Deadly Infatuation

Chapter 33

Max

After wrapping up my final business meeting in Paris, I get into the back of the car with my colleague Kim, who has been helping me to secure these retailers. Johnson wastes no time and joins the main road, heading to the Four Seasons as we strap ourselves in our seats. While Kim fusses with her hair, I tug my tie loose and rest my head against the cool glass of the window as I reflect on our productive week here. We've been lucky enough to acquire three of the top specialist wine retailers in Europe, and some smaller distributors.

"That's the UK acquired," Kim says gleefully as she presses the button to raise the partition screen so Johnson can't hear us.

I'm beyond grateful for Kim's help this week. Because of what was happening at home leading up to the trip, I had to take a backseat in the proceedings. If I didn't have her working on this project with me, making sure that everything was running smoothly, I don't think we could have pulled it off. I roll my head to the right to look at her and smile. "You did great. I thought we were losing them at one point, but when you started talking about profit projections for them, they were sold."

"I know, right? Plus, a little charm goes a long way," she winks.

I roll my eyes. "Don't think I didn't notice that. You practically had that Simmonds guy eating out of the palm of your hand. I wonder what poor Jess would think of that if she knew."

Kim throws her red hair over her shoulder and scoffs. "Please. Jess is worse than me. You should see the way she flirts with the guys at her law firm. But lucky for me, she only has interest in this," Kim says as she points to her vagina.

I groan and pinch the bridge of my nose. "Too much of an over-share."

She laughs with ease and kicks her insanely long heels off her feet. "Don't care."

My cell phone vibrates in my jacket pocket and I remove it and look at the lit-up screen, seeing that Lily has sent me a message. The police still have gotten no closer to pinning this on Sarah and though Detective Danes has kept to his word and has been having a car patrolling the street Sarah lives on throughout the day I still don't feel comfortable to go home with Lily while Sarah can still cause trouble. In hindsight, I was lucky that they didn't choose the time I went to Sarah's house to check on her, otherwise I'd have a lot to explain both to them and Lily.

Lily: You probably already know, but Paige's planning on doing a meal at your parents' Monday night to celebrate them coming back and Taylor's and Peter's engagement. She's asked me to join, but I just want to check if you're okay with that before I accept.

Me: Of course you can come, Lily. She's your friend, and you should spend time with her. And I know we haven't really spoken about it, but I would like to tell my mom and Paige about us.

I only have to wait a minute for Lily to text back, and as soon as I feel my cell phone vibrate in my lap, I swipe my screen and read her message.

Lily: I'd like that.

I can't hold the smile that escapes as I see those three words.

"How's Lily?"

My head quickly snaps up from my phone and I turn to look at Kim, who is looking inquisitively at me.

"She's good."

Before this trip, I wasn't planning on telling people about my relationship with Lily, but after Sarah's threat when I went to confront her, I couldn't leave Lily in Oregon. I knew that if Lily wasn't with me, I never would have been able to concentrate and would have been worrying about her the entire time, potentially jeopardizing our companies expansion into the EU.

"You counting down the minutes until you see her?"

"No." Yes.

"Liar," she grins. "Ever since you've arrived in Paris, you've been staring at her like a lovesick puppy."

I hope not. "No, I haven't," I grunt.

"Hmm. Whatever you say."

As we head past the Arc de Triomphe, I busy myself and check my work emails on my phone while Kim rummages through her purse. I scroll down the endless emails and spot one from Garrett that's flagged as important. I open the email and see that he's scored a top retailer to pitch to tonight. We've been trying to reach them the past few weeks with no success. I'm thrilled that we have the chance to speak to them, but it'll mean I'll have to delay my plans to take Lily out tonight with the team. I glance at Kim as she applies her red lipstick. "Garrett says Tranquil Wines can meet us over dinner tonight to discuss our plans for the campaign. You up for it?"

"That's great news. Wait, tonight? It's our last night in Paris, Max. Don't you want to go to a bar and get loose?"

"We can afterward."

"Fine. But tell them to meet us at Le Cinq. If I'm going to be sitting in a meeting, I want to at least eat good food."

I chuckle in response. "Done."

I type a quick email back to Garrett to set up the meeting and rest back in my seat as I wait for the car to arrive at the hotel. At least things are going right in the business world for me.