Suppressing Desires for the CEO

Chapter 3

I was three months into my new role at Brent Co. and I was reveling in my enjoyment. I had a bounce in my step and an unwavering smile. I was happy. Today, we were starting a new project and I was so excited to be part of it, considering it involved us actually interacting with the people whose lives we would impact.

I filed in with a few colleagues from my team for briefing as the clock struck 2 minutes to the 10am start time. I took a seat on the side of the conference room and sipped my coffee. Lucy, my new found friend in the office was ranting about some concert she went to on the weekend. I just nodded every few sentences. I guess she assumed I lived the wild side of my life through her as she went through every detail. I didn't complain, seeing as my responses to every weekend highlight was "I slept".

She was humming one of the songs when the door swung open and a gorgeous man walked in. Her and other conversers immediately went silent. I held my breath. Scott Dainway marched to the front of the boardroom and took a seat next to his personal assistant. It was the first time I was sharing a room with him so I took the opportunity to study him. His features were magnificent. With icy blue-grey eyes - different from steel I thought I'd seen last time, and black hair that was cut meticulously to fit his face. His nose was straight, and he had what I can only describe as a manly jaw. And his mouth..I lowered my eyes and bit my lip. They were kissable.

"Good morning team". I shook my head. Where had that analysis come from?

He started to lay out the plans for the next 4 months, and I hastily scribbled notes. Not only was he good looking, he was impressive. I'd only seen his door, or the back of him as he walked past our offices since I started. Now, experiencing him, it was a totally different perspective. He exuded intelligence and confidence.

"Any questions?" he paused after 30 minutes.

I glanced over my notes as he took questions, and my heart palpitated as I came up with something in my moment of focus. Without realizing I had raised my hand, I felt, rather than saw his attention turn to me.

Scott looked me right in the eye, and I gulped hoping I didn't look as terrified as I felt - like a deer in the headlights.

"Do we have a plan to overcome some of the regulations we are bound to face during the second phase?"

His face was expressionless as he considered my question. I wanted to shut my eyes and disappear. Was my question silly?

"Good question erh"

"Rachel" his assistant offered.

"We are still brainstorming around the two options we have now. When we get to the end of phase one we will see how far we are with that."

I nodded. He looked away and continued to address other questions.

I felt a little disappointed that our interaction was brief. I was curious about him. But from the looks of the other ladies on the team I wasn't the only one.

To close off the agenda, Scott divided us into teams to brainstorm around a few concepts and then dismissed us.

_____________

Two weeks later I walked into the office with a pencil skirt and black wedges, as I didn't want to strain my feet. I had put my long brown hair up in a bun. The team I was in had come up with a solid framework. Patrick, who headed our team in addition to another department, asked me to present it to the mergers' team as a way of development. Josh whistled playfully as I came through the door.