“What do you plan to do if that happens?”
Ronny thought for a moment, drumming his fingers on the desk. “I don’t want to sell.” He sighed. “I love this place. It’s my dream.”
“Then there’s your answer,” I told him.
“It’s not that simple,” Ronny said. “Give me a client, and I can talk to them, no problem. But this Aaron Patterson … he’s something else.”
“What about his brother?”
“Devon?” Ronny shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything bad about him. He sort of keeps to himself. Then again, I would too if my brother was like that.”
“What is it about this Patterson guy that has you so freaked? I know he’s successful, but you’ve dealt with competitors before. What’s different?”
Ronny sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. “He’s the most intimidating man I’ve ever met,” he admitted. “I was only in the same circle of people, with him at a press event, for three minutes. But it’s a silent intimidation, you know? He’ll sit there, sizing you up, and you think he’s not paying attention to the conversation, but then, when he does talk, you’re hit with this flood of knowledge and insight.” He paused for a moment. “Not to mention, he’s super attractive, and that makes it harder to talk to him.”
I chuckled. Ronny was a sweet guy and a romantic at heart, but he had never quite gotten a handle on talking to cute boys—not in high school, and not now. I patted his hand reassuringly, but I hoped Patterson’s legendary good looks wouldn’t make my cousin even more tongue-tied than he was on a good day.
“You’ll do just fine,” I assured him. “Don’t let him bully you. I don’t care how hot he is. Listen to what he has to say. If he makes an offer, decline politely and show him the door. It’s as simple as that.”
“You obviously haven’t met Patterson before.”
I didn’t care to. Aaron Patterson sounded like one of those rich business types who love to flash their money around and intimidate businesses smaller than their own. I had met plenty of men like him in my travels, men born into money who spent their lives in the certainty that it would open any door they cared to knock on. He might scare Ronny, but he didn’t scare me.
“What time is the meeting?” I asked.
Ronny checked his watch. “In about forty-five minutes.”
“Well, you sit in here and prepare yourself,” I told him. “I’ll make sure no one disturbs you and that they have their shit together before the Pattersons show up. Sound good?”
“We need to get the conference room ready …”
“No, meet here, in your office,” I suggested. “Seeing you behind the desk will remind them that this is your company and your office. You call the shots here.”
Ronny smiled. “What would I do without you?”
I returned his smile as I got to my feet. “We’re family,” I said. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
Once I closed his door behind me, I let my cheerful disposition fade slightly. Ronny was already so worried—if he found out I had concerns, it would only make things worse. This company was his life, and I hated seeing how something that once gave him joy now stressed him out. I could now see why his former assistant had quit and gone running for the hills. As good a businessman as Ronny was, he tended to let his insecurities get the best of him. I had known him my whole life, and I still wanted to strangle him from time to time.
For the next half hour, I did another lap around the office, letting people know we had an important meeting soon and that Ronny was not to be disturbed. Thankfully, they seemed to understand the gravity of what was going on and listened to me without question. After all, my role as an administrative assistant existed mostly in name only—I generally picked up other tasks around the office that needed tending to and delegating or managing when needed. My status as Ronny’s cousin helped my clout, as well. The usual chit-chat around the office quieted down as people focused on their work.
I had just sat back down at my desk when my phone rang.
“They’re here,” our receptionist, Caroline, hissed. Her voice whistled through the little gap in her teeth, and I imagined her wearing that frosted lip gloss she had refused to give up, even after the fashion tyranny of the early 2000s ended. “And, girrrrrrl, Aaron Patterson is just as hot as everyone says he is.”
“Thanks, Care,” I said. “Keep your pants on. You’re a professional.”
“A bitch can daydream, Aud.”
Chuckling, I hung up the phone and adjusted my pencil skirt and blouse, making sure I looked presentable. I had no sooner slipped my black blazer on than the elevator door opened. My eyes slid toward the sound as two men stepped out, and my stomach dropped.
At the end of the hall stood my almost-conquest from the night before. Caleb. He looked even more handsome than I remembered—and more severe. Gone was the lazy smile that had accompanied his sinful propositions. He’d slicked back his black hair, and he clenched his chiseled jaw as those deep brown eyes scanned the room with disinterest.
Shocked and confused, it took me longer than I would have liked to admit to put the pieces together.
Patterson. These are the Patterson brothers, I thought, mind racing. Before I could think on it any further, “Caleb” began to walk toward me, his steps sure and powerful, something I hadn’t noticed the night before. He hadn’t looked at me yet, his eyes still sweeping the room as he took in his new surroundings.
He seemed unimpressed.
The man who accompanied him was slightly shorter and seemed to be a couple years younger, baby fat still clinging to his cheeks despite being well out of his teens. He was more relaxed than Caleb and had a more cheerful expression on his face than the one of disdain his brother wore. They had similar bone structure, and their hair color was the same dark hue, giving away their relationship to each other.
“Devon Patterson,” the shorter man said as they both came to a stop in front of my desk, reaching out to shake my hand. “This is my brother, Aaron. We have a meeting with Ronald Pace.”
If the one speaking to me is Devon—that means …
Caleb—Aaron—tore his eyes away from the room to meet my gaze. His expression didn’t change, but his body language did. His shoulders tensed as his dark eyes stared into mine.
My mystery man from last night wasn’t just a handsome stranger looking for a good time. He was Aaron Patterson, The Aaron Patterson, billionaire and CEO of our rival company. The man who struck fear into the hearts of business owners and made women swoon. At least, according to the New York gossip scene—and my own experience from the night before—he did.
I was still so lost in my head that I’d forgotten Devon had spoken to me, and it took a good ten seconds for me to respond. I tore my eyes away from Aaron’s with no small amount of effort.
“Oh, yes, of course. He’s expecting you,” I said, remembering myself. I cleared my throat and tried to pretend I wasn’t having an internal freak-out. “Please, right this way.”
My world swayed as I walked down the hallway in front of the Pattersons. I felt light-headed, but, as much shock as I was in, I also began to feel angry. He had lied to me and not just about his name—that, I had assumed. He had lied about who he really was.