There were untapped opportunities within the garment business, with many high-end fashion clothes being discarded when they were no longer flavour of the month. The companies either sold them off for next to nothing, or were throwing them away.
My inner eco-warrior, created by my mother and her “let’s recycle everything we can” attitude, was horrified by the waste, so I’d offered to buy all of the clothes that were going to be thrown away. It ate into my little nest egg, but I was positive I’d make good money once I’d finished my masters and had set up my business with Guy. Not many people were aware of the fact that I loved to sew and that I had, as a teenager, set up a small business carrying out alterations for neighbours, friends and my parents’ work colleagues. It had helped pay for my first year at uni before the modelling job had come along and I’d found another way to make an income.
The gravelly voice that had spoken barely ten words to me earlier today, interrupted my thoughts.
“Firstly, I want to thank Professor Wright for asking me to come and speak to you today,” Mr. Hudson said in a flat tone, nodding towards the professor before his gaze moved back to the crowd.
My fingers tightened on the books in front of me as he continued.
“I think I should also confess that I’ve never been to university. It… wasn’t an option for me.” He paused as the people behind me made tutting noises, as did several other students scattered around the room. The noise level increased a little until Professor Wright’s face became a stern mask of authority. As the students registered his displeasure, the room became silent once again.
Why hadn’t he gone to uni? Was he so rich that he’d felt it wasn’t worth his time?
As if reading my mind, he continued. “I was never given the option of university because I didn’t meet the criteria for admission.” His broad shoulders shrugged as if it meant nothing to him, yet there was something in his voice, something that I couldn’t pinpoint that said differently. Had he wanted to go to uni?
“I think if you look at what I’ve accomplished without an education, you might see that not everyone needs to go to university.”
Professor Wright coughed, drawing Mr. Hudson’s gaze. He shrugged again, as if to say “what” before he carried on talking. “Can any of you explain what business model I use for the companies I own?” His icy blue eyes swept the room, never once glancing in my direction. His arm lifted to point at someone behind me.
My jaw bunched as my teeth ground together, the buzzing in my ears making it impossible for me to hear the answer. I couldn’t have said what other questions were asked, or answered, as the lecture continued. Only that, his attention remained focused on those behind me, leaving me feeling out of sorts and unable to pay attention.
The hour flew by and at the end of it, when Mr. Hudson was getting ready to leave, there was rapturous applause. I drew a blank on what had been discussed, even as Guy, the traitor, clapped and beamed at the guy like he’d hung the moon in the sky.
The noise in the lecture theatre grew louder as people grabbed their stuff and I stood to gather my books.
“That was fantastic and so inspiring. Imagine not being able to read and write until the age of sixteen and still being able to achieve all that,” Guy enthused as he stood, his gaze on the man disappearing up the aisle with the professor and a woman I’d barely noticed tagging along behind him.
The guy had been illiterate until he was sixteen, how had I missed that?
“Yeah, whatever—”
“Are you for real, right now? I’d have thought you’d have been all over the guy asking twenty thousand questions when he talked about how he was looking to transform the clothing industry.”
My mouth opened and then shut. Had he really spoken about what I was interested in doing?
“In fact, why didn’t you ask a question? I’ve never known you not to ask at least one question to visitors who’ve come to discuss business with us.” Guy scratched his strawberry blond head as his blue-grey flecked eyes narrowed on me.
I picked up my bag for something to do rather than having to come up with an answer. He was right. I loved to ask questions and find out what worked or didn’t work in the business world. I had a large notebook stuffed with information on things that had been successful, along with the things that hadn’t worked so well. It was my bible. As I picked it up, heat spread up my neck as Guy continued to stare at me.
How the hell did I explain that I hadn’t heard a bloody word the guy had said because I’d been stressing too much about him ignoring me? “There was nothing new in what he said, so I didn’t have any questions,” I lied through my back teeth, Guy snorting and picking up his own bag without answering me. His face said it all.
“Come on, we’ve got two more lectures and I need to do some work on my paper. If I don’t submit it on time, Professor Montgomery is going to fail my arse.” I breathed a little easier when Guy’s sympathetic smile revealed I’d distracted him.
“Let’s grab a coffee and then we can find a quiet spot for you to get some work done before the next lecture,” Guy offered, his sunny smile firmly back in place.
Following his lead, I grinned at him and gave him a small nudge to get him moving. “We’ll need to hurry if you want to go to the coffee shop off-campus.”
“Nah, we can grab one here. That way you’ll get more time to study.”
Still grinning at him as we exited the room, I wasn’t paying attention and barrelled straight into… a broad back. Shit, shit, shit.
The scent of expensive cologne, that I’d not noticed the first time we’d bumped into each other, filled my nose as I breathed in. How had I missed his sexy scent?
“Are you trying to pay me back for earlier?” Mr. Hudson growled as his hands came up to steady me. His steely gaze showed no humour, his voice dripping with ice.
A shiver skirted down my spine. “What do you think I am, a two-year-old? I didn’t see you. I’m sorry.” I offered the apology with as much warmth as his glacial expression gave me. Not giving him a chance to answer, I shook off his hold and nodded at Professor Wright before I spun around and stalked off.
What is it with this guy?
Griffin
As we entered the lift which would take us up to my office, or May’s office if I wasn’t in town, I scowled at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Amusement danced in her eyes as she gave a noncommittal shrug.
“Don’t play innocent with me. You’ve got something on your mind and it’s not like you to keep quiet,” I groused as the lift doors opened and May still remained silent.
She followed me as I strode through the large open-plan room towards my office. I blocked out the sound of phones and voices as several people nodded in our direction.
No one stopped me for a chat; they knew better. I’d quickly made that apparent to everyone when I’d moved May into the head office after Alexander died. I didn’t have time for idle chit chat. In fact, it drove me insane how people could bear to listen to inane drivel. I’d made no bones about my perception of the place. It was for business and business alone. Standing around chatting was not what I paid people for.