Matt looked astonished. “I don’t get it. Why the changes? I didn’t see anything wrong with the requests.”
Sal looked at Matt. “There’s more to it than I am at liberty to say,” was all he would reveal.
Matt took in Sal’s stern expression and stood up. “I understand,” he said. After a moment, he shook his head and said, “Actually, I don’t but I know you have your reasons.” Matt took the list and left the office, leaving Sal with a mysterious expression on his face.
Sal put his hands into his pants pockets, trying to anticipate all the possible outcomes of this action. He considered each of his brothers and how he would counter their arguments. Satisfied that he had everything covered, he called up Phil Massey again.
“Phil – we’re starting. Can your people meet tomorrow to discuss the initial list of requests?’
Phil hesitated for only a moment. “I’ll have them there.”
They discussed details for a few minutes, and then hung up, agreeing to play squash later in the week.
Laci held her briefcase in front of her as she and Jim rode up the elevators. She tried not to let her nervousness show, but she wasn’t sure she was accomplishing anything.
She was about to see Salvatore Attracelli again after three years. She’d seen his picture in the newspaper occasionally. He regularly dated society women or models which made the paparazzi drool. The business section quoted him occasionally as well. He was one of the business power people of Washington, D.C., setting the trends and leading the pack.
But was he really as gorgeous as she remembered? As handsome in person as he was in the newspaper? She couldn’t imagine anyone could live up to her memories. He was almost larger than life now and too handsome for words in her mind. Laci convinced herself that she’d built him up in her mind because she’d been so tired and overwhelmed with finals for school, job interviews and studying for the Bar exam.
Oh, but the way he’d made her feel as they’d danced slowly together! She thought back to that one dance and how she had shivered in his arms, loving the gentle but firm way he’d held her.
Laci shook her head and refocused on the present. That had probably just been the exhaustion but he had made her blood sing. She remembered the muscles under the fine wool of his tuxedo. And the strong legs leading her through the dance. He had so much strength, but his hands had been extremely gentle, as if she had been made of china.
She probably wouldn’t even see him, she thought as the elevator ding sounded, indicating that they had reached the fifteenth floor. The doors opened silently. The executive lobby was an impressive room, filled with gorgeous, wood antique furniture and thick green carpeting. The lighting was subtle and subdued. Laci hesitated before stepping onto the carpet, suddenly feeling like a school girl again.
A stern woman in a brown tweed suit was heading directly towards them, a slight smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m Norma, Mr. Attracelli’s secretary.” She turned her stern gaze onto Jim. “You must be Jim McPherson,” she said and extended her hand to shake Jim’s. “And you’re Laci Anderson,” she said and offered the same hand. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to the conference room,” she said and immediately turned, not waiting for a response from Jim or Laci.
Jim glanced at Laci, his eyes widening, indicating that he had the same impression of the fire breathing woman. Laci had to suppress a laugh, understanding his look immediately.
They were led into a handsomely appointed conference room with a long table polished to a high gloss. At one end, the wall consisted completely of floor to ceiling windows. The other end of the room held a bar and sitting area. There were twelve leather chairs surrounding the table.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?” Norma asked, standing beside the door as if she were about to bolt away.
Both Laci and Jim declined and Norma went on to explain, “Matt Kingsley will be here shortly. He is the ATI lead for these negotiations. I’ll ensure that he is on the way so you both aren’t kept waiting.” With those words, she left the room, leaving Jim and Laci to stare blankly at the door.
Laci immediately put her briefcase down beside one of the leather chairs and turned to Jim. “What do you think?” she asked.
Jim shook his head. “I’m not sure what to think,” he said, referring to the reason they were here. “It is odd to have to work this one with ATI based on their union-friendly reputation. We’ll have to see how this plays out,” he said.
Laci nodded her head in agreement. “I wonder what he’s up to.”
“Who?”
“Salvatore Attracelli,” Laci explained, biting her lower lip in concentration. “It’s just odd the way this is falling out. I wonder if something else is going on that we’re not aware of,” she said.
“Do I always have to have an ulterior motive?” a deep voice from the doorway asked.
Laci’s heart immediately went into overtime as soon as she heard his voice. She had her back to the door to the conference room but she slowly turned to face him.
It was worse than she realized. The man standing non-challantly in the doorway was more handsome, more attractive and definitely more dangerous than she remembered from her sister’s wedding.
This man was devastatingly gorgeous, she thought.
Sal came over and took Jim’s hand. “You must be Jim McPherson. I’ve heard good things about you. Glad to meet you,” he said. Then he turned to Laci. “How have you been?” he asked, his eyes taking in her face.
Laci smiled, wishing she could think of a witty reply. But all she could come up with was, “Fine, thanks.”
Another voice came in and interrupted her thoughts. Laci was thankful to be introduced to Matt Kingsley, apparently the legal director for ATI.
“I’ll leave you all in good hands,” Sal said. “Laci, can you stop by my office before you leave today?” he asked from the conference room doorway.
Again, all she could do was nod her head.
He left the conference room and she was able to relax again. And breathe. Her breath came out in a huge ‘whoosh’. She hadn’t even realized that she’d been holding it.
The three of them sat down at the conference table and pulled out their notes. “How about if we go over the salient points?” Jim said as he sat across from Matt.