Boost by Vi Summers
Chapter 4
-Greer-
A soft, double-knock on the glass wall of my office drew my eyes away from my laptop to find Roxiee—my assistant—expertly balanced on one high heel and leaning through the doorway.
“Mr. Donavan is here for his one-thirty. Shall I send him in?”
“Thanks, Roxiee. I’ll come out and greet this one,” I replied, smiling in response to her knowing smile.
Colton Donavan was very much a taken—and happily married—man, but that didn’t mean women like us were blind. Or more so Roxiee, because she was borderline obsessed with him.
“I’ll bring in some bottled water,” she announced, and sashayed toward the kitchen.
Roxiee had been my PA for the better part of six years, and I wouldn’t be without her. She was my walking-talking diary and closest friend. Both being boss-babes who knew our own minds, we worked well together. Roxiee was worth her weight in gold ten times over.
Between myself and my business partner, Christian ‘Tian’ Michaels, Landon-Michaels PR was a force to be reckoned with. Although our firm was relatively new, we had proven time and time again that we had what it takes to shake things up in the corporate world, and landing a client like Colton Donavan was a testament to that success.
After a quick once-over in my mirror, I strode to the waiting area with an air of confidence and professionalism that came naturally to me. Colton pushed to his feet and buttoned his suit jacket as I extended my hand.
“Mr. Donavan, welcome to Landon-Michaels PR.”
Our handshake was all business from both sides. “Nice to meet you in person, Miss Landon. And please, it’s Colton.”
“Greer,” I countered with a smile. “Right this way. The details of your proposal are strategically vague, so I’m curious to hear more about your foundation.”
His rumbling chuckle sounded behind me as he followed me to my office.
“Hence this meeting,” he drawled.
I beamed a smile and indicated to the leather lounge suite set up for meetings like this. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Without a word, Colton sat and kicked up a leg to rest on his opposite knee. He effortlessly exuded egotistical confidence that came with his reputation, and it fueled the fire in my belly to make this the best damn PR experience he’d ever had.
Roxiee breezed in with the promised water and sat the bottles on the low-lying table in front of us.
“Do you need anything else?” she asked, straightening and focusing all her attention on me.
I thanked her, then gestured at Colton. “Roxiee, I would like you to meet our latest client, Colton Donavan. Colton, you’ll be seeing a lot of Roxiee—she’s the one who keeps this place running like clockwork.”
“And makes sure she actually eats during the day,” Roxiee added, with a charming smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Donavan.”
He stood and accepted her handshake, then waited until she left the office before sitting again.
“Looks like I’m working with the dream-team.”
I paused where I leaned forward to crack open a water bottle. “You are, remember that.”
Colton’s green eyes sparkled with amusement that matched his lop-sided smirk. “After that comment, I won’t be forgetting it in a hurry.”
Locking down a smile, I reached for his file and flipped it open. Colton responded to my change of direction by shifting forward, unbuttoning his suit jacket, and resting his elbows on his bent knees.
“Down to business,” he murmured.
“That’s why we’re here,” I countered, handing him the file. “This is all the information I have on your proposal. As you can see, it’s a little light.”
His gaze cut to mine. “Did you check your emails?”
“Right before I met with you,” I replied confidently.
Colton smirked. “Check again, Greer.”
Narrowing my eyes, I rose to my feet and retrieved my laptop from my desk. I expelled a surprised exhale and looked up to see him grinning at my reaction.
“Okay, you’ve got me. Let me get this printed and we can go over it.”
As if magically summoned, Roxiee called from her desk, “On it.”
Smiling back, because Colton was experiencing first-hand how synergistic Roxiee and I were, I held his gaze and waited for him to back down.
He didn’t budge an inch until our mini-standoff was broken by Roxiee breezing through the door. “As requested.”
“Thank you, you’re a Godsend,” I praised.
“I know,” she sang over her shoulder, as she sauntered back to her desk.
Colton at least had the decency to hide his snigger behind his hand while I quickly read over the document.
“Okay, Colton, we have your proposal, how about you talk me through the foundation verbally.”
His businesslike manner slid back into place. “I’m in the process of getting it off the ground. The aim of the Colton DonavanBoost Foundation is to offer the best of the street-racing youth a mentor-ship which would introduce them to Indy racing. And, best-case scenario, it would set up their careers on the pro circuit.”
“Like you?”
Colton spread his hands. “I see you’ve done your homework, Greer.”
I arched a brow. “And you expected less?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Exactly.”
A quiet laugh sounded in his chest before he continued. “I’ve got track partners and sponsors onboard, and a guy who knows the streets well. Now, all I need is PR to launch this foundation through the roof.”
“Well, I don’t need to tell you that you’ve come to the right place, because you’re already here. Curious minds ask; does this guy of yours have a name?”
The lop-sided smile re-appeared. It was the kind of grin that would have women falling at his feet whether he was married to Rylee or not.
“He does, but no names yet. Don’t want you Googling him and getting the wrong impression before we even get off the ground,” he said flatly.
Setting the laptop on the low-table between us, I straightened my spine.
“Look, Colton, I need to know who I’m getting into bed with—professionally speaking—so, the more information you give me now, the easier my job will be. And besides, if you’re not willing to disclose his name, then maybe he isn’t the type of guy you should be bringing onboard. There’s nothing more of a PR nightmare than a rogue who does as he pleases.”
Colton snorts. “Are you referring to me, or my guy?”
“Currently? I’m referring to both,” I replied wryly.
Leaning over and casually grabbing one of the bottled waters, Colton twisted off the top and took a quick, open-mouthed drink. Only after he placed the bottle back on the table, did he pin me to the spot with an intense stare.
“I suggest you go to the next meet and get a feel for the atmosphere, Greer. It will help you understand what I mean.”
“Next meet?”
I hedged when he slid a single leaf of paper across the table. Plucking it up, I saw a date, time and location, nothing more.
“What’s this?”
“Details of the next street race.”
I pursed my lips, not entirely convinced with his suggestion and not happy that he’d thrown me off my game. Sure, Colton knew his shit, but that was miles out of my comfort zone. I liked to stay firmly planted on this side of the law.
“Is that really necessary?”
Colton upturned his palms. “The only way to understand that world is to experience it first-hand.”
Standing without notice, I paced to the window and folded my arms. Not turning away from the other high-rise office buildings on the neighboring blocks, the question that slipped from my lips showed more naivety than I was proud of.
“Say, hypothetically, if I did this, what does one wear to these ‘events’?”
A long, low chuckle rolled from behind me. “Wear what you’d wear to any high-end club, then remove two items.”
I gasped and effortlessly spun on my stilettos. “You can’t be serious!”
A glint entered his eyes. “I am. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, Greer.”
Pursing my lips and keeping my arms firmly folded, I studied his expression as closely as I could to try and read him. It was near impossible. I’d heard of Colton, and just as the rumors had preceded him, he was proving to drive a hard bargain. He set the pace early on, and I intended to match it.
“I’m not going by myself,” I warned. “And I expect a meeting with your guy within the same week so I can interview him and find out what I’ve got to work with.”
Colton snorted—his arrogance showing through as he stood and deftly re-buttoned his suit jacket. “Find out what dirt he has, you mean?”
I tilted my chin and squared my shoulders. “That’s exactly what I mean. You shouldn’t be surprised.”
“Oh, I’m not. In fact, I’m impressed.” He extended his hand, and I slid mine into his to shake on our business deal.
“And now we’re back on the same page.”
A smirk formed on Colton’s mouth. “I’ll have my office email you about the meeting.”
“No need; Roxiee will sort that out. You’ll be hearing from us as soon as she’s checked my schedule.”
I followed Colton and his cocky laugh to the office door. “Dream team,” he teased, with a quick point between me and Roxiee.
“And don’t you forget it, Mr. Donavan,” I called to his departing back.
I was convinced I still heard him sniggering as he entered the elevator, and once I knew for sure the doors had closed, I turned to Roxiee.
She cut me off before a word could leave my mouth. “I’ll organize that right after this conversation, but first, what ‘meet’ are we working around?”
“A street race.”
I gave her a full five-seconds to close her gaping mouth and get the laughter under control.
“Are you serious?”
I folded my arms. “Is this something I would joke about?”
She shook her head slowly. “Absolutely not. When?”
“Next Tuesday night.”
“Shit,” she hissed.
“Tell me about it. I hate my hand being forced.”
“And that’s why I’m coming with you,” Roxiee declared, already studying the schedule for next week. “But I’m telling you now, removing two layers once I’m dressed is not happening.”
I snorted. “And why’s that?”
“I’m not turning up wearing only one shoe.”
My burst of unbridled laughter took us both by surprise, and I bit down hard to stop more escaping.
“God, I love that you eavesdrop,” I declared, then stepped into my office.
There, I could let my professionalism momentarily lapse without drawing attention to myself.
Once sufficiently pulling myself together, I began to research the street racing scene on L.A.’s streets—starting with the hit and run in the media last week.