Chapter 8 Naughty Fantasy

• Nathan shrugged and leaned back in his seat. “I hope you don't make it a habit of arriving late to meetings, Ms. Gibson?”
• Her face heated and Nathan had the pleasure of seeing her flustered.
• “No, I don't,” she forced out through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with hate as she leveled that brown gaze on him. “I was, delayed.”
• “Interesting,” Nathan murmured, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort. He allowed his gaze to sweep insolently over her, lips twisted in mockery. "Must have been a splendid lover to make you forget your responsibilities.”
• The other board members watched them with varying mixtures of fascination and intrigue but no one tried to butt in.
• She gaped at him in shock. “I beg your pardon?”
• “Perhaps we should carry on with the meeting,” A short balding man leaned forward and leveled a stern look at them both. “We are already behind schedule as it is.”
• Nathan glanced at the man who had spoken. Norman Gammon, manager of the Chicago branch of the hotel, one of the the few people who had refused to sell out his shares. The man stared back at Nathan in defiance, as if daring him to say otherwise. Nathan decided to hold his peace.
• For now.
• “Very well.” He straightened and flipped open his laptop, demeanor all business.
• “Excuse me,” Alice's voice cut in. “We are not starting until Mr. Lachlan leaves.” She lifted her chin and glared at Nathan. “This is an executive meeting, and as far as I know, he does not belong here.”
• Nathan smirked and raked her with his gaze. “On the contrary Ms. Gibson, I have every right to be here.”
• Alice looked at the other members, seeking support.
• Her eyes landed on her aunt. “Correct me if I'm wrong, Aunt Laura, but this is a management meeting, isn't it?”
• Laura shifted uncomfortably and lowered her gaze to the glossy surface of the table. “It is, but Mr. Lachlan put forward a very convincing argument. He now has a controlling interest and to all intents and purposes -”
• “What Laura is trying to say is,” Nathan cut in, his patience at an end. “I now have a say in the running of The Gibson Hotels. However, if you have a problem with that, Ms. Gibson, I suggest you either leave now, or stay and take the matter up with your lawyer when we're done.”
• There was silence and Nathan watched the play of expressions on Alice's face. Anger, hatred, and indecision passed and finally she sat down with a sigh.
• “Good,” Nathan allowed his gaze to sweep over the group once more. “Does anyone else have any objections?”
• Silence reigned. “Now, let's get started.”
• ****
• Alice drummed her fingertips on the table and fought the urge to storm out of the room. Just seeing him there, taking charge of the proceedings irritated her no end. Her plan to use this meeting as a means to discuss how they could buy back the shares from Nathan, had not taken into account that the bastard would actually appear at this meeting.
• She glared at Nathan, hating the cool confident air he exuded as he listened to Norman, the lazy way he seemed to lean back against the chair, handsome face expressionless, the jacket of the deep blue suit emphasizing his impossibly wide shoulders.
• Her eyes traveled up to his hair and even from her place across the table, Alice could see it's smooth glossy texture that made her want to reach out and run her fingers through that thick mane, feeling the strands slide through her fingers as their mouths tangled in the sweetest of kisses, warm naked bodies moving together in a rhythm...
• Whoa! Where had that come from?
• Alice felt her face heat up in embarrassment. She shook her head in confusion, suddenly aware of how warm the room had become. Or was it just her? A quick glance around confirmed she was probably the only person feeling warm in the air conditioned room.
• She reached for an unopened bottle of Evian water and drank deeply, grateful for the cool liquid pouring down her throat, her temperature returning to normal. She dismissed the brief fantasy as the manifestations of an empty stomach and nothing more.
• As Alice lowered the bottle, she caught Nathan looking at her with an intensity that set her blood on fire again. A drop of water escaped her lips and ran down her chin and her tongue darted out to lick it up. His eyes followed the action, darkening in blazing heat that burned into her skin, and ignited fires Alice had not experienced in a long time.
• She tore her gaze away and focused her attention on the pile of papers in front of her, unwilling to let her mind dwell on what had just happened.
• “Alice?” Laura's voice cut into her thoughts and she started, looking up at her aunt in confusion.
• “Yes?”
• “Well? What do you think about the proposal for the new menu plans?”
• What new plans? Alice was mortified to be caught daydreaming in the presence of her arch enemy. She frantically scanned through her papers, praying that there would be something to give her a clue as to what her aunt was talking about.
• “Would you like some time to catch up?” Nathan's mocking voice riled her already frayed temper again but she bit her lip and held back the scathing retort.
• “No, thank you.” Alice replied instead, her tone as cold as she could make it. Just then she found what she was searching for and scanned through the document quickly. Her lips pursed in disapproval at the proposal to cut out a large portion of the foreign dishes and replace them with local delicacies.
• Her head snapped up and she scowled at Laura.
• “No. No, I don't approve of this. A large number of our clients come from outside the US and we have always sought to cater to their needs by providing meals they are familiar with already.”
• “An unnecessary venture.” Nathan replied smoothly. “American dishes are just as good as whatever else is out there. And if we have to go for variety, I believe a select, but limited number of the dishes notably popular with the guests should suffice.”
• “We aim to provide a wide variety of choices.” Alice cut in. “Limiting our menu, will seriously affect out clientele.” She was angry at him for presuming to know more than she did. Who the hell gave him the right to waltz in and start proposing changes?
• “The Gibson spends about three million dollars a year on these so-called foreign dishes. Money that can be channeled towards infrastructure and maintenance.”
• “That figure has been approved and been in effect for the better part of four years. As far as I know, that expenditure has not in any way caused a fall in profits.”
• Nathan glanced at his laptop, reading something off the screen then looked up with a mocking smile.
• “Ah yes, four years ago will be when you took over from the previous vice president?”
• “Yes,” Alice ground out, getting even more frustrated at his mockery of her abilities. “And in that time, we have had more profit than at any other time in the history of the hotel.”
• His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “Kudos to you then. Still, it stands to reason that we consider a few changes for the future of this company.”
• Alice shot to her feet, thoroughly pissed now.
• “That decision is not yours to take, Nathan,” She spat at him. “My father remains the president of this establishment and you are merely an interloper.”
• She had the satisfaction of seeing Nathan stiffen at the insult and joy ran through her. She took her seat, folding her arms across her chest and stared at him with a smug smile.
• A muscle worked in his jaw and his eyes turned to ice. “You always have a way with words.” He said, so quiet she had to strain to hear him. “Opportunist, interloper. I wonder what you will come up with next.”
• “Stick around long enough, and you'll find out.”
• “Oh, I intend to stick around for a long, long time,” he replied. There was a beep and he glanced the screen of his laptop then grimaced and shut it. He rose, buttoning up his jacket. “Much as I would love to spend time trading insults with you, Ms. Gibson, I must leave now.”
• He bid them all good day and strode out, leaving them all in a flutter of varying reactions.
• “Well!” Norman exclaimed, looking around the room. “What do you all think of this new development?”
• Alice tore her gaze from the open door and faced the group.
• “We have to put a stop to this,” she said firmly. “That man put my father in hospital, and now he's trying to make ridiculous changes? We can't let him do what he likes with our source of income.”
• “What do you suggest?” Vincent Riesling, head of human resources asked.
• “I will think of something. In the meanwhile, we need to keep our heads properly screwed on tight.”
• She shoved papers into her briefcase and hurried out. She had to see her father in the hospital.
• In the lobby, her heart sank at the sight that met her eyes.
• Just outside, Nathan stood by the huge artificial waterfall, talking to a familiar blonde. Sarah's back was to Alice, but she could see the impassive expression on Nathan's face as Sarah spoke to him. A sleek black limo waited nearby and as Alice watched in horror, Nathan opened the door and Sarah stepped into the vehicle.
• “Oh no!” Alice groaned, quickening her pace, frantic to stop Sarah before she made the biggest mistake of her life.
• Just as she reached the revolving doors, her gaze met Nathan's. He shot her an inscrutable look and climbed into the dark interior. The limo pulled away just as Alice reached the curb and she could only stare, helpless, as the vehicle joined the busy traffic.