But I have to.
"Leave him alone, Asher," Ryker says.
"What?" Asher turns to him. "Would you like me to pick a woman for you instead, little brother?"
Ryker frowns. "Stop calling me that."
I finish my Scotch. "Cut it out, Asher."
"Fine." He lets out a sigh. "But promise me that the two of you are going to have some fun in Switzerland."
"Sure," Ryker says.
I don't answer because I don't make promises I can't keep. I'm going to Switzerland with one goal in mind - to make sure this acquisition goes through. Then again, who knows? Something tells me things will be more interesting now that I've decided to change my plans a bit.
I just have to let Stella know on Monday.
~
"Come in," I tell Stella after she knocks on the door to my office.
She steps into the room. She's back in her usual attire - crisp gray dress with a thin black belt around her waist. The strands of her hair are confined in a bun.
Too bad. She really does look better with her hair down. But maybe this is better. Maybe this way, I won't have a hard time remembering that she's my assistant even though I know more about her now.
I listen as she informs me about my schedule for the day. As always, when she's done, she puts the tablet down and meets my gaze.
"Is there anything you would like me to change about that, sir?"
"No. It's fine."
Even though I want to take it easy, I still have a lot of things to do to prepare for the trip to Switzerland. Also, I need to take care of some things so the company doesn't fall apart while I'm gone.
"Anything else I can do for you?" Stella asks next.
"Yes, actually." I lean forward on my desk and keep my eyes on her face in anticipation of the change in her expression. "I want you to pack your things."
Her eyebrows arch and her jaw drops. Disappointment spreads over her features.
"Am I... getting fired? If this is because of what happened last..."
"No," I cut her off. "You're not getting fired. In fact, I'm giving you a raise."
Her eyes grow wide. If she's surprised and thrilled now, I just know she'll be over the moon when I give her my next bit of news.
I draw a breath. "The reason I'm asking you to pack your things, Stella, is because I'm taking you with me to Switzerland."
Chapter Three
Stella
Ethan is taking me with him to Switzerland? I can't believe my ears.
He's never brought me along on his business trips before. Why now? Why all of a sudden? If he was planning on bringing me along, he could have told me weeks ago. I've already made all the arrangements. He didn't think of it then, so why think of it now? What made him change his mind?
"I know it's a bit sudden," Ethan tells me. "But I've realized that this trip is even more important than I thought. I've never handled an acquisition this big. I want to be prepared for anything, so I need you there."
Perfectly understandable, but I still can't bring myself to believe it. My fingers clutch the edges of the tablet in my hands, afraid that like this dream come true I've just been handed, it might slip away and shatter.
Can this be real? Is it really alright for me to go to Switzerland with Ethan? I mean, we'll be traveling together and we might find ourselves alone together. What if I lose my composure again like I did last Friday? What if he notices that I'm attracted to him? What if I make a mistake and embarrass him?
"Of course, if you don't want to come or if - "
"I want to come," I blurt out as I find my voice.
What's wrong with me? I've been waiting for an opportunity like this ever since I started working here. I've been wanting to travel to Europe ever since I can remember. Why am I hesitating now? What am I so afraid of? So what if Ethan and I are going to Switzerland together? It's a business trip. We'll be busy. If ever we're alone together, we'll be working. And I won't lose my composure again. I won't make any more mistakes.
I clear my throat and hold my chin high as I regain my bearings. "I mean, if you need me there, then I'd be happy to go with you and help you in any way I can... sir."
Outside, I'm trying my best to stay calm. Inside, I'm bursting with excitement. Fireworks have gone off in my head. My heart is leaping out of my chest, as if wanting to get to Switzerland ahead of me. My toes are curled inside my pumps. My feet are itching to propel my body off the floor, my shoulders yearning to do a little dance.
I can't wait to go to Switzerland.
"Good." Ethan leans back in his chair. "I trust you'll make the necessary changes."
"Yes, sir."
He nods. "That will be all for now."
I turn and walk out of the room even though I feel like skipping. As soon as I'm back at my desk, I sit down and clasp a hand over my mouth to hold back a scream. Then I do my dance in my chair, unable to contain myself any longer.
I'm going to Switzerland!
~
"I'm so happy for you!" Jess, my friend from marketing, sounds almost as excited as I am as she gives me a hug during lunch. Beside her, my other friend, Randy the IT guy, is still gaping, speechless for the first time since I met him.
"Thank you," I say. "I really am thrilled."
I actually want to go home and start packing - I already have a list of all the stuff I'm bringing in mind - but I know I can't.
"I know you'll be there for work," Jess says. "But promise me you'll go around when you have the chance. I want to see nice pictures."
"I will," I tell her.
Hopefully, I can get some time for sightseeing.
"I don't care where you go," Randy says, finally getting his voice back. "Just make sure you don't come back here without a box of chocolates with my name on it."
Jess raises her hand. "Me, too, please."
"And remember, I don't like chocolates with nuts," Randy adds. "Or nougat. Raisins is fine, but nothing citrus. I don't like a coconut filling, either. But I love caramel. Also, I love white chocolate."
Jess snorts. "Talk about picky."
Randy's eyebrows furrow. "Which is wrong because?"
"White chocolate with raisins or dark chocolate with caramel filling," I speak up before they start arguing. "Got it."
Randy rests his head on my shoulder. "You are such a good friend."
"I'm just glad you didn't ask me to pack a Swiss male model inside my suitcase," I tell him.
His eyebrows go up. "You can do that?"
Jess shakes her head. "Don't."
I was just kidding anyway.
"Speaking of gorgeous males, you know why I'm so envious of you right now?" Randy asks me then answers, "Because you're traveling with Ethan Hawthorne."
"Of course she is," Jess says. "She's his sidekick."
"I bet you'll be riding in his private jet," Randy says.
I pause a moment to think. "I think so."
That's why I didn't have to book tickets.
"And you'll be staying at the same hotel, right? Are you sharing a suite?"