Romantic Promises (Alluring Promises Series, #2) (19 page)

“Yeah, and others will get drunk. What if one leaves and is drunk and gets into an accident?”

“I have cabs to take people home. They’re adults and go out drinking on their own. It’s not like I’m forcing them to come to the party or to drink.”

“What about the ones who don’t drink.”

“They are more than welcome to come by and have water or Cokes or whatever they drink. I actually had one of the girls come and talk to me asking that.”

Her eyes got huge. “See, she probably felt weird coming to her male superior having to tell him that she doesn’t drink!”

“What? No! You think I’m this monster or something. Only with you — you make me the angriest son of a bitch. But with my sales people, they know they can come to me any time. I might be their boss, but I also remember how fucking hard it is to make call after call and get shut down. It wears on you, Vanessa. It hurts their ego and if you let it get to you enough, it’s hard to make that one sale needed to boost your ego.”

“So you get them drunk.”

“No, just giving them something to look forward to. Being able to unwind with your co-workers and share stories, talk about what worked for each other and what didn’t.”

“I’m coming tonight.” I almost chuckled wanting to tell her I’d make her come in other ways, but I refrained. For now at least. Feisty bitch wants to come out and play she’s more than welcome to.

“Fine, come on out. But you dare make anyone feel like they can’t have a good time, I’ll throw your ass out right in front of all of them.”

“I wouldn’t do that. But I do want to make sure no one goes home wasted and gets into an accident. Did you talk to legal? Do we need to have them sign waivers or something?”

“All taken care of. I told you Perry used to do this when I worked inside sales. I don’t know who was here before me, but these people were depressed as hell and not even enthused.”

“The gourmet coffee wasn’t enough of a drinking perk?”

“Nope, just the tip. You work on our health care package, I’ll worry about the other perks.”

“I suppose the Christmas party will be a hell of a bash,” she said in that bitchy tone. I wanted to grab her hair and shove my cock in her mouth to shut her the hell up. The thought of that made my damn dick twitch.

I just gave her my best smirk. “Do you expect me to have anything less?” I gave her my best sarcastic smile. Tonight should be fun.

I arrived at Allure a bit early to make sure things were all set up and ready. I was so excited about our first happy hour and hoping that everyone would show up.

“You doing alright, brother?” Z asked me. I was probably asking the waitresses too many questions to make sure it was all set up. I wanted a major section reserved so that none of my employees had to wonder where to go or how to get their free drinks.

“Yeah, I want everything to be just right. It’s the first one, so if this one sucks, they won’t bother coming out to the next one,” I told him, letting him know why I was being such a nervous ass in front of his staff.

“It’s gonna be fine, Matt. We’ve done these before. Just relax. Want a beer?” He motioned over to Mandy and she nodded her head. Izzy came walking out from the back.

“Yeah, maybe that will help out a little,” I told him.

Z chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”

“Perry, my boss, is coming out here too. I want to make a good impression.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” he said as he clapped me on the back.

Kara walked in, flashed me a beautiful smile and gave me a hug. “Do you need me to do anything, Matty?”

“Nah, I think we’re all set,” I said as I glanced over at Izzy. She smiled at me, too. Everyone seemed to be looking at me warily as if I were going to freak out at any moment. I probably should calm down a little bit. I just couldn’t help being nervous about this night for some reason.

Izzy rubbed my back as she told me, “Everything is all set. We have a sign at the door for your company, directing employees to come over here. It’ll be fine, Matt. Promise.” I nodded knowing she was right and I’m just overreacting. Mandy walked over and handed me a beer.

“Kara, do you want a beer or your usual Cosmo?”

“Cosmo, please,” Kara replied with a huge smile.

“He’s coming tonight, isn’t he?” I asked as I watched her eyes light up and she bit her lip.

Her smile fell quickly as she asked, “Is that alright? I mean I know he’s not an employee. He can pay for his own drinks.”

“It’s fine Kara. I was just asking. I may need to size him up you know.” Her eyes sprang open.

“Matty, don’t mess with him, please!” She begged. I remembered when she used to beg for other things, especially since it wasn’t that long ago. I took a deep breath and sighed.

“I’m kidding. I’ll be good Kara.” She gave me a nervous smile and nodded her head. Several employees started coming in and both Kara and I greeted them and directed them to Mandy and our other waitress, Ana.

Finally, Perry walked in. He was with some other guy I didn’t recognize. I walked over immediately and shook Perry’s hand, who quickly gave me a half hug and then pulled back.

“Matt, this is Ted Nealy. He’s going to take over your territory in Atlanta.” My stomach dropped and I felt lik
e I was kicked hard there. Fuck, my old territory. I plastered on a fake smile and reached my hand out to him.

“Great. That’s great,” I lied. “You’re going to love it.”

“So I hear. It’s a great territory. I’m going to hang here this weekend until Tuesday. Do you think you have some time on Monday to go over your customer base and their needs?”

I nodded my head, my stomach dropping even more as I took a swig of my beer to at least appear calm and cool. “Of course, and if not, I’ll make time.” I gave him a fake smile. I caught Mandy’s eye and waved her over for their drink orders. She took the orders and I watched both guys’ eyes follow her ass as she walked away. I watched Perry shake his head and then he suggested, “How about we go take that table over there and discuss things further. I’m sure Matt has a ton of things he needs to take care of with this event.” Not really, but he obviously didn’t want me at their table right now. I took the hint and walked over towards the entrance.

Several more employees filtered in and soon enough the party got underway. I made my way to each table, chatting with my employees and getting to know them on a more personal level. I glanced over and saw Kara at a high table with several guys and another female employee. She was smiling bright and having a great time. I was going to walk over, but realized she probably didn’t want me over there imposing on their good time.

I glanced at the front door and watched Vanessa walk in. She was wearing the same clothes from earlier so she must have come straight from the office. Izzy went up to her and they exchanged conversations, both smiling. I wondered if Izzy even remembered meeting Vanessa at the wedding considering she was pretty drunk at the time.

Izzy looked over from their conversation and pointed towards me. I realized I had been staring at the both of them and I tried to look away. Vanessa gave a brief smile and strutted towards me.

“I see the party is underway,” she said with a fake smile as she looked around the room.

“It is. Did you come here to check up on me? Couldn’t take my word for it that all would be okay?”

“I’m just doing part of my job, Matt,” she replied under her breath, as she glanced my way.

I took the last swig from my beer and caught Mandy’s eye, gesturing for another one. “Mmm. She’s pretty. Is she going to be your girl for the night?”

I pulled my brows together in confusion. “Why would you ask that?” Unless she could tell I’ve already been with Mandy.

“She just looks like your type.”

I gave her a disgusted look, unsure of where she was going with this and wondering why we were even discussing my choice of women. “My type? How would you know what my type is?”

“She’s in the service industry,” Vanessa replied with a smug tone to her voice.

“Service industry?” I asked, wondering why that mattered at all.

“Yeah, she’s a waitress. Kara was a stripper and now your assistant. They like to help people out. You seem to like that characteristic – someone who will give you something easily and you don’t have to work too hard at it.”

“What? Where the hell is your mind, Hargrave?” Her comments assessing me without knowing me were
really pissing me off.

“I’m just calling it like I see it, Williams.” Vanessa shrugged and started to walk off.

I mumbled as she was leaving, “You don’t know what you’re talking about at all.”

I was more than annoyed with our little back and forth bickering, I walked off to where Izzy was standing near the hallway. There was a side entrance too, but I had no desire to go there where people might be standing off to the side having their smoke, so I continued walking towards the back of the bar where deliveries are made. Pissed as hell and wanting to just hit something out of pure frustration, I started to pace by the back door.

I noticed Izzy walking toward me with an understanding expression on her face. “Come on with me, Matt. I can tell you’re pissed. Z has a punching bag just outside the door. You can punch your frustrations out.”

“He has a punching bag out here?” I asked as I opened the back alley door and glanced around to make sure no one was out there. Izzy stepped through after I waved her on.

“Yeah. The therapist said it would really help him out when he gets his jealous rage and needs to keep it in control,” she explained.

“What do you mean? Z sees a therapist?” I knew Izzy saw one because of all that she went through with her childhood and her strange ex-boyfriend, but I had no idea about Z.

“Well, he doesn’t really see one. Every once in awhile I drag him with me when I need to get something out in the open and off my chest.”

“And the therapist told you to hang a punching bag out here?”

“Well, she told him he needs to figure out a way to get his emotions out in another way. He loves to box, so I thought this would be perfect whenever he gets that jealous tick, he can come out here and punch the hell out of the bag. Go ahead. Take a shot and see if it helps you right now.”

I took a punch. Felt good, but didn’t do what I needed to do. “Yeah, this doesn’t do it for me.”

“Then what’s wrong?” Izzy asked with a concerned expression. Ever since she started seeing a therapist, she likes to ask a lot of questions when any of us seem to have a problem. Usually I can dodge her mini therapy sessions, but right now, I felt like going ahead and unloading on her.

“My old job is being taken over by that douche in there. Kara won’t have sex with me anymore because she wants to adhere to the company policies and make sure she doesn’t get us fired, not to mention she just found a boyfriend. And Vanessa, in there, is trying to fuck with me at every turn she can.”

“Then fuck back with her,” Izzy replied with a simple shrug.

“I have been, but it’s still annoying to me that I even have to do any of this. I had the perfect life going, Izzy. I loved it down there.” Izzy knew I meant Atlanta.

She frowned and pursed her lips. “Are you having…trouble picking girls up or something?”

I gave her a disgusted look. “No, I can pick up any girl I want, thank you. I just...it’s not the same. I guess I’m just missing my old life, that’s all.” I shook my head thinking that’s gotta be the reason.

Izzy tilted her head to the side and quietly stated, “Or you’re seeing all these couples getting together and maybe you’re wanting something more?”

I rolled my eyes at her mini-assessment. “Don’t put words in my mouth that aren’t there, Izzy.”

“I’m not, I’m just saying that Vanessa looks like someone you might be attracted to.”

I practically screamed at Izzy, annoyed that she assumed that. “I am NOT attracted to Vanessa. She’s the most annoying person I’ve ever met.” And with that I punched the bag. Hard.

“Hey, what’s going on out here?” Z popped the door open, peering his head around it.

“Matt needed to punch something,” Izzy told him.

“Oh yeah? Girl trouble?” Z asked with a small smile.

“I don’t have girl trouble,” I told my brother.

They exchanged a small smile.

“I don’t!”

“Okay!” Z put his hands up, laughing.

I pulled the door open and stormed in back to the party.

I grabbed a new beer from Mandy, made a joke to her and started to mingle with my sales people to make sure they were having a good time. Everyone was having fun, except me. I couldn’t stop thinking about Ted in my old territory, in my old life. That’s when Vanessa came up to me.

“I saw you with the cute waitress. She seems to like you a lot. Hooking up with her tonight?”

I gave her my disgusted look. She was annoying the shit out of me more and more. I slammed my beer down on the table as I yelled at her, “What is your problem Hargrave? Seriously. What is it? Are you jealous of me? Do you hate me?” I got closer to her face and smugly asked her, “Are you attracted to me?” She swallowed and looked away. Her smugness was gone now. “Tell me. Because I can’t for the life of me figure out what the fuck I did to you that I deserve such attitude from you at every single turn.”