The airport lounge is quiet and it gives me time to think. Think about what I'm going to do with Alsie. I know Chase is pissed off, but he hasn't told me yet. If it wasn't for Miguel letting me in on what was going on around the office, I would still be clueless to a certain extent. The timing of all of this is bad. With the company going public, nothing could wrong. Everett already has one fire he's always trying to put out and that's Tameka. I don't want to add myself and Alsie to that list. The sliding of the lounge doors open, revealing a disheveled-looking Alsie. She really isn't a morning person.

"Good morning," she grunts plopping down on the couch closest to me. "Why is the flight this early?"

I chuckle. "I use to hate morning flights too. You'll get used to it."

"I doubt that very highly. Waking up before seven in the morning should be a crime. I still don't know how I graduate high school with my attendance." She throws her arm over her eyes, leaning back against the couch. "What time did you wake up?"

"I didn't go to sleep."

She sits up staring at me as if I have three heads. "You're crazy as hell."

I lean closer examining her face. Her brown eyes were evident of sleepiness and I can smell the minty toothpaste on her breath. My eyes bounce between hers and her lips. Is it bad I want to kiss her right now? Her messy bun and wrinkled clothes are like a breath of fresh air for me. I'm so used to women wearing little to nothing when I'm around. She brings me back to my college days. She leans back squirming underneath my gaze. Putting her out of her misery I scoot back averting my eyes to my cell phone.

"I've been called worse." I retort.

"So ummm, Mr. Reed about last week," She mumbles.

My jaw clenches. "We don't need to talk about it. All is forgotten."

"But I owe you an—" A female voice cuts her off letting us know our flight will be boarding shortly. Looking up from my phone, locking eyes with Alsie she seems to be having an internal battle with herself. Not thinking much of her or anything pertaining to her, I get up gathering my things. I don't need to get involved with her. I hear her gathering her things and groaning, she seriously isn't a morning person.

We weren't seated together, thank you Miguel for that. I'm not sure I could keep my anger at bay with her.

I slept through the entire flight, waking up refreshed and ready for the conference today. Alsie and I met in the lobby of the hotel to go over the notes for today. I wanted her and me to be natural as possible. I know she would be able to fill in the blanks and piggyback off what I would be talking about, but I needed to be one hundred percent sure. This conference is a major step in the company going public.

****

"Well that wasn't so bad," Alsie says as the conference finally comes to an end. I hold the door open for her as we walk into the hotel's restaurant. "I just wish we had more time to go into detail with some things."

"I think we—no you explained the major points thoroughly." I couldn't help but crack a joke at her expense. Alsie is a passionate person and if no one knew when the conference started, they definitely know now. Yes, she had everyone on the edge of their seat with her captivating speeches, but if I let her go on any longer people would have fallen asleep.

"Hey, if you want to sell the company to potential investors you gotta go big. Also, Mr. Lopez was eating it up. He even sent me an email during the conference asking me out for dinner. I can definitely get him to invest tons." She smiles and I frown at her.

"Mr. Lopez? I rather you not go out with him for dinner. The guys and I aren't too fond of him, so we really don't need him to invest." Also, he is a fucking dickhead, I want to add. Last time one of our female employees went to lunch with him—Mr. Lopez was trying to shove his tongue down her throat. I don't think I saw Vincent so mad in all my life knowing him.

"But we need all the investors we can get."

"No. Mr. Lopez isn't an investor we need to wine and dine. If I feel like he is then I would be the one to wine and dine him, not you." I tell her taking out her chair. She huffs taking a seat. I can see she wants to tell me off but keeps her mouth shut. Or so I thought.

"I think we should wine and dine him. Just think about it. We can..." I tune her out, scanning over the menu. I could go for shrimp pasta or a damn cheeseburger. I haven't had a cheeseburger in almost a month. Yeah, I'll take the cheeseburger. "Are you even listening to me?"

I raise my hand signaling for the waiter.

"Good afternoon, can I start you two off with some water?" he smiles at us.

"Actually I would like to order," I say, waiting for him to take out his notepad. "Okay, I would like the double cheeseburger, no tomatoes, add avocado, and two glasses of water. What would you like?" I ask Alsie, who is glaring at me.

"Jerk," she mutters underneath her breath. "I would like the same thing, but can you add the tomato, substitute the fries for onion rings and I would like a glass of sprite."

Alsie stays quiet the entire meal and I welcomed it. The last thing I want is for her to bring up Selena or Mr. Lopez. Speaking of Mr. Lopez I need to get in touch with Austin on this one. I don't care how he takes care of Mr. Lopez as long as it gets done. Over the years Austin has turned into a devil who wears suspenders, when we needed to take that extra step in securing a business deal he would get the job in no time.

"That was delicious." Alsie finally speaks. "Thank you."

"It was and my pleasure. We have a few more hours before our flight—"

"I'm just going to lounge around my room until it's time to go. Are we taking the same car to the airport or would you prefer—"

"We'll go together." I stand up first. I can sense she doesn't want to be anywhere near me at the moment, I place $60 on the table. "I'll see you in the lobby at 7 sharp," I say walking away from her and out of the restaurant.