HIM
me is enjoying this, but a part of me also feels that it's a bit unfair. I open my mouth and say the first thing that comes to my lips without thinking it through first."Brady is quite a handsome, highly successful man. He cannot help that the ladies cannot keep their hands off him. If they weren't after his checkbook, maybe he'd be settled down by now," I say in his defense.
Everyone stops eating and looks at me. I may have to eat my words later, but despite mine and Brady’s tension between one another at work, we're still a team, and he's still a person. He doesn't deserve to be treated in such a manner by his family.
Brady has pure shock displayed all over his face, over the fact I just talked back to his parents in a conversation that I technically wasn't even a part of. His mother gives me a slight glare but seems more ashamed of their choice in conversation. They change the subject and do not revisit Brady's sex life the duration of our incredible dinner.
The rest of the courses are exquisite. I cannot begin to describe most of what I am eating because I am too intrigued by their display on my plate rather than paying attention to their name. I finish all nine courses since they were small portions. A dining experience I will never forget, that's for sure.
After dinner, Brady takes me on a tour of the rest of his parent's house. This house has a total of twelve rooms. We end the tour in his bedroom from when he lived with his parents before taking me on the backyard tour. His room is gorgeous, and the mahogany woodwork is impressive. His bedroom at his parents is the size of mine and Ris's two-bedroom apartment. The tapestry is beautiful, and I love all the decor. The mahogany sleigh bed ties the room theme together perfectly. We leave his room, which takes up most of the third floor, to head outside.
IN THE BACKYARD, THERE IS a lot to look at just like inside. I can spot a decent-sized pool, with a neat waterfall and a hot tub. There is a cute little pool house with an outdoor bar. Flowers, trees, and shrubs make the back yard feel like a park, with a tiny two-story house that sits off the yard tucked in the back corner. Brady says it is where the butler, maids, and other staff stay. We walk over a little bridge that sits over a small pond; coy fish swim around in it. I stop on the bridge, watching the fish. I wonder what they do with them during the winter.
"The pond is heated during the winter, so it never freezes, and they swim all year happily," Brady says.
I look at him, wondering if I said something out loud to make him say that just now.
"It's the first question everyone asks. Thank you for sticking up for me at dinner. You didn't have to, but it meant a lot. I know you don't like my ways, either," he says, looking at me so sincere.
I've never seen Brady this way, he may act like a hard ass and a huge jerk at work, but deep inside, I think he is possibly a charming softie.
"You're right, I don't, but I didn't think it was the appropriate time or place to be talking about it," I say.
He looks at me, and I look back down at the fish; I can feel him staring at me.
"What, Brady?" I say, looking back over at him.
"You have beautiful eyes," he says, stepping closer to me.
I look at him, taken aback by his comment.
"Thank you!" I reply.
I turn back to watch the fish and notice out of the corner of my eye that Brady is still looking at me and takes another step closer. I look at him, and he leans toward my face then kisses me. My eyes widen, and I push him away from me.
"Woah, Brady, what was that?" I say, a little disgusted in his action.
I am weirded out and feel uncomfortable. We were supposed to have a business dinner and be talking about the Christiansen account, not having a nine-course meal with is parents and engaging in inappropriate actions.
"Sorry, I just got carried away by the moment and had a few too many glasses of wine," he says arrogantly.
"Moment? There was no moment," I say rudely.
"Whatever you say, Ali. You know you want me," he says slyly.
The nerve of this man. I cannot believe what he's implying; he's unbelievable. I should have known he had an ulterior motive. I bet this was his plan the entire time. To seduce me so I would lose my focus on the Christiansen account, and he could take it out from underneath me. Not a mother fucking chance in hell I will let that happen. I earned this account, and its mine.
"Excuse you? You asked me to dinner to discuss the Christiansen account, but you end up bringing me here to have dinner with your parents. To what, try to make a move on me like I am one of the girls at work who will eat up your every word and part their legs like the Red Sea. I'm sorry, but you have the wrong girl," I bark.
I need to get the hell out of here and away from him. I'm irate. The audacity of this motherfucker, trying something on me, is absurd. I should've seen this coming, but I thought truly he wanted to discuss the project. I scurry back toward the house. I believed in him, but I should have trusted my gut instinct. Brady took advantage of my sincerity, and he crossed the line.
"Ali, wait. I'm sorry. Will you stop for a second, please," he shouts.
Desperately needing to leave but not knowing where I am to call someone to come pick me up, plus my purse and phone are in the house—I stop and