Trust in Advertising (51 page)

Lexi’s trance was broken by ringing church bells off in the distance. “Come on, it’s late. We better get back before Leigh either sends out a search party or offers to help me hide your body.” Lexi laughed as she tossed her napkin into a nearby trashcan. She started to walk toward the trol ey when Vincent stopped her.

“Thank you for this.” He brushed her hair back over her shoulder, his fingers lingering along the collar of her shirt. “Somehow, you always know just what I need.”

“Any time you need to be kidnapped, I’m your girl.”

He laughed. “Yeah, you sure are.” His arm settled around her shoulders, and they walked to the trolley stop, ready to get back to work on the Marradesi account with newfound focus and determination.

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∙ 25 ∙

Two days had passed since Vincent’s kidnapping, and he and Lexi had been working nonstop on the Marradesi campaign. They were still working on a number of good ideas, but what they didn’t have was that one great idea that they could look at and say “that’s the one.” According to Vincent, they would know in their gut when it was right, so they kept plugging away with the designs.

Lexi arrived at work early that morning and got to work. She had woken up from a bizarre dream involving a goat named Jade wearing blue eye shadow and figured it was easier to just go in and start working rather than try to fall back asleep. She was surprised to find Vincent already in his office. He was on the phone, which made sense, because when he had overseas calls to make he would come in early. From the tone of his voice, Lexi guessed he was talking to either Paolo or Francesca. She heard him use a few of the Italian phrases she had taught him and smiled.

His muffled voice eventually quieted, and he walked out of his office. “It’s six in the morning. What are you doing here?” he asked as he poured a cup of coffee and set it on her desk.

“Thanks.” She took a sip and wrapped her hands around the heated mug.

“I kept having nightmares about the campaign. Jade was a goat. All I know is I couldn’t sleep, so I came in to try and get some work done. Were you on the phone with Paolo?”

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Vincent sat down in one of her chairs and stretched out. “Yes, he was letting me know about a few problems they’ve had in the European market that he wants to try and avoid here.”

“Great,” Lexi mumbled.

“Exactly. Let me go over them with you real quick, then I have to run out for a while, but I’ll be back before lunch.”

They huddled around her desk for an hour before Vincent had to leave.

He kindly left his office door open so Lexi could get the files and reports she needed from inside. After her fifth trip, it seemed easier to just stay and work from his couch, so she curled up on the black leather and went back to work.

She was just beginning to develop a new campaign idea when the door opened.

“What the hell are
you
doing in here?” Jade’s whiny snarl made Lexi’s head snap up. It was the most Jade had said to her in almost a week.

“Working.”

“You do have a desk, you know. Out there.” She pointed her thumb toward the door.

“I do? Gee, thanks, I had no idea,” Lexi continued scribbling on her notepad.

“Do you need something?”

“Yes. You, gone. Vincent needs his office back.”

“Vincent doesn’t mind. We work together in here all the time.” It was a low blow, but Lexi was not in the mood for Jade’s pouting.

“Well, I mind, so get out!”

“Jade.” Vincent’s cutting tone made both of them jump. “Apologize.”

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Jade shrieked. “I asked her to leave, and she gave me attitude. How about she apologizes to me?”

Lexi was uncomfortable being witness to their argument so she gathered up her things from the small table and stood up to make her exit. “I have a ton of work, so I’ll be at my desk if you need me. Excuse me.” She gave Vincent an apologetic smile.

“No one here needs you!” Jade seethed as Lexi went through the door. “Stop glaring at me, Vincent. I told you I don’t like her.”

Lexi returned to her desk, and their raised voices carried on for a half hour.

Then there was silence. Lexi felt terrible. She knew her smart mouth had caused the argument, but she couldn’t help herself. Jade brought out the worst in her.

It was nearly lunchtime, and there was no sign that Vincent or Jade were coming out of his office any time soon. Still feeling guilty, Lexi made up her 309

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mind to be nice. She tapped on the door and decided to see if she could grab them lunch when she went downstairs for hers.

“Come in,” Vincent said softly.

When Lexi pushed the door open she saw the two of them sitting very intimately on the couch. Jade had her arm around his shoulders and was playing with the buttons on the front of his shirt. Vincent’s head was close to hers as he whispered something that made Jade smile.

Lexi’s stomach dropped at the sight of them. They were a couple. There was a familiarity between them, one that Lexi couldn’t deny. They had a history, a relationship, memories together. Lexi could understand Jade’s hostility. If she had someone as wonderful as Vincent, she would fight for him with everything she had.

The problem was, he wasn’t Lexi’s to have, and that suddenly became very clear.

“Sorry to interrupt, I was going to get lunch in a bit and wanted to see if you wanted me to bring you something back.” Lexi’s words came out in a rush, her discomfort with the situation obvious.

Vincent quickly sat up and separated himself from Jade. “You don’t have to do that. We’re fine.”

Jade’s red lips pressed into a perfectly smug snarl. “Vincent got us a private table at La Tavola.”

“Oh, well, you guys have a nice lunch.” Lexi sputtered random niceties, fighting the urge to run out of the room.

“Do you want to join us?” Vincent offered out of the blue. It was like something out of the Twilight Zone. Lexi’s eyes got huge in shock, and Jade sucked in a breath so fast she nearly inhaled her tongue.

“What?” Jade’s smug façade was replaced by blatant rage.

“I think that would be a very bad idea.” Lexi shook her head from side to side in disbelief that he would even make that offer.

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I guess you’re right.”

Lexi had never felt more uncomfortable in all her life. “I’m gonna go.”

“Good idea,” Jade snipped quickly.

Vincent’s eyes were apologetic and embarrassed. “Thanks, Lexi.”

“Sure.” Lexi closed the door and traipsed back to her desk, still shocked. She logged off her computer to go to lunch when someone whirled into the room.

“Lexi!” Anna smiled and wrapped her arms around Lexi’s neck. “How are you? You look tired. Is my brother being a tyrant again?” She took a few steps toward the door. “I can go kick his ass if you want.”

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“Be careful if you go in there. He might invite you out to lunch with him and Jade.”

“Ick!”

“That’s what I said.” Lexi chuckled as Anna’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.

“He didn’t.”

“Oh, he did.”

“He’s an idiot.” Anna shook her head from side to side.

“Agreed. So, what brings you here, Mrs. Caldwell?”

“Well, I was going to talk to him about something, but he obviously doesn’t have his faculties about him, so you wanna grab lunch instead?” Her wide smile told Lexi she wouldn’t be taking no for an answer.

The thought of getting out of the office was more appealing than words could express. Lexi needed to be away from Jade, ASAP. And if she was being honest, some girl time with Anna might be just what the doctor ordered to help her clear her head. “I’d love to.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere but La Tavola,” Lexi insisted.

Anna giggled. “Jade’s so predictable. She would like that hoity-toity, celebrity hang out.” Anna snickered. “Don’t tell anybody, but our neighbor owns an exterminating business, and they had a rat the size of a cat in that place last month.”

Lexi stifled a giggle. “How does Thai sound? I know a great place.”

“Perfect.” Anna grinned. “Let me pop in and say hi to Vincent before we go.” In true Anna fashion, without knocking, she stormed his office door. “Hi Vi—oh, good Lord, my eyes,” she whined. “For God’s sake, get a room for that stuff. I’m taking Lexi to lunch. She won’t be back for a while, so don’t bitch about her being gone.” She slammed the door shut, turned to Lexi and giggled.

“Dare I ask?” Lexi snickered as she grabbed her purse.

“What? Oh, they weren’t doing anything. I just say that every time I see him with Jade. It annoys her to no end. Just the sight of her in general makes me ill.” She linked her arm in Lexi’s, and the two women headed for the elevator.

“Have I told you recently how much I missed you?”

Leigh smiled from behind her desk. “Kidnapping Mrs. Caldwell today, Lexi? You know she kidnapped Vincent the other day.” Leigh winked at Anna.

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“Did she?” Anna turned to Lexi and grinned. “Were handcuffs used?” Lexi’s cheeks flamed red as Leigh cackled. “Never mind. You can tell me all about it over lunch.”

“I take back what I said about missing you.” Lexi stalked into the elevator to escape her laughing friends.

“No you don’t,” Anna sang as she pressed the button for the lobby.

“Fine, I missed you. But I’m not talking about Vincent.”

With an impish grin on her face, Anna looked up at the il uminated numbers above the elevator doors. “We shall see.”

“Table for two,” Lexi said softly to the hostess at Osha. The smell of rich spices made her stomach growl.

The women were escorted to a quiet booth in the back corner, away from the busy lunch crowd. The rich reds and oranges of the restaurant gave it a cozy but exotic feel. Sleek, streamlined tables and chairs put a modern twist on things.

Anna smiled as she slid into her seat beside Lexi. “This place is gorgeous.

You eat here a lot?”

“Not really. Hope hates Thai food, and I’m not big on dining alone. Of course, I have been known to talk them into making me something to go from time to time.” Lexi opened her menu.

Anna made her decision quickly and slapped her menu onto the table top.

“So, I’m dying to hear about you kidnapping my brother.”

Lexi groaned. “It was no big deal, Anna. And I told you, I’m not talking about Vincent.”

Anna huffed. “Fine, let’s talk about work. Oops, you work with Vincent.

New topic. Let’s talk about dating. That should be safe. Are you seeing anyone?”

Lexi choked on her iced tea at Anna’s question. “Um, no, I guess not. I went out with Peter a few times. He works with Julian Stone. He was nice, but not my type.”

That piqued Anna’s interest. “Really? Not your type?” She leaned closer.

“So tell me, Lexi. What exactly is your type?”

“Well, I don’t know. I never thought about it.” That was a lie, she always thought about it. Unfortunately, the answer to the question was unequivocally 312

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Vincent, and there was no way in hell she was telling Anna that. So instead, she tried to play dumb and hoped that Anna would lose interest in the topic.

The grin on Anna’s face scared her to death. “Fine, we’ll start small. Do you like tall men or short?”

“Tall.” Lexi began scanning the restaurant for the emergency exits.

“Interesting. Okay, what about build? Do you like a muscular man like Sean or say someone thinner like Erik?”

“Um, I don’t know. I guess Erik-ish.” Lexi sucked down a big swig of her iced tea and contemplated pulling the fire alarm.

“M-hmm.” Anna tapped her finger on her chin and thought about her next questions. “Open book or puzzle?”

“Puzzle,” Lexi gritted out when she saw Anna’s exuberant smile.

“Okay, strong silent type or outgoing center of attention?”

“Silent. I like the silent type, Anna. You might want to try that right now.”

“Pfft.” Anna waved her hand dismissively into the air. “Unlike my
brother
,”

she winked, “I don’t do silent, sorry.”

Lexi glanced over her shoulder and wondered if she could make it to the door before Anna caught up with her. She’d have to take a cab back to the office, but it would be worth it if she could avoid the Spanish Inquisition. “So, how is Madison?” Lexi desperately tried to change the topic.

“She’s wonderful. Do you like blonds?”

“No.” Lexi buried her hands in her face, sensing she was going in for the kill.

“Eye color?” Lexi peeked through her fingers and gave her a warning glare.

“I’ll answer for you—green.”

“Anna, listen …”

The waitress brought their appetizer just then, and Lexi was thankful for the interruption in conversation. She stabbed a bite of their chicken appetizer, dipped it into the spicy sauce, and then popped it into her mouth.

“Are you in love with my brother?”

Lexi choked on the tiny hunk of chicken. It flew out of her mouth and onto the white tablecloth beside her. The curry, of course, went right up her nose and tears streamed down her face as she gulped for air.