draws nearer, yet she keeps her back to them. Clint’s voice fills the room, and she knows it’s time, whether or not she’s ready to face it. In this moment, Chloe is actually thankful Clint is such a glory hog and will want to take all the credit for the presentation, because the focus will be on him. She’s used to him not introducing her to clients or offering her the credit she deserves. In every other meeting it would make her blood boil, but today she’s silently thanking the prick.

“Gentlemen, have a seat.” Clint gestures while standing at the door and letting each man pass by. Chloe watches the scene play out of the corner of her eye.

She forces her body to turn the rest of the way, but doesn’t make eye contact with anyone. She focuses on the data, documents, and her presentation. The reality of her situation weighs heavily on her chest and makes it hard to breathe and keep her eye on the prize. Dizziness sets in, and she grips the arms of the chair beside her.

The men begin taking their seats while still deep in small talk about a football game. Chloe finally looks up and comes face to face with Eli. He offers her a light grin while pushing past her to his seat. His shoulder brushes hers, and Chloe’s knees nearly buckle. She pivots to watch him walk by her without giving her a second look. Eli settles in a chair and begins thumbing through his folder.

Chloe watches him intently as he flips through the documents. Age has done him well. Eli’s prominent jawline still frames his face, with a light scruff covering it. His hair is the same style, and that body of his is still built. Even through his dapper black suit, Chloe can make out the lines of his body and his hard muscles that used to press down into her as he took her to places she’d never been and hasn’t since.

Her thighs clench together, remembering the scent and feel of his skin and the way he used to own every single ounce of her down to her very thoughts. She would’ve done anything or gone anywhere with Eli, and that thought scares the fuck out of her now. Chloe can’t even trust herself. Just from a slight brush of the shoulders, she knows Eli Sterling still owns her.

  Chloe’s shoulder shakes slightly, drawing her attention from studying and over-analyzing Eli. The man doesn’t even give her a second look, and that fact fucking stings, but then again, it’s what she wanted.