Читать книгу Our First Embrace - Judy Lynn Hubbard - Страница 10

Chapter 2

“Good morning, ladies.” Victor entered the break room, pulled up a chair and sat down at Monique and Nicole’s table. “Mind if I join you?”

Monique frowned at his actions. “Since you already have, that question is somewhat rhetorical, isn’t it?”

“Oh, Monique.” Victor chuckled and then turned his charm toward Nicole. “Hi, I’m Victor James.”

“Nicole Carter.” Nicole smiled when he brought her hand to his lips. “Nice to meet you, Mr. James.”

“Please, I’m not that old. Mr. James was my father,” Victor bemoaned. “Call me Victor or Vic.”

“I will if you’ll call me Nicole.”

“Deal,” he agreed. “Welcome to Alexander’s.”

“Thank you.”

“And how are you today, beautiful?” He touched Monique’s hand, which she quickly withdrew.

“I’m fine, Victor, and you?”

“Great now that I’m in the presence of two gorgeous ladies,” he said. “What more could a guy want?”

“I’ll pass on that one.” Monique rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee.

“Coward,” Victor softly teased before treating Nicole to another dazzling smile. “Whatever you’ve heard about me from Monique is untrue, unless you’ve been told I’m dashing, handsome and an all-around great guy.”

“And modest,” Monique sarcastically added, suppressing a smile when Victor stuck out his tongue at her.

“You can’t be Alexander’s brother.” Nicole’s stunned observation slipped from her lips before she could stop herself.

“I know.” Victor shrugged. “What can I say? I have all of the charm.”

Laughter bubbled from Nicole’s lips. She was inclined to agree with him. He was easy to be around and didn’t set her teeth on edge, and she immediately liked him.

“I didn’t say that,” Nicole reminded.

“No, I did, but don’t tell Alex.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “He’s always been jealous because I’m the youngest and the better-looking one.”

“And insecure, too,” Monique drily added.

“Made so by your cruel barbs,” Victor shot back, looking wounded.

“Just stating the facts as I see them.”

Nicole studied Victor as he teased Monique. The James men were handsome. Victor was the same height and build as Alexander, and he had the same gorgeous eyes. However, his hair was cut very short, and his face sported a neatly trimmed goatee. They both possessed the same light skin tone, but Lord knew their personalities were as different as night and day.

“You two are certainly different in temperament,” Nicole said.

“The poor guy just doesn’t have my style.” He shook his head sadly and sighed dramatically. “I worry about him so much.”

Nicole chuckled, which turned into full-blown, tinkling laughter. Victor joined her, and even Monique was unsuccessful in suppressing a chuckle. Nicole felt as if she was among old friends. This day was turning out to be better than she had anticipated after her contentious first meeting with her straitlaced boss.

“I like you, Nicole,” Victor confessed.

“I like you, too.”

“You see.” Victor grinned at Monique. “Nicole likes me.”

“Give her time,” Monique rejoined.

“Ouch!” Victor theatrically clutched at his heart. Nicole laughed, and a smile flirted about Monique’s lips.

“Get out of here,” Monique ordered. “We have business to discuss.”

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m part owner in Alexander’s,” Victor haughtily reminded her.

“Your brother runs the business. You’re just the computer geek.”

“I’d hardly think owning my own company qualifies me as a geek.” Victor’s faked outrage coerced a smile from Monique. “Besides, Alex runs Alexander’s for two reasons. First, because it bears his name, and second, because he enjoys the tedious day-to-day operations, whereas I detest being chained to a desk.”

“Yes, you do like to roam around, don’t you?” Monique pointedly asked.

“Any and every chance I get.” Merriment danced in Victor’s eyes at Monique’s loud sigh. “Now I’m leaving while I’m ahead,” he proclaimed, grasping Nicole’s hand and bringing it to his lips. “It was nice to meet you, Nicole. I’ll be seeing you around.” He winked at Monique and, before she could react, kissed her cheek and then left.

“Wow, he’s certainly different from his brother,” Nicole marveled.

“Thank goodness,” Monique declared. “If Victor ran things, we’d never get any work done.”

“I think he’s nice and funny.”

“Give the boss a chance. You’ll like him once you get to know him.”

Nicole’s frown returned. “But will he like me?”

“Definitely,” Monique promised. “Now, back to what we were talking about before Victor interrupted us. Are you going to take me up on my offer to move in with me?”

“It’s nice of you to offer...”

“I’m not being nice,” Monique interrupted, laughing. “I’m being selfish. My old roommate moved out a couple of months ago, and I’ve been searching for a new one, but I haven’t liked any of the applicants. I know this is sudden, but I feel comfortable with you. I think we’d get along famously.”

“Where is your apartment?” Nicole sipped her delicious coffee.

“In the 6th Arrondisement, close to your hotel. It’s very spacious, six rooms, reasonable rent when shared and already furnished. However, you’re free to change whatever you like,” Monique continued to try to sell Nicole on the idea.

“It sounds wonderful.”

“You can come by to look at it anytime you’d like,” Monique offered. “And please take your time about deciding.”

Nicole smiled as she considered Monique’s offer. She had good instincts that seldom led her astray. She liked Monique, and it would be fun to stay with someone who knew Paris and could keep her from getting lonely being so far away from home.

“I’d love to be your new roommate,” Nicole decided.

“Great!” Monique squeezed her hand. “I can help you move your stuff from the hotel. Just let me know when, and I’ll be there.”

“I’m afraid it’ll have to wait until the weekend. I’m sure Mr. James will have me working late tonight and every night this week,” Nicole direly predicted.

“He’ll allow you some time off to move.”

“No, I wouldn’t dream of asking him.” Nicole shook her head. “As much as I hate staying in a hotel—even one as beautiful as the Lutetia—it’ll be my home for the rest of the week until my off day on Saturday. Okay?”

“Sure. I understand you want to put your best foot forward.” Monique glanced at the clock. “To that end, we’d better get to work, or the boss will tear into both our hides.”

“Please, I’ve had enough of that for one day.” Nicole’s groan and distasteful expression coaxed a chuckle from Monique.

“Come on then, I’ll show you around the rest of the office,” Monique offered, and they strolled out chatting as if they had been friends for years.

* * *

Nicole’s rather spacious workstation was just outside of Monique’s office. As Nicole glanced around the office, she felt it really was a designer’s dream. A multitude of lights hung overhead, and windows lined nearly every wall, allowing plenty of natural light.

“The executive offices and designers are all housed on the sixth floor. The boss likes to keep us close,” Monique informed. “What do you think of your new spot?”

“It’s perfect. Much more than I expected.” Nicole glanced around in awe. “I thought I’d be locked away in a cubbyhole.”

“No way. I told you the boss takes care of us—especially the designers.” Monique laughed. “He told me he wanted you to start on the Bettina line.”

“Yes.” Nicole nodded. “He mentioned that to me, as well.”

“Hang on a second.” Monique disappeared into her office. Through the glass wall a few feet away, Nicole saw her rummage through papers on her desk until she found a white folder. She returned to Nicole and handed her the folder. “These are some notes, sketches and general info on the line, along with instructions on how to get into your PC where all of this info is located. Your temporary password is in here. You’ll need to change it immediately.”

“Thanks.” Nicole flipped through the folder. “I can’t wait to get started.”

“I’ll let you get to it. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Monique squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I know you’re going to do great, Nicole.”

“Thanks, Monique.”

Preparing to get settled, Nicole took out pictures of family and placed them on her desk, lovingly fingering one of the silver frames, then opened her portfolio and started setting up her workstation the way she wanted it. Finally, she opened her sketch book, switched on her PC, spread out notes on the Bettina line across her desk and prepared to start work on her first design for Alexander’s. She was determined it was going to knock Alexander James’s socks off.

* * *

Two hours later, a little before ten, Monique stopped by her station and tapped her on the shoulder.

“I forgot to tell you, the boss likes to have staff meetings every Monday at ten. I’ll show you how to set up your calendar when we get back.”

“Okay.” Nicole stood and picked up a notebook and pen.

“Use this for notes. It’s easier.” Monique handed her a tablet. “This one is yours. It has our design software on it—the same that’s on your laptop. Feel free to take it home. I take mine everywhere.”

“Thanks.” Nicole eyed her expensive tablet. “Mr. James doesn’t skimp, does he?”

“I told you the boss is good to us,” Monique reminded her. “Let’s get going. He hates it when people are late.”

“Uh yes, I’ve noticed that about him.” Nicole’s fervent whisper provoked a sympathetic smile from Monique as they walked toward the conference room.

Thankfully, they were the first to arrive at the meeting, save Alexander James, who sat at the head of an enormous oval oak table. He had removed his jacket and had rolled up his shirtsleeves, revealing hair-covered, sinewy forearms. He nodded at them when they entered and then returned his attention to his computer. Nicole and Monique chatted quietly as other staff filed in. Nicole felt the hair on the back of her neck standing up and turned to find a blond woman staring at her with blatant hostility. Where was that coming from?

“Hey,” Nicole whispered in Monique’s ear. “Who is that woman?”

Monique glanced in the direction Nicole covertly pointed with a tilt of her head. “Oh, that’s Crystal Danforth. Don’t pay any attention to her.”

“Did I do something to her?”

“No, Crystal doesn’t much like anyone, but she is an excellent designer,” Monique grudgingly admitted, “which is why the boss keeps her around.”

“Oh.” Nicole glanced up and met Alexander’s intense gaze briefly before he busied himself with his computer again.

“Don’t sweat it.” Monique winked and added, “If she gives you any trouble, she’ll answer to me, and I outrank her.”

Nicole smiled at Monique’s threat and glanced at Crystal again, who treated her to another hateful stare before focusing her eyes on her tablet.

So much for not having any enemies in the office. Nicole silently sighed.

Within ten minutes, the room was full. After everyone was settled in with coffee, juice and pastries, Alexander began the meeting.

“You all know Victor.” Alex pointed to his brother, who was sitting to his right. “For some reason, he insists on loitering around the office today.”

Victor smiled. “You know you miss me when I’m not here.”

“Yeah, right.” Alexander chuckled. “Why are you here today anyway?”

“Three reasons.” Victor stood. “First, I had to fix your computer for you after you mistreated her,” he reminded his brother with a wink, which caused chuckles from around the room. “Second, I’m doing an upgrade on everyone’s computer.” He laughed at the groans and surveyed the twenty people in the room. “Hey, do you guys want to be state of the art or what? I promise the downtime won’t be long.”

“Promises, promises,” Monique drawled, drawing Victor’s interest.

“I always keep my promises,” Victor softly responded.

“Hmph!” Monique didn’t sound convinced.

“And three?” Alexander queried, interrupting their banter.

“I don’t have anything better to do.” Victor sighed and resumed his seat amid laughter.

“That’s my brother, folks.” Alexander shook his head in mock disgust.

“You know you love me,” Victor taunted.

“Be quiet,” Alex admonished and chuckled when Victor made a zipping motion across his lips. “All right, down to business. As you all know, we have a new associate designer, Nicole Carter, who comes to us all the way from New York—albeit a little late.”

Nicole’s smile faded slightly as he added the latter, and she bit her lower lip to hold in the angry retort that was trying desperately to escape from her mouth. She purposefully brightened her smile in response to the various welcomes from her coworkers before resuming eye contact with Alexander.

“I know you’ll all make her feel welcome. She’ll be working on the Bettina line, and I’m counting on those of you who are also assigned there to quickly get her up to speed.”

“She’ll be there in no time, boss,” Monique chimed in, and Nicole shot her a grateful smile.

“With your help, I’m sure she will.” Alexander nodded with a slight smile. “We have our early-spring fashion show at the end of April, so I’m expecting a hundred and ten percent from everyone.” Nicole bristled again when his eyes rested on her. “We’ll probably be going to a six-day workweek in a week or so.”

Victor glanced at Nicole and mouthed, “Don’t mind him.”

Nicole sighed visibly and Victor chuckled.

* * *

Alex caught Nicole and Victor’s subtle exchange, and his eyes narrowed on his brother’s seemingly innocent face just in time to see him wink at Nicole, who, much to his annoyance, returned his gesture. Why the friendly interaction between the two irritated him to no end he was loath to examine.

“Do you mind?” Alex frowned at his brother. “I’m trying to run a meeting here.”

“Be my guest, bro.” Victor leaned back in his seat, crossed his arms and waited for Alex to continue.

“Thank you,” Alex sarcastically said. “If you’d all turn your attention to your tablets and pull up the memo I sent this morning, I’d like to start with that.”

As Alex presided over the meeting, he found it next to impossible to keep his eyes from straying toward Nicole more often than not, which annoyed him to no end. She sat there with a frown on her beautiful face, unless she was smiling at Monique—or Victor, which peeved him. He knew she was shooting daggers at him because of his earlier reference to her delayed start with the company, and although he shouldn’t care, he did.

Alex glanced away from his presentation to answer a question, and his eyes automatically stopped to stare at Nicole—even though she wasn’t the one asking the question. She held his gaze for a second before tilting her head in Monique’s direction, who was whispering something in her ear that made her smile. She was gorgeous when she smiled.

Oh, hell!

Somehow he concentrated on answering the question at hand, but he was acutely aware of his newest employee—he noticed everything she did, when she smiled, said something to Monique, crossed her legs, sighed. With her mere presence, she was disrupting his neatly ordered world, and he didn’t like it!

Thankfully, the rest of the meeting was spent discussing designs, fabrics and the order for the upcoming fashion show. The hour breezed by.

“Good work, everyone. That’ll be all.” Alexander adjourned the meeting, and the room quickly emptied. “Nicole, could you stay behind please?”

She glanced at Monique, who patted her reassuringly on the back as she resumed her seat, crossed her legs and folded her hands in her lap. Victor gave her an encouraging thumbs-up sign, to which she smiled. Both she and Alex waited until the room was empty before speaking.

“Did Monique show you the Bettina line info?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“Not presently.” She kept her responses brief and crisp.

He frowned. “Is anything wrong?”

“No, nothing.” She shrugged and pursed her lips, but the words continued to flow. “I so enjoy being embarrassed in front of my new colleagues.” His lips thinned at her flippant tone.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Didn’t you?”

“No, I was simply stating the facts,” he coolly replied. “If your skin is this thin, you’re never going to make it around here.”

She stiffened her back at his rebuke. “My skin is plenty thick enough, Mr. James.”

“We’ll see,” he darkly promised.

“Yes, you will.” She uncrossed her legs. “Is there anything else?”

He stared at her long and hard, and she didn’t flinch or look away. “No, that’s all for now.”

She stood and left without another word. Alone, he smiled slightly. She was a spitfire. He’d soon see what she was made of, and he had a feeling he would enjoy doing it.

* * *

The days flew by, and before Nicole knew it, the week was half-over. On Wednesday evening, she absently returned numerous goodbyes from her coworkers, including Monique, and continued happily working. She barely registered that bright sunlight had given way to pale moonlight. When she glanced at the clock, it was after 8:30 p.m.

She studied her sketch and smiled. Picking up her charcoal pencil, she continued working on the lines of the skirt she was sketching. Just a few more minutes, and she would call it a day.

“It’s way past quitting time.” Nicole jumped, then glanced up when Alexander’s voice disturbed the comforting silence.

“Mr. James.” She placed a hand against her thudding heart. “You scared the life out of me.”

“Sorry.” He pulled up a tall stool and sat beside her.

“I thought everyone had gone home.” She was acutely aware of his closeness.

“Everyone has, except us.” He glanced at her sketch, picked it up and then replaced it on the easel. His face was unreadable.

“What do you think of it?” She asked simply to have something to say.

“It’s adequate.” He half smiled at her apparent displeasure with his blasé description.

“Adequate?” She glanced at the drawing she had spent the entire day revising, intent that it would be perfect before she showed it to him. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nothing’s wrong with it,” he insisted. “It’s not finished, is it?”

“No.”

“Then I think adequate is an appropriate assessment,” he rationalized. “I need to see the finished product before I know whether it fits with the Bettina line.”

“Of course.”

He cocked his head to one side. “That displeases you?”

“No.” She drew out the single syllable. “You’re right, of course.”

“I know I’m right.”

They stared at each other silently. She contemplated what to say next. She didn’t want to be constantly at odds with him. She wanted them to get along and have a good working relationship; therefore, she bit back the angry retort that was on the verge of jumping from her mouth. When she spoke next, her voice was calm and measured.

“I really want this job to go well,” she softly admitted. “I know I was late. I’ve apologized, but I couldn’t miss my brother’s wedding. My love for my family doesn’t mean I’m not dedicated to being the best designer I can be. I know I can learn a lot from you—if you’ll give me a chance. That’s all I’m asking, Mr. James.”

* * *

He silently studied her long and hard. He had expected an angry rejoinder to his frankly baiting previous statement; she had surprised him again. Her sincere plea affected him more than anything else she could have said.

“You’re talented, Nicole. You wouldn’t have gotten the job otherwise.” He paused before admitting, “I’m not sorry I hired you.” Her eyes brightened at his admission, and he was absurdly glad.

“You’re not?”

“No.” He smiled slightly. “I think you have great potential, and from what I’ve seen of your work so far, if you apply yourself, you’ll make a name for yourself in this business.”

“Well...” She seemed at a loss for words at his generous compliment.

“Nothing to say?” he teased.

“I... Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He suddenly stood. “Now close up shop and go home.”

“But I wanted to finish...”

“No buts.” He switched off her light, took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Go home.”

“All right.”

He released her hands, picked up her jacket and held it out for her. As she slipped it on, he felt her nearness. His hands rested on her upper arms for a second longer than necessary. She slowly turned around and looked at him, and he swore he saw desire in her eyes, but it was gone so quickly, he wasn’t sure—although he definitely felt the heat between them.

“Can I give you a lift to the hotel?” Why had he said that?

“No.” She took a few steps away from him. “I’ll take the metro.”

“You’re in a new city. I don’t like the thought of you taking the metro by yourself at night.”

“I’ll be fine,” she assured. “I’m a big girl, Mr. James.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed.” He couldn’t keep from sweeping his eyes appreciatively over her from head to toe and back again. “Mr. James was my dad. Call me Alex.” He frowned when she smiled and laughed lightly. “What?”

“Victor said exactly the same thing when I called him Mr. James,” she explained.

“Oh, I see.” He nodded in understanding but felt a twinge of something he was loath to name at the mention of his brother and her sharing a private moment. “Come on, let’s call it a night.”

She hesitated for a second and then gave in and preceded him out.