No Strings Attached

Chapter Six

Knock. Knock. Knock.

My head snaps up from the seating chart Sasha emailed overnight to Norman, who enters with a shake of his large head.

"It's 7 a.m. We don't open for another two hours."

I smirk, setting down the warm mug of coffee on my desk. "What's your excuse?"

"Debt, high-maintenance celebrities, a wife who insists on hosting sunrise yoga for twenty women in my backyard. What's yours?"

I hold up Giovanni Martinelli's signed contract wordlessly.

He smiles, sitting in the seat across my desk, unbuttoning his navy-blue jacket. "Well, how is he?"

"Want some coffee? I made a brew. It's strong," I offer, already standing up.

"Sure."

I walk to the coffee machine. "He is dedicated. Really talented."

"And?"

"And he's blunt. Clearly, a ladies' man, but his life revolves around his work. I think our best approach is switching his bad boy persona."

"How do you suggest we do that?"

I place three teaspoons of sugar into his mug, churning the milk and dark liquid together until it reaches a nice caramel color. He loves his sweet drinks. "Well, get him more involved with his fans. There are millions. I'm thinking fundraisers, charities, the big haul."

"And is he down for that?"

I hand over the coffee to him. "I don't think he'll be a problem."

"And the women?"

I sit down slowly, my pulse beginning to race in remembrance.

"I told him he'd have to begin seeing them privately, only stepping out with serious girlfriends. He did mention something we have to stay on top of."

"Yeah?"

"His ex was cheating with his brother. They are now engaged and plan to make it world news within the week."

"That's a scandal. I suggest you don't minimize it. It's perfect timing with the show approaching."

I knew he was going to say that. "Norman, this woman was his fiancé. He cared for her."

"I'm sure he did."

"I don't think it's right to exploit him that way. With something of this magnitude, he'll be lucky if the paparazzi aren't blockading his doors."

Norman purses his lips. "Well, he is your client, and you know what you are doing, but just remember that this man has a reputation of seducing and breaking women. You are a young, pretty girl who he may underestimate."

I lift my coffee to my lips. "I'm not worried."

***

"So, I've been dying to hear what meeting the gorgeous designer was like since you didn't even think to call me when you landed back in this frozen tundra!" Carlos states, entering the dully-lit break room. I'm on my second coffee of the day, and it's barely noon.

I smile as he hits his shoulder into mine, grabbing some sugars. "I did think. I decided against it."

"That's just cruel."

"There's really not much to say. Yes, he was gorgeous. Yes, he was talented and intimidating and brazen."

Really brazen.