35

Liliana

As we walked into the conference room at Avalon Spirits, I could feel the slight and pleasant ache in my inner muscles with every step. I glanced over my shoulder to give Alistair a smile before we sat at the table.

We met Reginald and Veronica, the brother-sister team that owned the company, and the rest of the Avalon Spirits team.

Reginald was built a lot like Benedict but didn’t have an impressive beard.

Veronica looked like she’d stepped off a corporate runway or out of a fashion magazine. She was all business in her sleek black dress. Her flaming red hair probably came out of a bottle, but it didn’t matter. It looked amazing with her Patrician features and olive skin.

“Lovely to meet you all,” she finally said after all the introductions. “Are we ready to begin?”

Alistair and Benedict gave a short presentation on their background and about the brewery. Then they handed it off to me and Bethany to review the marketing side of the collaboration.

I took a deep breath, stood, and started my part of the presentation came up. Bethany and I took turns reviewing the slides for the group.

If Veronica’s smile hadn’t seemed so genuine and warm, I’d have been intimidated as hell. And I was nervous, but more so because Alistair was there, witnessing the whole thing.

I was good at my job, but the thought of possibly failing in his eyes made my stomach flutter.

I stopped thinking about him—I had to—and instead focused on the pitch.

When we finished the presentation, Veronica and Reginald glanced at each other with a smile and the rest of the Avalon team exchanged approving glances.

“I have to say,” Reginald said, “I’m really liking what I’m seeing.”

Veronica nodded and crossed her shapely arms, shown off as they were in a sleeveless black dress.

“And I have to agree. Let Reginald and I give you a tour of Avalon Spirits. Why don’t we all go to dinner so we can discuss this further? A little more informally.” She said it more to Alistair than anyone, and then I noticed the way she narrowed her eyes at him, sizing him up.

She’d watched him a lot during the pitch, but I’d had to focus on the details and block that out. I couldn’t help but notice, now that it was over, how invitingly she kept glancing at him.

“I need to ask legal a few questions, and then we’ll meet you downstairs?” Again, she asked Alistair rather than the group. He agreed.

Benedict, Alistair, and I all took a deep breath. If they were buying us dinner to talk more, and talking to legal, the deal was as good as done.

There might be some compromises on the backend, but there was almost certainly going to be a collab between Avalon Spirits and Hard Rock.

Alistair put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze as we filed out. As soon as we were in the elevator, Alistair and Benedict fist bumped. Benedict patted my shoulder. Even Bethany and I congratulated each other on the successful co-presentation.

“You guys were amazing,” Alistair said, beaming at me. “This could change everything.”

Benedict chimed in, agreeing, and they talked excitedly about the deal that was probably going to be sealed over dinner.

The tour took a long time because Alistair and Benedict had a lot of technical questions about their processes. I made some notes for the campaign and tried not to notice how close Veronica stayed by Alistair’s side.

After the tour, we went together to the restaurant. Veronica quickly sat next to Alistair, and Benedict sat on the other with Reginald next to him. Bethany and I ended up mixed in with the Avalon team.

I watched Veronica smile and touch Alistair’s arm, clearly flirting.


And him obviously enjoying it.

Over the meal, the four of them talked about the details of the collaboration while Bethany and I tried to make friendly conversation with the rest of the group.

Benedict and Reginald got involved in a conversation about brewing temperatures and oak-barrel aging.

Veronica kept complimenting Alistair on his business savvy. She even turned and complimented me and Bethany on the pitch at one point, and she wasn’t being insincere.

I wanted to hate her, but she seemed genuinely nice and thoughtful. Just thirsty as hell for my—for Alistair.

What I did hate was how Alistair loved the attention she was giving him. After last night, it hurt to see him so engaged with another woman. Especially one as gorgeous as Veronica.

His flirting reminded me of Julian cheating and I couldn’t help but wonder if the brothers shared the same habits. I didn’t think Alistair was the type, but I couldn’t be sure yet.

Not that it was even considered cheating because it wasn’t like we were actually together. Maybe that was the point he was trying to get across.

I must have been making a face, because Bethany leaned over discreetly and said, "You alright?" under her breath.

I dragged my eyes away from Alistair and Veronica. "Oh yeah, fine," I said quickly. Too quickly apparently, because Bethany shot me a knowing look.

"I might have noticed a certain brewery owner stopping by someone's hotel room after dinner last night," she said, eyebrows raised.

I nearly choked on my wine.

"What? No, that was just...a work thing," I stammered.

"Mm hmm, must have been some important business to discuss that it couldn’t wait," Bethany said with a smirk.

I wasn’t doing a good job of playing it off. She smelled blood because she didn’t let it go.

“I sensed something was going on between you guys, and I wasn’t sure until I saw your reaction just now,” she said as she eyed me. “I’m sure Alex or Charity wouldn’t like an employee fraternizing with a client.”

My eyes went wide. Before I could respond, Bethany continued, "But clearly he's moved on to the next pretty girl already. Men, right?"

I glanced back over at Alistair, who seemed completely engrossed in his cozy conversation with Veronica. Laughing at her jokes, refilling her wine glass...

"They’re talking business," I said, trying to convince myself more than Bethany.

Bethany just shook her head doubtfully.

My chest tightened. As much as I hated to admit it, Bethany had a point. Alistair slipped easily back into flirt mode with a beautiful, interested woman. Meanwhile I sat here like a flustered schoolgirl, pining pathetically.

I felt sick to my stomach at the sight of Veronica hanging off of Alistair and the thought of people at the office finding out.

I could already see how this would play out. I’d fall for him and somehow, I’d end up getting my heart broken. Maybe even fired from my job.

I stood and said my goodbyes to everyone, explaining I was still feeling a little jet-lagged and wanted to go back to the hotel. I said they could call me if they needed anything.

“Are you sure?” Alistair asked, standing as I started to leave. “Can I help you get back?”

“That’s ok, I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later,” I said quickly.

Once outside in the evening air, angry tears stung my eyes, but I held them back.

My feelings for Alistair had already deepened past the point of no return.

But clearly, I needed to be smarter about this.