Haven

Chapter 7

Bill

Jonathan, my HR manager, walked behind me with his eyes stuck to the open folder in his hands. We passed by the line of prospective employees formed outside his office. The tension amongst the group was thick and difficult to ignore. I scanned them, noting all the nervous looks sketched on everyone's faces.

Then my eyes stopped moving once I spotted a particular someone. She was standing in the middle of the line, head down and texting anxiously on her phone; only looking up every couple of seconds. Her handbag occupied her seat. I remembered seeing her through the window of the salon I picked my sister up from weeks ago. I also remembered feeling an odd pull towards her when my eyes just happened to settle on her. I saw her, dismissed her, but then felt compelled to look at her again. That same pull was present now.

This woman had to be the most innocent looking person I have ever seen. And one of the most stunning. She was short but perfectly sculpted, with curves decorating all the right areas. Her light olive skin, her almond brown eyes, her small lips; they were all so tempting, so enchanting. Her long flowing straight jet black hair shielded me from seeing more of her face.

"Sir?" Jonathan spoke, pulling me out of a daze.

I tore my gaze from the woman, just as she was looking up from her phone, and faced Jonathan.

"I was saying, half the group seems qualified and the other half isn't really displaying much potential. But I will be coming to you with results very soon," He said.

I sighed. "Alright. Carry on. I'll be in my office,"

He nodded then turned around and went back to his office, taking with him the person at the front of the line. I sneaked one last glance at the woman, who was now sitting down and nervously playing with the straps of her handbag, then started the journey to my office.

**

Sweat dripped down my forehead and coated my back as I worked out my frustrations. I hoisted the weights one last time before setting them down with a loud groan. The gym, as always, was empty. I preferred it that way. Something about working out with other people around overwhelmed me with a very unsettling feeling. So I had a talk with the owner and arranged for an hour every day reserved just for me.

I walked over to where my water bottle was resting, grabbed it and chugged down its contents. The door opened and people started piling in, signalling the end of my hour. I went to take a shower, then headed over to the locker room, got my things and left.

My phone vibrated in my pocket as I unlocked my car. I pulled it out, checked the caller ID then answered.

"You busy?" The caller, Eli Russo, asked.

Eli was a young and very successful restaurantuer. I admired his work ethic, his determination and when I decided to open a hotel, I reached out to him. The restaurant in my hotel was his. I got to know Eli a bit more over the course of working together and he quickly moved from just a business partner to a friend.

"Kind of. Why?" I responded.

I got into my car, put the phone on speaker and on the passenger seat then started the car.

"I'm having a little get together tonight. Your presence is needed,"

I chuckled. This man is always throwing a party of some kind. "Is this you telling me that you miss me?" I teased.

"Don't get cocky. You coming or not?"

"Depends. Who's going to be there?"

"Business execs, couple of the guys and none of your exes,"

I laughed. "How can you be sure of that?"

"You're right, I can't. You've slept with just about everyone in this town so there's a possibility one of them could show up,"

"I haven't slept with everyone,"

"Only the pretty ones?" A hint of amusement fortified his question.

"There aren't that many pretty ones either,"

He laughed. "Just make sure your ass is at my house by 10.30,"

"Yes, sir." I mocked.

"Idiot," he said before hanging up.

**

Eli's mansion was packed. Of course it was expected; Eli's definition of a 'little get together' is different from most. A parade of Audis, Beemers and Benzes was rolling in. Within an hour, most of the hundreds of guests had made their way through the stately oak doors and out to the lovely tented and lantern-lit flagstone terrace. There, waiters and waitresses in blazers designed by some guy whose name I can't pronounce, distributed sushi and vintage champagne.

10.30 on the dot, I was amongst the sharply dressed guests, with a chilled crystal stem glass of champagne dangling in my hand. My eyes danced around the crowd, searching for Eli or anyone else I knew. I eventually found him, standing close to a corner talking to a woman I didn't recognize. I made my way over to him.

"Eli," I said instantly grabbing his attention. He looked at me and smiled, pulling me into a quick hug. He was fully clad in a dark blue suit, his blonde hair was slicked to the back, and his favourite gold ring rested on his left index finger along with a gold watch on his wrist.

"To be honest, I didn't think you'd come." He said.

"I'm not going to pass up free booze," I said raising my glass.

He laughed then looked back to the woman he was speaking to. I looked at her too. The first thing I noticed were her sharp cheekbones, then the piercing blue eyes and plump lips.

"Bill Eden, this is Amanda Roller. I'm sure you've heard of Roller and Mann, the investment firm?"

"Yes. Yes, I have."

Now the extravagance of the 'get together' made sense. Eli had guests he needed to impress. Impressed guests meant good business.

I put on a smile and stuck out my hand, which the woman, Amanda, shook. Slowly, while keeping eye contact. She returned the smile.

"Nice to meet you,"

"Nice to meet you too, Mr Eden."

I let go of her hand. She placed it on her chest, directing my eyes to the spot. "Eden. As in the Eden Group?"

I swallowed hard. Eli gave me a cautious look. I forced my smile to stay on. "Yes. But that is my father's company. I am not part of the business,"

Amanda raised her perfectly groomed brow. "Oh? I thought it was a family business."

"It is. I just wasn't interested in luxury goods,"

She hummed, nodded then smiled. "I'm in town for a couple of days. I'm staying in your hotel, actually."

"Oh. And how are you liking it?"

A waiter passed by. She grabbed a glass from him. She took a sip, still holding eye contact. Her lips curved into a smirk. "The place is beautiful. The service, top notch. The food," she looked at Eli, "excellent." She looked back at me "I definitely see myself coming back,"

"That's great!" Eli spoke. "Because we definitely want you here again and again and again,"

Amanda let out a small laugh. "I'll let you two keep talking. I have more guests I need to attend to. Amanda, thank you for coming." And with that, Eli was gone.

I proceed with my clearly assigned task to entertain Amanda Roller for the rest of the night. We drink, eat and even dance a little. She's a beautiful woman, funny and extremely seductive. I would have taken it further, she clearly wanted to, but I couldn't. I was distracted. By someone who I have never even spoken to.