“Where are we heading?” she asked, surprised that he would be holding a meeting outside of Ortho Speare. “You always have your meetings in house.”
“Times are changing Donna.” he said as she stepped into the elevator after him and pushed the button for the underground parking lot. She watched as he fumbled a little with the cuffs on his sleeve. “And we have to change with the times.”
“You’re not one to be so receptive to change Keith.” she said without thinking and without looking at him too. “You just do you and fuck the rules.”
“Fuck the rules?” it was the first time she was being free beside him and talking to him like he was an old friend. It brought a smile to his face and he hoped she would not suddenly realize she was in the presence of her boss and revert back to factory reset.
She nodded. “Well there isn’t any rule against meeting outside of the company but it is quite unspoken as you never do it, but today… what’s different?”
“The client is what’s different, and what he is offering.”
She chuckled. “Two days I’m out of the office and Keith Preston changes into another man, now you’re concerned about what he’s offering too.”
His smile only widened. She could not see him for two reasons; she stood slightly in front of him and he was much, much taller than she was. She just kept her attention on the elevator buttons as the lights changed, indicating what floor they were on as they moved down. She just tilted her head from side to side as she spoke.
“I wouldn’t say concerned, he’s just important… kinda.”
She hummed and nodded her head. “I should very much like to see the man who had succeeded in bringing the Keith Preston of Ortho Speare out of his comfort zone.”
Keith chuckled and shook his head. The elevator dinged and the doors slid open.
“You’re chattier than usual Donna.” he said as he pulled his tie off and undid the top two buttons, stepped out of the elevator and walked ahead to where his car was parked.
Donna hurried beside him, trying to keep up with his pace, regretting why she had chosen to wear a straight skirt today and not pants. “I’m sorry-”
“No, don’t be. I much prefer it, and please Donnie,” he said, the fact that he had just called her “Donnie” shocked her and she lifted her head up to look at him standing by the other side of the car, surprise in her wide open eyes. He flashed her a smile and pulled open the car door. “Call me Keith, I quite like the sound of it.”
She stood outside the car, her hand on the door handle and unable to move as she could not believe what she had just heard, was her boss being extra nice or was it that he had started doing drugs and was probably high on something right now. Her brows furrowed.
The driver pushed the car’s horn once and the window rolled down. She bent a little to look at Keith inside the car.
“Do you plan on getting into the car today, Donna?”
She blinked once and then managed to gather herself together. He had just called her Donna. She let out a breath of relief, maybe he just had a split change of personality, somehow she much rather prefer her cold boss as she had gotten used to that.
She pulled the handle and jumped into the car as the windows rolled up, when she was all buckled in the back seat beside Keith, the driver rolled the car out of the parking lot and drove them to their destination.
The hotel which housed the restaurant they were to have the meeting was in the heart of Hontari and it was a popular one, not popular in the sense that they served the best food in town - which they actually do - but popular in the sense that not every man could afford it, even the big business men would avoid places like this except if they were trying to impress a big, international client. Keith had the money to afford such a place but he never did believe in spending all that money for something you could make in the comfort of your own home.
He may not look it, but Keith was a chef himself. It had shocked Donna too when she had learnt that her cold boss was a master in the kitchen.
The restaurant sat on the top floor, most of the walls and ceiling was made of glass, giving its customers a really excellent view of the city as they dined. It was in such a place they were to meet the man Keith had described as a mafia boss and crazy business tycoon.
His title alone had set Donna on edge, she knew Keith had always been careful in selecting his business partners and it didn’t matter how rich or influential they were, he selected them.
“Sorry we kept you waiting alone, Mr. Donovan.” Donna apologized on their behalf since she knew that Keith would never do it. During the long drive here and the elevator up, Keith had quickly briefed her on the man, his character, business, likes and a few other details he felt was necessary for her to know. Including the fact that he would most definitely try to flirt with her.
“That would not be a first for me.” she said without thinking.
Keith raised an eye brow and looked at her. “Cocky much, Donna?” to which she laughed.
James Donovan smiled back at her and leaned forward on the table towards her, and then with a smile and a wink he said. “Oh but darling, I’m not alone,” he leaned back against the chair’s back rest and straightened his suit, before adding. “My lady is in the restroom, she should be back here soon.”
Donna nodded back with a smile, grateful that he had come with a lady, that would save her from having to force a smile if he were to flirt with her, and sure enough, the door leading to the restroom swung open and a lady walked out, smiling in their direction and waving slightly to him.
“And there she comes.” he said with a wider smile.
Keith and Donna had their backs to the door, so when he mentioned that she had come, they turned and Donna could not believe her eyes at who she saw, she glanced over at Keith who maintained a half smile on his face. He bowed his head slightly in a chuckle, slightly shook it, and then turned back toward James Donovan. Somehow he was not surprised on seeing her, she had always been a wild one. He looked up at the man who was grinning widely as she approached them, looks like she had managed to snag another good one.