Laci laughed, watching his control turn to assumed boredom. “And someone who doesn’t tease you in any way,” she finished.
“Were you teasing?” he asked dryly.
Sal sat back in his chair and enjoyed her refreshing humor. She was definitely a breath of fresh air. And she was more lovely than he remembered now that she was sitting across from him, looking like a seductress. Even the boring tweed suit couldn’t detract from her porcelain skin, her twinkling eyes that sparkled when she teased him. The prim cut of the suit couldn’t hide her luscious figure either. Her breasts were too full while her waist and her hips were too slender.
“No. But I can tell you’d try to stare anyone who teased you into submission. I’d assume you are not used to anyone disagreeing with you either.”
Sal shook his head. “Not true. People disagree with me all the time. My brothers…”
“Don’t count,” she interrupted. “Family doesn’t count in this. You can’t get rid of family. You can get rid of girlfriends, boyfriends or employees. Besides, we were discussing your taste in women, not your family dynamics,” she countered. She leaned back, feeling more in control as she took a sip of wine.
“I guess you have me all figured out,” he said. Then he slowly leaned forward and took her hand. “Except for one thing,” he said, rubbing his thumb against the palm of her hand.
Laci’s mouth went dry. “What’s that?” she croaked.
“If my type is tall, blond, spoiled women, why am I here with you?” he asked.
Laci pulled her hand out from his, hiding both under the table. “That brings us back full circle. Why am I here?” she challenged.
“As I said, you’re a beautiful woman and I’d like to get to know you better.”
She shook her head. “I don’t believe you,” she said breathlessly.
Sal sighed. “Well, then, how about if you try and get to know me? As part of the negotiating team, shouldn’t you be trying to find out more about me? Find my weaknesses? It’s easier to do in a social setting. If you wait until we’re in the heat of an argument over health benefits, you won’t have many weapons at your disposal.”
Laci knew he was right. Part of her job was to understand the opposition so she could better argue the possible points brought up.
“What’s it like running a company as large as ATI?” she asked tentatively.
She saw approval in his eyes with her question. She wished it didn’t matter, but for some reason, his approval was very important to her.
“I assume it has its ups and down’s just like any other job,” he answered.
Laci shook her head. “But you’re responsible for over fifty thousand workers. Doesn’t that weigh on your mind a little?”
“Of course. But if I think about it too much, I won’t be able to react.”
“I guess that’s true. How did you train to become the head of a multi national corporation?
“The same as anyone I guess. I was raised to the position. As were all my brothers.”
“Don’t you have a sister as well?”
“Actually, I had two. One died a long time ago. Antonia doesn’t work in the family business but works with her husband.”
Laci smiled at that comment. “I heard a little bit about Antonia’s romance with Brett Hancock. I understand there were some issues with them.”
Sal grimaced. “Well, that’s all the in past. They have a little girl now.”
“I heard,” Laci smiled nostalgically.
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Laci said, coming back to reality.
“Do you want to get married, have kids?”
Laci looked down at her napkin. “Oh, sure. I bet every woman wants that deep down at some point in her life.”
“Why aren’t you married yet?”
“My prince charming hasn’t come and swept me off my feet,” she joked.
“And if he did?”
Grimacing, she shook her head, “I’d probably think he was trying to mug me and hit him over the head, then the other way as fast as my feet could move.”
Sal threw back his head and laughed. “I can imagine you doing just that,” he said when he stopped laughing.
Laci blushed at the look of admiration in his eyes. “Well, yes.” She said awkwardly. “How old were you when you started running ATI?” she asked, searching for a safer topic.
“I was thirty when my father died but I’d been running things for about four years before that. What about you?” he asked. “Why did you decide to go into law school?”
Laci took a sip of wine, smiling over the rim. “It isn’t a wonderful story, I guarantee.”
“Let me be the judge,” he replied.
She set down her wine glass and folded her hands on her napkin. “When I was in high school, I worked part time as a waitress for an ice cream parlor. It was fun but I didn’t make a lot of money. I had a junky old car that broke down pretty often.”
She watched him, trying to gauge whether he was really interested. But he just smiled interestedly so she went on. “I fixed whatever I could by myself but when it was too complicated, I had to take it to a mechanic. I didn’t know it at the time but once I found out a little more about cars, I realized I was being swindled. As I got older, I was able to learn more and found out that most of the parts I had been paying to be replaced, hadn’t found their way to my car. And if they were installed, some hadn’t needed to be replaced in the first place. So when I went to college, I decided that I was going to get my law degree so I could sue mechanics.”
Sal chuckled. “As good a motivation as any,” he said.
Their lunch came and Laci savored the wonderful tastes of the perfectly cooked salmon and salad.
“Why all the odd demands?” she asked bluntly.
Sal looked up at her, his face a blank mask. “Why do you think they are odd?”
“They aren’t odd, necessarily. But they just don’t fit with your normal mode of operating.”
“Perhaps it is time to spice up the competition. If everyone knows what one is going to do, life becomes a little boring, doesn’t it?”
“Is that what you’re trying to do? Confuse your competition?”