Before You Go

Chapter Seven

Agatha was right.

And I hate how she was right.

Agatha was spot on with her description about them. Talentless, and vile men. Disgusting.

But I have to keep my pride out of it if I wanted this transaction to go through. I talked with the representative, Adam Cox, last week. He clearly had no idea how to market the airlines, making me wonder how he got the job in the first place and kept it. Keeping him on the payroll is a complete waste of money.

I almost had the contract signed that day. Almost.

I knew by then he'd be signing with me and not with the First Team Media representative with the ideas and strategies I was about to present him with. But when he laid eyes on me, when he saw I was a female, a wide shit-eating grin was sprawled over his face like he never laid eyes on the opposite gender before.

I was repulsed to say the least, but I had to keep it down because I wanted him to sign my contract. I wooed and smiled at him when he needed to see it. Luckily, he had a female colleague who pointed out to him how much better it would be for the airlines to sign with us rather than with First Team Media.

However, the damned bastard wanted more. He wanted me to wine and dine him.

He wanted me to accompany him to the thirty-fifth anniversary of Alpha Airlines party as his freaking date before he would sign with me. He'd give me the signed contract by the end of the night.

Desperate and hungry for the account, I agreed to it. I want this account, I need this account.

This is the reason why I'm so dressed up on a Saturday night at a hotel lobby waiting for him. He even wanted to pick me up from my apartment, but that was way beyond the line. I told him I'd wait for him at the hotel lobby, and here I am dressed in a long, open back, red dress.

"Valentine."

I turn around to meet the man who just spoke my name. It's Adam Cox, with the same shit-eating grin on his face and I want to run.

"Mr. Cox." I acknowledge his presence.

"It's just Adam." if he wasn't looking at me like a piece of meat, his voice wouldn't have made my skin crawl. "Let's."

He gestures for me to go with him, hooking his arm in front of me so that I'll take a hold of it. I do, but I barely hold on to him.

"You look really hot in that dress." he says with a smirk. I want to wipe it off his face. "I'd love to take you home right now and just ditch the party."

I fake a sweet smile.

For the damn account.

For the damn promotion.

"Thank you." my answer is short and clipped. "How long have you been working for the airline?"

"Five years." he says. "This is my fifth time attending this."

Huh. The airline has been wasting money on him for five years. I'm starting to wonder if he ever got reported for indecency or harassment.

Something, or rather someone, catches my eye. I've only met him once, but I'm positive it's Kevin across the room with a bunch of people.

I swallow a lump on my throat. It's this moment I realize that I didn't even consider to think I might run into someone I know here.

"The airlines sure has a lot of people working in corporate." I say and look around the lobby.

"It's not just the people in corporate here." Adam says as he tugs me away from the lobby. "All of the employees are here. We're mandated to attend this, unless we're on duty. Everyone in corporate is here. Ground and cabin crew who aren't working tonight are here."