For a brief moment, Victoria looked like she might actually smile. Instead, she checked her reflection in the polished surface of a nearby plaque, adjusting her hair.
"Well, since you've already done it, I might as well review it. Send it to my phone. I'll look at it during lunch."
"You don't have lunch scheduled today."
"I'm having lunch with myself, James. Even I need twenty minutes away from the constant demands of running this company." She started walking toward her office. "Hold my calls unless it's Evans or the Henderson people."
James followed, making notes on his tablet. "The creative team needs your sign-off on the Weber campaign by three."
"Tell them it's garbage and they need to start over."
"You haven't seen it yet."
Victoria paused, turning to face him. "Do I really need to? Their last three concepts have been derivative at best."
"This one's different. Marcus brought in new talent."
She studied him for a moment. "Fine. Fifteen minutes at three-thirty. Not a second more." She resumed walking. "What's my five o'clock?"
"Dinner with Harrison Wells to discuss the merger possibilities."
Victoria stopped so abruptly that James nearly collided with her. "Cancel it."
"He's flying in specifically for this meeting."
"Then he should have confirmed yesterday when my assistant called his assistant. Twice."
James could feel a headache forming behind his left eye. "He was in the air. His assistant confirmed this morning."
"That's not good enough, James. My time is valuable."
"He's offering a twenty percent premium over market value."
Victoria's expression shifted slightly—the prospect of a good deal always captured her attention. "Fine. But move it to seven. And change the restaurant to Lucien's."
"They're fully booked."
A smirk played at the corner of her mouth. "Not for me they're not." She continued to her office, then paused in the doorway. "Call them now. I want to hear you do it."
It was a power play, pure and simple. Victoria knew that James hated making unreasonable demands of service workers, just as she knew that Lucien's would indeed make an exception for her.
James made the call, bearing Victoria's scrutinizing gaze as he worked his considerable charm on the maître d', eventually securing a table for seven o'clock.
"Satisfied?" he asked after ending the call.
"Barely adequate," she replied, but there was a gleam of approval in her eyes that made his heart beat a little faster despite himself. "Now, about the Evans tour. Make sure to highlight the third-quarter projections. He's particularly interested in our expansion plans."
"I thought this was just a courtesy tour."
Victoria sat at her desk, perfectly positioned so the light emphasized her cheekbones. "Nothing in business is 'just' anything, James. Evans has connections to three potential clients we've been trying to land. Make sure he comes away impressed."
James nodded. "I'll get the materials ready."
"And James?" Victoria looked up, her expression unreadable. "Try not to be threatened by him. I know how sensitive you can be about certain... shortcomings."
The deliberate dig made his jaw clench. "I'll try to contain my insecurity in the presence of his magnificent height."
Victoria's lips quirked. "See that you do." She turned her attention to her computer. "That will be all."
At precisely 2:00 PM, Richard Evans strode into the office like he owned the place, all six-foot-four of him dressed in casual designer clothes that probably cost more than James's monthly rent.
"You must be Mitchell," Evans said, extending a hand that James had to reach up to shake. "Victoria speaks highly of you."
James doubted that very much. "Mr. Evans. Welcome to Sharp Innovations."
"Rick, please." His smile revealed perfect teeth. "So where's the woman herself?"
"Ms. Sharp had an urgent call with the Tokyo office. She sends her regrets and hopes to catch up with you before you leave." The lie came easily—Victoria had made it clear she had no intention of seeing Evans until James had "warmed him up."
"Typical Victoria," Evans said with an indulgent smile that suggested familiarity. "Always making you work for her attention."
Something in his tone made James bristle. "Ms. Sharp values efficiency. Now, shall we begin the tour?"
For the next hour, James guided Evans through the office, highlighting the company's achievements and future plans. Evans nodded and asked appropriate questions, but his eyes kept wandering to the female employees, particularly the taller ones.
"So how long have you worked for Victoria?" Evans asked as they paused in the design studio.
"Almost three years."
"Impressive. Most don't last six months. What's your secret?"
James kept his expression professional. "I'm good at my job."
Evans laughed. "Come on, man to man. Victoria's a piece of work. Gorgeous, brilliant, but a complete ballbuster. How do you handle it? I've had CEOs with less ego and more consideration."
"Ms. Sharp has high standards," James replied stiffly.
"That's corporate speak for 'she's a nightmare.' Look, I get it—those legs, that face. Makes the rest almost worth it. Almost." Evans clapped him on the shoulder. "But you must have the patience of a saint. Or maybe you're just not the type she chews up and spits out."
James felt his professional facade slipping. "And what type would that be?"
Evans gestured vaguely at James's entire body. "You know. The kind that might be competition. No offense, but you're not exactly her usual... physical type."
"I wasn't aware Ms. Sharp had discussed her personal preferences with you," James said coldly.
Evans grinned. "She hasn't had to. I've met her last three boyfriends at industry events. All tall, all conventionally handsome. All thankfully lacking something upstairs, if you know what I mean. Victoria likes her men to be smart especially in her relationships." He winked. "Which is why I think I might have a shot."
Before James could formulate a response that wouldn't get him fired, his phone buzzed. A text from Victoria: "Bring him to my office. Now."
"Ms. Sharp will see you now," James said, relieved to end this conversation.
As they walked to Victoria's office, James felt a knot forming in his stomach. Evans's comments had hit too close to home, confirming everything he already knew about why his feelings for Victoria were both hopeless and irrational.
Victoria was standing when they entered, having clearly taken time to refresh her makeup and change into a form-fitting dress that showcased her figure to perfection. She'd also put the blue Louboutins back on.
"Rick," she said warmly, extending her hand. "So sorry to keep you waiting."
Evans took her hand, holding it slightly longer than necessary. "Victoria. Stunning as always. Your assistant has been taking good care of me."
Victoria's eyes flicked briefly to James. "James is invaluable. I'd be lost without him."
The compliment, delivered in that honeyed tone she reserved for people she wanted something from, made James want to roll his eyes. Instead, he maintained his professional expression.
"Will that be all, Ms. Sharp?"
Victoria gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Actually, could you bring in the projection models for our expansion? The ones on my private server."
It was a dismissal disguised as a request. James nodded and left, knowing full well that there were no such models on her private server. Victoria just wanted him gone while she worked whatever magic she planned to use on Evans.
Back at his desk, James found himself staring at his computer screen without really seeing it. Evans's words echoed in his mind, along with Victoria's countless small cruelties. By any rational measure, he should hate her. She was demanding, narcissistic, and deliberately belittling.
Yet every time she offered the smallest crumb of approval, he found himself pathetically grateful. Every rare genuine smile sent his heart racing. Even her scent lingering in the office after she'd left could distract him for minutes at a time.
It was professional Stockholm syndrome, he told himself. Nothing more.
His phone buzzed with another text from Victoria: "Evans is leaving. Schedule a call with him for Friday to discuss terms. And bring me a sparkling water. The Italian one, not that domestic garbage."
James grabbed the water from the executive kitchen and headed back to Victoria's office, steeling himself for whatever mind game she was planning next.
He found her standing by the window, admiring her reflection again.
"Evans gone already?" he asked, placing the water on her desk.
Victoria turned, a satisfied smile on her lips. "He's considering a seven-figure investment. Not bad for thirty minutes of my valuable time."
"Congratulations," James said flatly. "I've scheduled him for Friday at 10 AM."
"Make it 11. I have a breakfast meeting."
"With whom? There's nothing on your calendar."
Victoria took a sip of the sparkling water. "My personal calendar, James. Not everything I do is your business."
"Of course. My mistake." He turned to leave.
"By the way," Victoria said, causing him to pause at the door. "Your revised presentation was... acceptable. The board approved all my proposals."
Coming from Victoria, it was practically effusive praise. Despite everything, James felt that familiar warmth spreading through his chest.
"Thank you."
"The creative presentation is in twenty minutes. Make sure Marcus doesn't waste my time with his usual preamble." She returned to her desk, dismissing him without another word.
As James left her office, he caught a glimpse of her checking her reflection in her compact mirror, smiling at what she saw.
Victoria Sharp was beautiful, brilliant, and utterly self-absorbed. And God help him, he couldn't stop himself from falling further under her spell with each passing day.