Marcus replied immediately: "RIP. Can I have your ergonomic chair when you're gone? Also, office rumor mill says Winters was flirting with you. True?"
James hesitated, then wrote: "Possible job offer, not flirting."
"Sure, James. Victoria must be THRILLED."
Before James could respond, Victoria emerged from her office, coat and bag in hand. "I'm leaving for my appointment. Confirm the dinner reservation and make sure they know I want the corner table in the east section. The lighting is better there."
Of course she'd considered the lighting.
"Already done."
She paused at his desk. "Did you order a replacement for the lip balm?"
"It arrives tomorrow."
Victoria nodded, satisfied. "Good." She hesitated, then added, "That navy suit really does suit you, by the way. Much better than the funeral director look you normally favor."
With that backhanded compliment, she swept toward the elevator, leaving James staring after her. Just when he thought he had her figured out, she'd throw him a curve ball like that—a compliment wrapped in an insult, delivered so casually he couldn't be sure which part she meant more.
His phone buzzed again. Marcus: "She's totally jealous someone else might want you. Ten bucks says she wears something killer tonight to remind you what you'd be leaving behind."
James put his phone away, refusing to engage with that particular line of thinking. Victoria wasn't jealous. She was territorial about her employees, her company, her position. It wasn't personal.
At least, that's what he told himself as he headed home to change into the navy suit she'd specifically requested. Whether he was dressing to impress Victoria or to look his best while fielding a potential job offer from her rival was a question he wasn't quite ready to answer.
The Barrington was everything James had promised—elegant without being showy, exclusive without being stuffy. Victoria was already seated at the corner table when he arrived, nursing what appeared to be a gin martini. As Marcus had predicted, she'd changed into a black dress that managed to be both sophisticated and subtly sensual, with a neckline that drew the eye without being obvious about it. Her hair was down tonight, falling in soft waves around her shoulders—a deliberate choice, James knew, to project a more approachable image.
"You're early," she said as he approached.
"So are you." James took the seat across from her. "New dress?"
Victoria took a sip of her martini. "This old thing? I've had it for ages." A lie, and they both knew it. "Winters just texted. He's running ten minutes late—apparently his driver took a wrong turn."
"How inconsiderate," James said, signaling the waiter for a drink. "I thought he believed in the strategic advantage of punctuality."
Victoria's lips curved slightly. "He believes in whatever serves his purpose at the moment."
"You really don't like him, do you?"
"I respect his business acumen." She traced the rim of her glass with one perfectly manicured finger. "But no, I don't particularly like him."
"Any specific reason, or just general competitive animosity?"
Victoria studied him over the rim of her glass. "Curious about your potential new boss?"
"Just trying to understand the dynamics before he arrives."
She set down her glass. "Chad and I were... involved briefly during business school. Before I realized he viewed me as a conquest rather than a peer."
James tried to keep his expression neutral despite his surprise. "I see."
"It was a long time ago. Ancient history." She waved a dismissive hand. "But it's worth knowing that Chad has a habit of wanting things simply because they belong to someone else."
The implication was clear—Winters's interest in James might have more to do with taking something from Victoria than any genuine appreciation for his skills.
"Noted," James said, just as the waiter arrived with his drink.
Victoria leaned forward slightly. "That said, don't let my history cloud your judgment. If he makes you an offer, consider it on its merits."
James searched her face, trying to discern what she really wanted him to do. "I told you, I'm not planning to leave."
"Everyone has their price, James." Her eyes met his directly. "Even you."
Before he could respond, Winters appeared at their table, looking impeccable in a custom suit that probably cost more than James's monthly rent.
"Victoria. James." He smiled warmly at both of them. "Apologies for the delay. The traffic was inexcusable."
Victoria's demeanor shifted subtly, her posture straightening, her smile becoming the practiced one she used for important clients. "No need to apologize. We were just discussing you, in fact."
"All good things, I hope?" Winters took the seat between them, effectively positioning himself as the center of attention.
"James was curious about our history," Victoria said smoothly. "I was filling him in on some of the details."
Winters's eyebrows rose slightly. "Were you indeed? That's unlike you, Victoria. You've never been one to dwell on the past."
"Consider it professional context for our current negotiations."
"Ah." Winters turned to James with a knowing smile. "She's warning you about me, isn't she? Telling you I'm the big bad wolf to her innocent Red Riding Hood?"
Victoria laughed, the sound both musical and somehow dangerous. "I think we both know I'm no one's idea of an innocent, Chad."
The tension between them was palpable, charged with history and competitive energy. James felt like he was watching a high-stakes tennis match where he couldn't quite tell who was serving.
Winters ordered a whiskey, neat, and leaned back in his chair. "So, James, you mentioned you've been with Victoria for nearly three years. What's your background?"
"James has an MBA from Cornell and worked in management consulting before joining Sharp Innovations," Victoria answered before James could speak. "He's overqualified for his current position, but I convinced him the experience would be worth more than a traditional career path."
Winters looked amused by her intervention. "I was asking James, but thank you for the resume highlights." He turned his attention back to James. "What I'm more interested in is why someone with your qualifications would choose to be an assistant, even to someone as formidable as Victoria."
James took a sip of his drink, considering his response. "I wanted to learn from the best. Victoria's reputation speaks for itself."
"Diplomatic answer." Winters smiled approvingly. "But there must be more to it than that. Sharp Innovations has an associate program for MBAs. Why not that route?"
Victoria tensed almost imperceptibly. James could tell she was wondering the same thing—a question she'd never actually asked him directly.
"The associate program would have given me broad but shallow exposure," James explained. "Working directly with Ms. Sharp gives me a front-row seat to high-level decision making that most associates never see."
"A strategic choice, then." Winters nodded thoughtfully. "You're playing the long game. I respect that."
Victoria's expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes—surprise, perhaps, or reassessment. "James has always taken a… unique approach to his career."
The waiter returned to take their orders, providing a momentary reprieve from the charged conversation. Once he left, Winters steered the discussion toward the potential partnership, outlining his vision for how their companies could work together to land the Anderson Group.