Chapter Fifteen
1239 Words
Chapter Fifteen
“Thanks for stopping by,” Adalia said, glaring up at Michelle with a forced smile. It was her ‘f**k you’ smile and it showed the danger she had in her.
Adalia was not a pushover – not anymore, at least.
The hot guy folded his arms and then dropped them down to his side, giving Michelle a sidelong glance. “We gonna sit down and get some dinner or what, babe?”
“In a minute,” she snapped, not removing her hand from the back of Trent’s neck.
Trent finally moved away from her, shifting in his chair to glare. “What do you want, Michelle?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. I just thought we’d say hello.”
“You’ve said hello. Now, leave us in peace.” Trent took up his refilled glass and sipped from it. “We’re in the middle of a private conversation.”
“Of course, but I thought I’d let you know that Mr. Harrington called about commissioning the new shuttle for its trial run.” Michelle picked an invisible speck of dirt off her bright red silk mini-dress.
Adalia repressed the urge to slap her.
Trent perked up and put down the glass. “Mr. Harrington? What did he say?”
“He suggested you call him immediately. I believe it’s important, sir,” she whispered, bending over to display her fake cleavage. Her date was captivated by her a*s and Adalia rolled her eyes.
“Why didn’t you phone me?”
“I tried, sir, but you didn’t answer,” Michelle murmured, hair hanging as a curtain in front of her face. Adalia folded her hands on the table and waited patiently. Work was work, but it was so obvious that Michelle had planned this.
Maybe she’d known he’d be here; she was his assistant after all.
Trent looked over at Adalia and studied her.
“It’s okay, do what you have to do. I totally understand,” she said, before he could bring out the question or apology.
“Thanks,” he replied, then took up her hand and brushed his lips across the back of it. The sensation was soft and warm, but Adalia’s insides had turned cold at the sight of that woman.
Michelle straightened and waited for Trent to rise. He did so, brought out his phone and excused himself. Adalia didn’t watch him go, but focused on his tall assistant instead: she hadn’t excused herself yet.
“Hun, could you get me a spritzer at the bar? I’ll meet you there.”
“Thought we were gonna blow this joint after you spoke to the boss man,” the trophy boy replied, and Michelle wrapped her arms around him and pressed her chest against his. He stammered wordlessly.
“Just get me a spritzer, darling, and I promise I’ll blow whatever you like before the night is out,” she moaned into his ear, but loud enough for Adalia to hear.
The guy coughed, nodded and hurried off like a good little minion. He positioned himself at the bar and raised two fingers, then tapped his feet, bobbed his head and stared back at Michelle.
“Wonderful to see you again, Ms. Montclair,” Michelle said, her tone belying her true feelings.
“You, too.” Adalia’s reply was calm, and she drank more champagne to dull the residual nerves from being on this damn date in the first place.
“Are you enjoying Trent’s company?” Michelle licked her red lipstick and clicked her tongue.
“I sure am,” Adalia said with a sun-bright smile. “We get on really well.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” Van Heerden said then glanced at her date and back to Adalia. A few of the other diners looked over at them; several of the women frowned at the sight of the model-like Michelle positioned close enough for their husband’s to touch.
“Can I help you with something else? You delivered your message and interrupted our evening successfully, as I’m sure was your goal, but you’re just standing there.” Adalia lowered her voice, and traced a line on the tablecloth to signify her innocence. “I mean, no offense or anything, but you look kind of silly just hovering around here.”
Michelle slid into the wooden-backed chair that Trent had vacated and propped her elbows on the table. “That’s cute. Is that all you’ve got?”
“Oh, I’m sure you can ask Trent what I’ve got.” Adalia spat it out and didn’t allow herself to regret it. Van Heerden needed to be put in her place. “I admire your work ethic, coming all the way down here to give Trent that message, but there’s such a thing as work appropriate attire. And that,” Adalia paused, gesturing at the woman’s cleavage, “is definitely not it.”
“Oh, you like this?” Michelle leaned back and ran her fingers over the slopes of her breasts. “I’m sure Trent does, too.”
“I’m sure I don’t know why you’re still sitting at this table.”
“To deliver a message.”
Adalia sighed at her stupidity and made it obvious. “You did that already.”
“No, a different one. It’s for you, but I guess you could call it more of a warning than a message.”
“I’m all ears.” She pushed back in her chair and c****d her head to one side, waiting for Ms. b***h to lay it on thick. What would it be this time? An ultimatum? A death threat?
“Stay away from Trent Dawson.”
“I’ve heard this all before.”
“He’s mine, do you understand me? I’ll do whatever it takes to get you out of the way and out of his life.” Michelle rammed her long nail into the table cloth to accentuate her point. “Whatever it takes.”
“Including breaking your fake a*s nails off? I’m terrified, girlie, but I’ve got bigger problems than your ego.” Adalia waited a few seconds. This was the moment of truth for her... defending her feelings for Trent meant that she was all in. He was the one she wanted.
Michelle scraped back in her chair but Adalia reached out and gripped her arm.
The assistant stopped and raised both of her penciled eyebrows. “Let go of me.”
“Here’s my warning to you, chick. I don’t ever back down, so if it’s a fight you want, it’s a fight you’ll get. Though, it’s pretty clear to me that Trent has already made his choice.” She tossed the assistant’s arm away and dropped her shoulders, relaxing her entire body.
Michelle tensed up and stood. “Watch your back.”
“That’s what I’ve got you for.”
Adalia wasn’t going to give up Trent – she’d fallen too hard and too fast for that. She wanted to know him better, to see him for who he really was, rather than the mystery of his character.
Trent appeared in the doorway and strolled over to them with a broad smile, though he paused to shake his head at Michelle and wave her off.
“Is it good news, sir?”
“I’ll talk to you at work on Monday,” he replied, settling into his seat and lifting his drink.
“Are you sure?” Michelle tried to entice him again, jiggling on the spot in mock excitement, but Trent didn’t reply. His gaze was fixed on Adalia.
“I’m sorry for the interruption,” he said.
“It’s no problem, really, I understand about work.”
“That’s great,” he replied, then looked for their waiter. “You still hungry?”
Michelle hovered nearby, waiting for another dismissal or an opportunity to interrupt.
“Well,” Adalia said, running her forefinger down the length of his forearm and to the tip of his thumb, “I was thinking we could do that after.”
“After.” He smirked. “Let’s settle the bill and get out of here.”
Trent pulled back her chair and she escorted him to the maître d’ with a Cheshire-cat smile.
She made sure to shoot it back over her shoulder at Van Heerden, who stood glaring after them with her date tugging at her arm.
Trent Dawson was her man now.
- Writer
