Conquest of the Heart (7 page)

“Wow, so you actually enjoy all of the press
conferences, being in the public eye all of the time? Doesn’t it
scare you, even just a little bit? I mean, you’re exposing
yourself, risking your privacy.”

“Not really. I’m not out there talking about
myself. I’m representing the firm. As long as the firm has nothing
to hide, then I can do my job accordingly.”

“What if the company you worked for had
things to hide?” he prodded, as he stuck a French fry in his mouth.
He had ordered a burger.

“I wouldn’t work for a company like that,”
she plainly said.

“How would you know?” he asked, curious as to
how she could avoid such a company. There were plenty of them out
there that had legal issues, or had poor reputations.

“I do my homework, just like I did with
C&A. I wouldn’t have accepted a position if I thought I was
going to have to compromise my integrity.” Faith finished her
salad, and then took a drink of her lemonade. She sat back in her
chair, and looked at Carter. He was just smiling at her, listening
to what she had to say.

“I’m sorry, I was just taking in what you
said. You’re a very rare person. Most people in this world would
compromise even just a little for their own personal gain. I’ve met
my share of athletes and I’m here to tell you, money is their main
concern. It’s not about the love of the sport anymore. It’s about
getting paid first.”

“
Pay me before I prove I’m
worth anything, so to speak.”

“Pretty much. Do you watch sports?” he
asked.

“A little. I like basketball.” She really
didn’t have time for sports. There were too many other things to
do. Faith was more of a reader and a music lover.

“Maybe we can go to a game some time.” Carter
was trying to get his foot in the door. He figured if he asked
nicely, rather than telling, like Gavin, he would have a better
chance.

“Perhaps. I just need some time to get into a
routine,” she smiled kindly. Faith really wasn’t interested in
Carter, and didn’t feel comfortable with him trying to ask her out.
He was nice to work with, but that was as far as it was going to
go.

“Here’s your check. No rush, I’ll be back to
take that when you’re ready,” said their server.

Carter went to grab his wallet, as did Faith.
“I can get this,” he said.

“Oh no. I’ll take care of mine. I’ve gotten
enough free lunches this week and last,” she smiled as she picked
up the ticket to see what she owed. She didn’t want this to seem
like a date.

Carter wasn’t getting the hint. He thought he
had a good chance for sure. “Alright, but let me treat the next
time, okay?”

“Sure,” she said.
‘That won’t happen too soon, cowboy,’
she thought. She was anxious to get back to the
office and get some more work done with her
presentations.

They both paid, signed their receipts, and
got up to leave. As they walked back, Carter made more small talk,
and Faith obliged as much as she could. When they got off the
elevator on their floor, Carter thanked her for joining him for
lunch.

“We’ll do this again, okay?”

“Sure. Have a good afternoon, Carter.” Gavin
watched Faith walk toward her office, and Carter return to his. He
wasn’t going to waste one minute.

Gavin walked out of his office and into
Carter’s. He closed the door behind him. Carter heard the door
close, and looked up. He saw that Gavin didn’t look happy.

“Hey, what are you doing? Is something
wrong?”

“How was your lunch?” Gavin asked, in a very
dry tone.

“It was good. Faith is a very classy
woman.”

“Which is why I’m wondering what you’re up
to? You’ve never asked any of these other women out to lunch. Why
now?”

“Gavin, face it. You can’t have them all. You
knew this might happen at some point.”

“This was not what we agreed to. Faith is not
even your type, Carter. None of the women I’ve gone out with are
your type. That’s on purpose.”

“Maybe things have changed,” Carter
smirked.

Gavin stepped closer to Carter, “Not for you.
I don’t like what you’re doing. She doesn’t fit your mold. I think
you should back off.”

“Because what you’re doing is so much better.
Treating her like she’s some prize to be won. What will you do with
her when you’ve had your way? Go back to Chandler, or one of your
other women? Do you really think a woman of Faith’s caliber
deserves to be treated like that?” Carter was now standing, making
fists with his hands.

“What I plan to do is much better than what
you would do. By the way, you don’t have a clue about what I’m
doing, or what I’m feeling. You’re the last person that I would
share that with. I haven’t trusted you in years,” Gavin hissed.

“That was fifteen years ago, Gavin. I don’t
know what else you want me to do.” Carter was disappointed that he
had brought that up.

“Sixteen years. I want you to leave Faith
alone.” Gavin was now getting angry.

“I’m not sure I can do that,” said Carter,
very serious.

“Then we have a problem.”

“I guess we do.” Carter didn’t want to lose
his friend, or his job. He couldn’t seem to help himself.

Gavin opened the door and walked out. He was
pissed. He didn’t want Faith to be at the receiving end of his
anger. This wasn’t her fault. He went back to his office to get
some water before going to speak with her.

Faith was sitting in her office, listening to
her iPod. Whenever she needed to focus, she ‘plugged in,’ blocking
outside noises from disturbing her. Gavin knocked on her door, but
she didn’t hear him. When she didn’t look up, he saw the cords and
walked in. He walked around her desk and touched her gently on her
shoulder.

She jumped, looked up, saw Gavin and took her
earbuds out.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you but
you didn’t hear me knock or see me.”

“It’s okay. I needed to concentrate. Did you
need something?”

“I just wanted to talk to you about your
presentations,” he said, as he walked back around her desk to sit
down.

“Okay. What’s up?”

“I was thinking that we could accelerate our
meetings with your help. Right now, we’re scheduled to discuss one
city a day, except for Fridays. You were able to put your outlines
together for three cities in one night, and we finished about
eighty-five percent our discussion on Nashville this morning,
freeing up our afternoon. If we could add an afternoon meeting,
discussing two cities a day, we could narrow our list down a lot
sooner.”

“So what are you thinking? What would you
like me to do?” she asked. He liked that she didn’t hesitate. He
let his mind wander for a split second, wondering if she was the
same way in bed. “Gavin, are you there?”

He refocused. “I’m sorry. I lost my train of
thought.” He sat up a little more straight and answered her
question. “Do you think you can pull information together for, say,
eight cities at a time without working too many late nights, or
over the weekend? I’d be willing to help if it would keep you from
working too much overtime.”

“Absolutely,” she paused and thought for a
second. “I like that plan. It would allow us to start our city
trips earlier than anticipated. Now is the best time, since it’s
spring, with summer approaching. If our meetings this week are only
going to be in the mornings, we can work on presentations in the
afternoons, and all day Friday. Our schedules should be blocked off
for the whole day tomorrow and Thursday anyway. We could leave them
blocked. I’m not sure what your Friday looks like.”

“I can have it cleared,” he said as he stood
up. “I’m going to have Agnes change our schedules. I’ll be
back.”

“Will Carter be joining us?” Faith asked.

“No. Carter will be busy working through the
promotional aspect. He’ll fill us in at the meetings.” He continued
out the door. Gavin’s plan was three-fold. First, he wanted to
finish the city reviews early, and this would allow them to do so.
Second, he would be able to spend more time with Faith, and third,
he could keep Carter away from her. Carter should have known better
than to cross him. Gavin made it clear that he wanted Faith and
that meant no one else was going to stand in his way.

When Gavin returned, Faith asked him, “Do you
want to start on this tonight?”

“Don’t you need to get home? You weren’t
supposed to be working late this week?”

“I know, but you’ve got me all excited. I’d
probably end up working anyway.”

Gavin thought,
‘You’ve always got me excited.’
He said, “No, we’d better not. There’s enough time
to get things done during the day. You keep your evening
schedule.”

“Alright then, since we’re not meeting this
afternoon, I’ll start working right now on the list of cities for
next week.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll get going on the
potential clients for this weeks’ list. Oh, I’ve been meaning to
ask you. How was your lunch with Carter?”

Faith looked up. “Talk about flipping a
switch.” He smiled, glad she remembered his comment from their
lunch at Hard Rock. “It was okay. Jealous?”

“As a matter of fact, I was,” Gavin said. A
strong trait he possessed was his honesty, even if he appeared
arrogant. “Did he show interest in you?”

“Seriously?” She looked at him with
bewilderment on her face.

Gavin didn’t move, obviously wanting an
answer.

She rolled her eyes and kept typing on her
laptop while speaking. “He seemed to. He offered to take me to a
football or basketball game when the season starts.” She then
looked directly at him and asked, “Why were you jealous? It’s not
like you and I are dating or anything. I mean, that would be pretty
serious for you. The whole dating thing. You just have sex, right?”
She was getting agitated.

“My intentions for you are more than you
might think. I don’t need any interference from anyone.”

“Ooh. Sounds mysterious,” she said
sarcastically. “Wouldn’t this work better if I actually wanted to
play an active part in your so-called intentions?”

“Like I’ve said before, I want you. We can
play this game as long as you want to. I will have you in the end,”
he said without flinching. As usual, her uneasiness and sarcasm was
arousing to him.

Faith just shook her head. “You are
absolutely amazing. Just fifteen minutes ago, we were talking about
the expansion project, and now this. Why would you think you’ll
have me? How have I given you that impression?”

“You haven’t – yet. You will. I’m not an easy
person to resist for long. Everyone can be persuaded.”

“People who want to be persuaded, are
persuaded, Gavin,” she said, looking back at her computer, her
frustration growing. They had had such a good day.

“So you’re saying that everyone I’ve been
with wanted to be persuaded?” He continued to look at her dead on.
He never took his eyes off of her, and could tell she was annoyed.
That’s just the reaction he was going for.

“Yes. Do you think those women out there
don’t drool over you? You’re a damn good looking man! Plus you’re
loaded – even better!” she exclaimed. She was standing now, walking
around the office.

“You’re attracted to me for other reasons?”
He smiled deviously, trying to trap her.

She just glared at him, not
taking the bait. “
If
, I was attracted to anyone, it wouldn’t be for money. Good
looks, maybe.” ‘
Asshole, never,’
she thought. “There’s more to a person than just
their body or their bank account.”

“You’re right, there is.”

“If you know that, then why do you insist
upon treating women the way that you do?” She stood with her arms
crossed and her eyebrows raised, waiting for an explanation.

“There’s always more to a story than what you
can visibly see.” He stood to face her.

“Humor me.”

He avoided the subject. “Do you want to go
out with Carter?”

She threw her hands up in the air, pushing
past him. Now disgusted, she said, “Gavin, I just want to work. I’m
not here to sleep with anyone. I’m just here to work.” She plopped
down on her couch, covering her face with her hands in
frustration.

Gavin smiled, quite satisfied. He just needed
to know she didn’t want Carter to pursue her. He also wanted to see
how she reacted to his poking and prodding in her business. She
still got quite worked up when he talked about his desires for her,
and she was greatly concerned about his behavior. He was curious as
to why.

“Why do you care so much what I do? Why does
it bother you so much?”

“I care about the reputation of this
company.” She was still sitting on the couch.

“My actions are not public knowledge. I don’t
sleep with every woman that moves, as you’ve so incorrectly
assumed. I’m pretty particular about who I like, and trust me,
that’s not every woman in this office. There are a very select
few.” He waited for a response. She just huffed and sat backward on
the couch, resting her head on her hand and looking off to the
side.

“Why does what I do bother you so much? Did
it ever occur to you that lately I would not be doing what I’m
doing if it wasn’t for you?

“Excuse me?” she looked at him, not liking
where this was headed.

“I would stop what I’m doing if you would
just give me what I want. Until then, it’s going to get worse
before it gets better.”

“So, I could be like your head bitch or
something?” she asked, appalled.

He looked down, shaking his head. “That’s not
what I’m implying.”

“You know Gavin, I’m growing weary of this
conversation. I think we should both probably get back to work.”
She got up from her couch and walked over to her desk to sit
down.