Knowing Me, Knowing You

For Ken

So you can finally

see your name

in a book

Chapter 1

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Ouch. How did I fit in these pants before? I felt completely cinched into what was once a pair of completely elegant trousers but now could possibly act as a chastity belt. I was too late to change so I wiggled a bit to shift my underwear, freed it from being wedged, and walked swiftly out of my bedroom before I changed my mind and my outfit. I picked up my handbag and stuffed my speech into it while I hurriedly made my way out of my apartment, completely ignoring the friction caused by my constricted pants. Gosh Lexie... you've got to attempt a spin class or two because these pants are too expensive to give up on.

I had 17 minutes to get to the Jacksonville Hyatt where I had to address several CEOs on why they should part with their money and give it to me. Maybe it was a good thing I wore these pants after all. I smirked to myself. Traffic moved along quickly and soon my Prius and me were at the hotel with 7 minutes to spare. The hotel conference room was intimidating - humongous wooden doors, indistinct patterned carpet and tables upon tables of suited CEOs and directors. Lyndsey, the perky blonde hostess, gave me my name tag - Alexandria Kaine, Co-partner, CSR Now - and showed me to my seat at the head table.

Ms. Kaine, I'm seating you between Pierre Martin and Greta Feldberg, okay? There was no real option here as Lyndsey held tightly to her seating plan and clipboard. I politely greeted Mr. Martin who was very abrupt and as Greta was not yet in her seat, I resigned to fidgeting in my chair as the nerves took hold of me.

I really should have sent Val. Valerie Bonaventure was my business partner and life long friend. She was excellent at financials and budgeting but rubbish at speeches. I sighed. I despised this part of business - the seminars and networking. If only people were easy to get along with but they could be so judging; I could be the next Nobel Laureate winner and all they would be thinking is what sizable thighs she has. Argh. Shit, the conference was starting.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for attending our 'Investing into the Future’ seminar. We have an excellent panel of discussions lined up for you on the best options for your next business investments. The chairman was exuberant and bounced on his toes as he spoke. Our line-up is as follows. From my right Dr. Oliver Leighton, Managing Director of Kenmor Investment Bank, Pierre Martin of Martin, Hodge and Co. Ltd, Alexandria Kaine of CSR Now and Greta Feldberg of JD Advertising. The crowd politely clapped at each introduction and we were off.

My mind raced as I ran over my speech and tried to smooth it out after stuffing it into my bag earlier. I barely heard the first speech and the second went with a blur as I tried to dry my cold, clammy palms on the cocktail napkin, which I fished out from under the provided glass of water. The napkin was a shredded mess by the time the second presenter was finished and my hands were no drier than when I began. I rose from my chair as the chairman introduced me and I glanced to my right, realizing that the Greta woman had not yet arrived.

I walked to the podium and for the third time that morning, regretted my choice of pants. Good morning to my fellow panellists, chairman, ladies and gentleman. I am sure you all are eager to leave here today with the tricks of the investment trade that can win you sure fire returns in the shortest time possible. I actually leave that magic act to my esteemed colleagues of the head table. I am here to introduce to you the new trend of corporate investment - corporate social responsibility. Now don't all rush for the bathrooms and refreshment table. I promise I will be concise and I hope you promise to listen for the next... umm, five minutes. I paused and smiled briefly. Satisfied that the audience did not all decide this was the time to check their emails and messages on their phones, I continued. "At my company, CSR Now, we are passionate about long term investment. We believe that the future of business lies in developing the community in which you do business. CSR demands that you quit ignoring the real social ills that plague your communities and commit to investing cash - yes cash - into the real future. Not just the future of your business. CSR reinvests all funds into getting the homeless, the pregnant teens, the so-called delinquents, into our reinvention centres where they literally reinvent themselves into whatever they want to be. They live, work and study in these centres and finish not only with a high school certificate but, sixty-three percent of our participants have earned their undergraduate degrees through various online universities."

I felt the nervousness leave as I spoke on my real passion - my work. Ladies and gentlemen... colleagues, these graduates are your new labour source, your new customers and your new community. This is no charity! This is the face of future investments that keep the economic cycle going. These same graduates can specialize in fields that you are lacking, your very own customized workforce that are indebted to a corporate landscape which built them up as human beings... you can’t buy loyalty like that. Well, actually you can but that’s a different topic. The crowd laughed lightly.

We aren't asking you to give away your money. We are asking you to invest into the human capital of our communities. That is a safer guarantee of returns than certain high-risk options. The key to our success is commitment. We shy away from one-off contributions that make companies feel they did their good deed for the year. We at CSR Now are looking for long term commitment. Pledge a meagre percentage of your bottom line every year or a set figure if you prefer, but commit! You would be surprised of the number of lives you can change by your small consistent contributions. Trust me, our organisation is run by two women and we can stretch a dollar like you can not believe. A few more chuckles. Colleagues, partner with CSR Now and literally see your investments take new shapes and develop into the most invaluable returns. Thank you. The audience applauded and relief washed over me.

I felt a bit intoxicated as I turned from the podium which could account for the fact that when I sat I did not realize there was someone sitting in Greta’s seat. I was still coming down from the fact that I got through my speech without incident when I heard a warm male voice whisper, Good speech. You almost had me won over except I want their deep-pockets for my own cause.

That’s why they have two pockets, sir, I retorted before I turned to see to whom I was speaking. When I turned I saw the deepest hazel brown eyes, dancing with amusement. I gasped and jumped back in my seat for fear of being too close to his face - his exquisitely handsome face. He had thick wavy black hair brushed casually back, enhancing his chiselled features and square jawline. What a chin! I looked at him for far too long before recovering myself.

You aren’t Greta, I stated as nonchalantly as I could but quite unsuccessfully. He smiled and his full lips lit up his face to match his amused eyes.

No, I am not, he said, smiling. He reached for his glass and sipped the water in a way that I thought was far too indecent and I blushed. Geez Lexie. It was time to go, I told myself, and started to pack my speech and other conference related pamphlets into my bag.

You’re leaving, Ms. Kaine? he inquired.

Oh... yes. I have a meeting to get to and I don’t think I am really needed for anything more.

Who is your meeting with, if I may ask? he inquired innocently.

Um... Polar Media. It’s on the other side of town and I can’t really drive fast in that car of mine so I must leave soon, I said, feeling the need to explain myself.

Polar Media is a subsidiary of Dorian Enterprises and I believe Mr. Dorian himself is here. You would be better poised to make a greater impact if you convinced the head himself, then all his companies will follow, he advised smartly.

Oh! Damn it Lexie, weren’t you more articulate on the podium. T-thank you. That is probably the smarter thing to do. I have never met Mr. Dorian though, could you point him out to me?

He smiled again, I will definitely do that but excuse me for now. I have to deliver a speech.

Of course, I said and turned to the podium as the chairman began his introduction.

Even more excitedly than before, the almost tiptoeing chairman said, We have a surprise speaker with us this morning and I know he needs no introduction. Seriously though, Mr. Chairman? I didn’t know who he was. Let us put our hands together to welcome our benefactor of this conference and the ‘Business Man of the Year’, Mr. James L. Dorian, CEO of Dorian Enterprises.

I turned swiftly back to face Mr. Dorian but he was already up and walking to the podium, the amused look still on his face. I could not help but grin at myself. I was such a fool. Big speechmaker I was and yet I did not even know the ‘who’s who’ of the business community. I truly intended to listen attentively to his speech but as I looked up, I noticed that the podium was a little too short for Mr. Dorian’s six feet-two inches frame and he had to bend slightly to reach the microphone. His right hand was in his pants pocket while he gesticulated with the left. The jacket of his pinstriped grey suit lifted up just enough for me to be fully and completely distracted by his captivating arse. I found my head angling just a bit oddly to get the best view of this rounded, perfectly sculptured muscle.

... And like Ms. Kaine before me, I fully endorse investment into our human capital. But I aim for a larger target. I aim for the world... I heard my name and jerked my head up straight to avoid any chance that I would be made out as ogling the utterly sexy Mr. Dorian. Not just sexy of course, he planned to rid the world of poverty through education and technology. In his speech he sounded like a modern day superman and by all means he would fill out those blue tights.

Just then my daydream came to a halt as I realized that if I could admire his bum from there then my ridiculously tight pants would have been quite visible to all the panellists, especially him, while I was at the podium. Oh crap! Fortunately, my self-pity was cut short as I heard the applause, which meant the end of the morning’s presentations by the panellists. Mr. Dorian stood aside as the chairman encouraged all participants to take advantage of the open bar and mingle with their colleagues.

Great. Networking. My second most hated task after giving public speeches.

Would you like a drink Ms. Kaine?

I looked up from my thoughts and there was Mr. Dorian - his dancing eyes looked at me attentively. Not willing to look flustered from my previous ignorance, I answered in the positive.

Yes, thank you. I'll have a scotch and soda water with a dash of bitters, please.

He looked slightly shocked but no less amused.

Again I felt like I had to explain myself, I only drink wine or scotch. Wine at social occasions and scotch when I’m nervous.

And CEOs make you nervous, Ms. Kaine? he asked smilingly.

Not the CEOs really, just the mingling part.

He nodded sympathetically. Scotch it is then, and he strode across to the bar in a few long graceful steps.

I finished packing up and picked up my bag. As I reached the edge of the head table’s platform, he had his hand outstretched to help me with the step down. I took it, relieved, as my stilettoes tended to choose the most untimely moments to throw me off balance. When I had let go, I felt the shadow of his touch on my hand, which left a pleasant lingering sensation. He then handed me my drink that was most dexterously balanced in one hand, along with his.

Do you drink scotch as well or have you decided to administer my suggested medicine for this kind of occasion? I asked smartly as I noticed he had the same drink in hand.

I suffer from the same malady as you do in these situations, Ms. Kaine, but this is in actuality my drink of choice, he offered with a half smile on his beautiful lips. Cheers, he said and nodded in my direction.

So, Mr. Dorian, are you going to grant me a meeting with you, as it was on your advice I cancelled my previous engagement? I asked.

Yes of course, but permit me to meet a few acquaintances first and then we can discuss your proposal, he said in a more serious tone.

Of course, I replied and with that he nodded to me again and walked off to meet a group on the other side of the room. I looked at the crowd and scanned all the faces. I barely knew three persons there and only from public knowledge. No one knew me. I swigged my drink in one shot, left the glass on the table nearest to me, and walked deliberately into the fray.

An hour later, I had one sore face from fake smiling, twelve business cards from potential contributors, one actual confirmed meeting in a week’s time and three additional drinks. Not bad Lex. As I still needed to secure a meeting with Mr. Dorian, I looked around the room to find him. He was shaking hands with the chairman and it seemed as if he was about to leave. I walked across the room quickly, though by the time my stilettoes allowed me to reach the other side, he was out the door. I followed.

Mr. Dorian. Sorry to bother you - I called after him.

He turned around and he looked at me questioningly. With four drinks in me and being held in by his eyes, I almost forgot what I wanted to ask him.

Can you still give me a moment of your time, sir? I asked when I recovered.

I am sorry, Ms. Kaine. I have to leave now but if you give me your number, I will call you to set up a meeting.

Sure. Here is my card and you can get me on any of these numbers. Please call anytime, I said a bit too eagerly.

He placed the card in his wallet and turned to leave. He paused, It was lovely meeting you, Ms. Kaine, and then he strode off down the hallway.

I felt a bit deflated. Yes, I had just missed a serious business opportunity and the fact that he did not give me his card spoke volumes, but what really bothered me was a sinking feeling in the base of my stomach, knowing that I wanted to spend more time in his company.

Chapter 2

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Who pulled the rug from under you?

I looked up. Gigi, my smartass assistant, looked at me with raised eyebrows and her perpetual look of a gossipmonger.

Stupid conference, I muttered. Where’s Val?

Gigi flicked imaginary strands of her pixie haircut away from her blue-green eyes. She was tall and slim and could have been a model but she was more inclined to an academic life. Gigi must have had two and a half degrees and half a dozen varied certificates under her belt with no idea what she really wanted to do for a career. Val and I keep her under our wing in the hope that she would one day find her true calling if we kept pushing her in the right direction.

She’s in your office. Her A/C is on the blitz.

I rolled my eyes. Val loved my office. I tried giving it to her but she would not take it. Yet she was always in there.

Hey Val, I said cheerfully as I saw her tugging at her blouse in front my A/C trying to get cool.

Hey hon, she said while she buttoned up. She turned and scrutinized my face. Oh crap Lex, you screwed up the speech didn’t you? she asked sympathetically.

No, I did not! I said indignantly and stuck my tongue out at her.

So what’s wrong?

Nothing! Why do you ask? I had not succeeded at hiding my guilt.

Val raised her eyebrows at me.

I'm miffed because I just missed a good business opportunity.

Really? What happened? Can we salvage it? With who? Val asked in one breath.

I sighed, I cancelled my meeting with Polar Media because the CEO of their parent company, James Dorian, was at the conference. So, I stayed to try to meet with him instead, but he blew me off.

Good call though Lex, but what do you mean he blew you off?

I explained what happened with no luck at hiding my disappointment. Val looked at me closely.

He is a busy man you know, Lex. He probably will call and if he doesn’t, it’s not like we don’t know where he works, she smirked. No big deal.

I shrugged and turned on my computer to start my day’s work. Val sat on the edge of my desk and looked at her smartphone. She was swiping furiously across the screen as if she was searching for something important. I ignored her and called Gigi to get me a cup of tea. I was just easing out of the strange feeling that I was left with that morning when Val jumped off my desk exuberantly and exclaimed, Ah ha! I knew it! and almost knocked my tea off the desk.

What the hell, Val!

You liar, Lexie! You aren’t upset ‘cause you missed out on a business deal! she accused.

I am not upset and yes, it is because I made a bad judgment, I said defensively.

Puh-leease Lexie. I would be brooding too if I missed an opportunity to talk to Mr. Tie-me-up-Tie-me-down, she teased, showing me his picture on her phone.

You Googled him? Val, you’re being foolish, I shoved her away playfully.

Fess up fast, Ms. Kaine.

I blushed because I remembered the way Mr. Dorian had said my name.

If you don’t tell, I’m calling Gigi and you know if she gets this story, the whole office will know. Val threatened.

Oh good grief, Valerie! Yes! Damn it, he’s freaking hot and I’m upset that I didn’t get to meet with him. I don't know what is wrong with me. I feel like I got jilted and it was just a simple business meeting, not a date.

Ooooh, you like him, Val toyed playfully.

"Yes Valerie. I think he's... gorgeous... and he has the nicest ass I have ever seen. I sighed. Okay, are you happy now? Can we end this? I do have work to do. And I’m sure the future of our company does not rest in you knowing who I think is hot," I said irritably.

Val laughed out loud and backed out my office door shaking her phone with his picture still on it, tauntingly.

I shook my head and turned back to my computer to start writing a new proposal but I couldn’t concentrate. I gazed around the office. The entire of CSR Now fitted on one floor. We were housed in an 18th century building that was renovated and donated by one of our first clients. The ground floor acted as a lobby and a library for our residents to study, with around the clock access. The second floor was an open room with floor to ceiling windows, intricate pillars and crown molding, that we rented out for functions to earn extra revenue. Our floor was a duplicate of the floor below but filled with about a dozen work stations, mostly second hand but sturdy. Val and I had the only enclosed offices and there was an elevated space that housed our conference table. It was not new but it was a significant milestone in our business since we started operations from Val’s townhouse 3 years earlier.

Hey quitting time, called Val from her office, hours later. I stretched. I was eventually able to concentrate enough to finish the proposal.

Drinks, Lex? asked Val at my door.

Noooo. I had enough today, thanks.

She looked confused and then laughed, Oh right, you took your ‘confidence boost’, she said making quotation marks with her fingers.

Four actually, I grinned.

Woah. You have a disposition of a horse. If I had four I would have been crawling into the office. She paused then gave me an evil look. In fact, if I had four I sure as hell wasn’t letting James Dorian out of my sight.

I rolled my eyes. Bye Val, I said dismissing her.

That night I fell asleep with my phone in hand and Mr. Dorian’s Google image on my screen. Pathetic.

A week later I had reasonably forgotten about James Dorian except for the fact that he had not contacted me for the business meeting. Val and I decided we would target all his subsidiaries instead and forget about him for now. I checked myself in the mirror before I left for work. What I would give to lose some weight. Thinking about it, I might have to give my entire left leg considering the amount I wanted to lose. I looked acceptable in my charcoal grey work dress. I had a medium brown complexion that looked good with most colours but I stuck to dark tones so that my hereditary 'thick' thighs and butt would not stand out so much. I brushed my long brown hair into a ponytail and decided that I really would start exercising. Soon.

That morning I walked to work, which was only a couple of blocks from my home. I purposefully found an apartment close by so that I could walk some days, as if the fact that I drove a Prius wasn’t enough on my part to save energy. I stopped off at Tea-Timers & Coffee-delity, my mandatory morning stop when I walked to the office. It was the perfect place because half the place looked like a coffee house and the other was designed like a traditional English teashop. I stood in the line, which snaked its way to the door as customary. I caught up on my emails and sent Gigi and Val the itinerary for the day. I finally got to the front of the line. As I opened my mouth to place my order, the barista stopped me before I got the words out.

So sorry ma’am. We have to fill a large order right now and this will mean there is a wait period of five to seven minutes, said the barista mechanically.

I understand but all I want is a cup of Earl Grey, I reasoned.

Okay. I will serve it to you in five to seven minutes, ma’am, and she turned to her team members to help with the order. I shook my head. Served me right. I could have made my tea when I got to the office. But I liked my morning ritual - the scent of all the tea and coffee blends wafting through the air and clinging to my clothes. I leaned on the counter and propped my chin in my hand while I mentally grumbled about the situation.

Eight minutes later I heard a man’s voice say Good morning, as he walked up to the counter. He stood next to me and said softly, Is my order ready, Tennille?

The barista, Tenille apparently, turned around and flushed. Of course, sir! Here they are; eight espressos, four Cubanos, five Americanos, two Italian roasts and one tall caffe mocha, no sugar, no whipped cream with skim. She was a lot less mechanical. A lot less. Shall I add it to your tab, Mr. Dorian?                       

My head swung up so fast that my neck cracked and I felt the pain straight up to my brain. Tenille had not lied. There was James Dorian with his powerful stature as he kept back a line of hard working people to pick up a truckload of coffee.

You have got to be kidding me! I said audibly enough for him to hear. He did not turn. I waited ten minutes for the all-powerful James Dorian to get his coffee order? All I wanted was a bloody cup of hot water and a tea bag. That’s it! That would have taken ten seconds! I was riled. Pissed at him and pissed at Tenille for being so damn happy to serve him.

He turned before I finished my rant and when he saw me his eyes opened wider and his lips twitched almost as if he were about to smile but thought better of it.

"Ms. Kaine. Please accept my