The Lady On Top

Setting Up A Date....

                   “That is not going to happen, gentlemen. I have said it before and I will say it again for the last time. My company’s designs, my company’s project. Anything other than that will simply not do.” Emilia kept her cool gaze on the four men that were currently sitting in one of the conference rooms at her company building. 

“Can’t you be flexible about it? There are just designs anyway,” one man commented, annoyance written on his face.

Emilia turned her green eyes to him. “There is nothing to be flexible about, Mr. Keane. That was what was stipulated in the negotiations and what is written in the current contract. I could have you sued for breach of contract if I wanted and win. You have wasted my time and my team’s time and resources. We are a company that values quality.” Emilia sat back on her chair, stapling her hands together as she rested her arms on the table. “Tell me something. We design the buildings and you take it to Singapore. You then contract someone else to use our designs and construct the buildings,” she gave them a small smile. “Are we together until there?”

“Get to the point,” Mr. Keane urged rudely.

Emilia smirked at him. “Then a few months after completion of the building, the walls start to c***k, the building seems unstable and so many other problems arise. Who will you blame?”

They were quiet for a few seconds before one other man replied, “the designs must have been wrong.” 

Emilia stood up, “and that, gentlemen, is why I will not allow my company to design something that will be created by someone who we have never worked with before and do not know their work ethics. I suggest that you look for another company ready to do that. Have a great day, Kim will show you out.”

There were a few grunts and name callings but Emilia did not even stop to listen to them. Blake Inc is well known for its dodgy business. Those who had worked with them before complained about their need to cut costs, even if it would compromise the quality of the end product. When they were first contracted, it was made clear that they were going to do everything from designs to the construction. However, all that changed with the change of management. Instead, they requested that Emilia and her team create the designs and have another contractor build them. After deliberating with her lawyers, it was clear that the contract signed was now void. And even though Blake Inc still tried to force her into creating the designs, Emilia was adamant not to. It was her right to refuse and ask for a new contract. But because she did not agree with the terms, their working partnership with Blake Inc ended before it even began.

Emilia walked into her room and sat down diving straight into her emails. She did not have time to deal with people like Mr. Keane and their pettiness.

“That was a showdown, boss!” Kim came in with a cup of coffee for Emilia. She sat down with her diary on the ready. “And they were so rude.”

Emilia smiled at her assistant, “they are men, they feel entitled. Enough about them. Tell me, Sophia left ok?”

Kim nodded, “yes. She left already. Adam is doing final touches. Would you like a site visit this week?”

Emilia shook her head, “no. Let’s set it up for Monday. I have meetings with board members and then need to sit with the finance team. I do not need any stress called Adam before that.”

Kim laughed, “he isn’t that bad.”

Emilia raised an eyebrow at her, “it’s because you are sleeping with him that is why you are saying that.”

Kim gasped with shock, “we-I? How did you know?” She asked lowly, her face red with embarrassment.

Emilia sat back and smiled, “You forget who I am, Kim. I know everything that all my helpers are doing, during my time and sometimes,” she shrugged, “during their personal time. It is my job to know. Just don’t let it interfere with your work. I wouldn’t want to lose you both.” She collected her laptop bag, car keys, and handbag before standing up.

“Wait, where are you going?” Kim stood and scrambled after her, amazed at the speed that Emilia walked in those high shoes.

“The Blake team has ruined the atmosphere here for me, I am going to work from the restaurant. Call me if anything urgent comes up,” she replied as the doors to her private elevator swung shut, taking her straight to the underground parking lot. 

The drive to her favorite restaurant wasn’t long and soon she was pulling to a stop inside the exclusive parking lot. Short steps took her to the VIP entrance.

“Miss. Roberto!” The VIP hostess beamed at her as she approached.

Emilia had always liked her. She was genuine. “Rose, hi! I am sorry I came without a reservation. Is there a way to get my usual table?”

Rose shook her head, “don’t worry about it. Unfortunately, your usual table is occupied right now. But, the upstairs is now complete and even more private.”

“Excellent!” Emilia beamed. “I will take that.”

Rose nodded as she called for a passing waiter, “please escort Miss. Roberto upstairs, table 4.” She instructed the waiter. “Have a good day, ma’am. Carlos will be with you shortly.”

Emilia nodded and followed the waiter up the stairs a little hidden from view. They walked through to nearly the end until they came to a stop at a table overlooking the huge window. Just the way she liked it. Emilia smiled at the waiter as he pulled her chair out for her, “thank you.”

Once he made sure that Emilia was settled, he gave her a small bow before walking away, passing the ever-smiling Carlos as he approached her table.

“Miss. Roberto, welcome!”

Emilia smiled at the tall man in front of her. Ever since she had started coming to this particular restaurant three years ago, he had been the one to serve her, except for the handful of times when he had been off work. Carlos was a tall blonde man, on the lanky side with wide grey eyes and blonde hair. He had a small dimple on his left cheek when he smiled.

“Carlos, hi.” She smiled. “Can I get a great cup of coffee to start and then I will order in the next hour or so. I am thinking of something veggie for today.”

“Anything you want, ma’am.” Carlos nodded as he collected the extra menus and placed them away to give Emilia more space to work.

Working in a restaurant was not ideal for some, but Emilia found that she could concentrate more. Maybe the times that she had spent with her father in the restaurant kitchen was the reason.

“Papa, I am hungry!” little Emilia had complained for the umpteenth time. It was one of the days where she got to spend time with her dad, waiting for her mother to get off work. Her dad had been a manager and head chef at a small diner that had once belonged to his parents. 

Her dad had looked at her and smiled. “How many meatballs have you had so far?”

Emilia had raised one finger up. When her dad raised an eyebrow at her she sighed, “ok, maybe a couple! But they are so good!”

Her dad had walked to the table, three meatballs in a bowl. He had placed the bowl in front of his daughter and leaned on the tabletop. “These were my mom’s favorite. She taught me how to make them from scratch.”

Emilia had licked her finger as she finished devouring yet another meatball. “Will you teach me how to make them too?”

“Sure thing, munchie!”

Emilia had frowned, “but why didn’t your mother teach my mother how to cook? She burns everything!”

Her dad had laughed and ruffled her hair, “each to their own, little munchie. Each to their own.”

There was a clearing of a throat just to her left as if someone was trying to catch her attention. She turned and noticed that Maximilian was seated on the table closest to her. “Are you stalking me now, Mr. Stone?” Emilia asked as she sat back on her chair and fixed him a dark gaze.

“On the contrary, Ms. Roberto, I would say you were stalking me. I was after all here before you.”

Emilia gave a slight nod, “but I made no move to catch your attention. In fact, I was not aware of your presence until you oh-so-indiscreetly cleared your throat.”

Maximilian placed a hand on his chest, “You wound me, Ms. Roberto.” He stood up from where he was sitting and made his way to where she was, pulling a chair before even asking for her permission.

“I did not ask you to join me,” Emilia pointed out.

“True,” Maximilian nodded then looked around the room which was now occupied with more people. “But I am sure we do not want to inconvenience all these people with our across the room conversation.”

Emilia looked around, for the first time noticing the looks that they were getting from other people in the room. She quickly looked away and focused on her laptop. “But I do not want to have a conversation with you.”

“That is fine,” Maximilian shrugged and sat back, crossing his leg over his knee. “We can sit here quietly as you continue to work and I continue to admire you.”

Emilia looked up sharply at him. She knew people like him. She had dated one for a few years before learning the hard way what he was all about. She was not going to make the same mistake of allowing another to enter her life. Without a word, she started collecting her things, ready to leave.

Maximilian frowned when he saw this and reached out to stop what her hands were doing. “Please stop, Ms. Roberto. I mean no harm. Honestly, all I want is your company during my lunch break.”

Emilia retracted her hand quickly away from his on the table and looked at him for a few more seconds before shaking her head. “What do you want, Mr. Stone?”

“We can start with you calling me by my name,” Maximillian replied as he settled back to his previous position. “Mr. Stone is my father. I am Max.”

“Ok,” Emilia replied as she placed her elbows on the table, stapled her hands together, and rested her chin on them. “What do you want from me, Max?”

“To take you out for dinner,” Maximilian replied without hesitation. 

Emilia raised an eyebrow at him, “Just dinner?”

Maximilian gave her an arrogant smirk, “Can’t promise anything but being a gentleman for the night.”

“Let’s say I agree to this dinner,” Emilia tilted her head to the side and bit her bottom lip. “Will that get you off my case?”

Maximilian lowered his gaze, hiding his eyes from her. “It would be a stepping stone.”

“To what?”

“Getting to know each other better and hopefully become friends.”

“Just friends?” Emilia asked, the disbelief evident in her tone.

Maximilian laughed and turned to look at the people around the room, “I am not going to say anything that will jeopardize my chance to dine and wine a fine woman. I plead the fifth.”

Emilia could not help herself or control the laughter that escaped her lips. “Do you know pleading the 5th is like stating that you are guilty?”

“I am just agreeing to keep quiet and not answer your previous question,” Maximillian stated. “So how about it?”

Emilia studied him for a few seconds, taking in the confident look he had on his face. What would possibly go wrong with eating out with him? She asked herself as her gaze swept over his face. “Ok.” 

Maximilian frowned. “Ok as in-?”

“Yes, I will have dinner with you this weekend.”

“Perfect. I will call you,” Maximilian said as he unfolded his tall frame and stood up. 

Emilia looked up at him, “You don’t have my number.”

Maximillian smiled, “I will call you,” he said once again and walked out. 

Emilia sat back on her chair and watched the man walk out of the restaurant, a frown marring her face as she thought about why the man would seem to be after her company. A life of betrayal has made her very wary of people’s intentions towards her and the nagging voice that was always in the back of her mind was screaming.

Reaching for her phones she quickly dialed a number of one of the two men she trusted with her life. 

“Hello, Shaw.” She greeted as the call connected, her mind already working at fast speed.