Trapped

Chapter 36: BEFORE

Chapter Thirty Six:

A meeting with an important figure.

—

MY CLIENT WAS seven minutes late.

I was already on my second drink, wondering how the hell someone managed to talk me into this.

Well, at least I was in my favorite Italian restaurant. Small and intimate, with classical music and personalized service. Not the kind of place where a person was required to wear a jacket, but one where you’d surely feel inadequate if you didn’t. Accordingly, I hadn’t changed out of the white button up polo and black slacks I’d worn to the office today. Now, however, I was regretting my decision to meet my client here rather than insisting I was far too busy for anything but a quick meal in my office.

Even though the restaurant was full of attractive men in suits and ties, my attention kept alternating between my phone and the heirloom gold watch I’d inherited when I’d received my degree from the University of Everdeen. I kept it in perfect condition, so much so that it was as accurate as the satellite from which my phone received its information.

Information that told me that my client is now eight minutes behind my schedule.

A local business associate, Harvin Phillip, had insisted I go to dinner with one of his cousins in regards to a particular project that their company wanted to hire for our software. I know that we’ve been talking in the country about a lot of businessmen—even business women—wanting to partner with us. This information isn’t new to my ears anymore. I used to turn down calls and meetings with other companies all because it wasn’t my position to approve anything for that matter.

I’m only an heiress, I’m not the owner who makes decisions for the company.

“Trust me, Chandria,” he told me a few days ago. “I know their company isn’t that well-known unlike the company you work at. However, they could really use your help, and I know that they can help you as well. Just one meeting and you’ll see. I promise.”

This would be the part where I tell him that I didn’t have power over such decision making… but here I was—sitting on a silver metal chair, waiting for that particular person that Harvin told me about.

While I hadn’t been looking forward to tonight, I’d had my mind wrapped around it as a necessary business event, no different than taking an associate out for a drink when I’d rather spend my time actually working. Just sitting here waiting, however, was a waste of everyone’s time, and if there was one thing I hated above all else—it was wasting time.