don’t foresee a problem,” she responded. “I’m meeting with Bill and his partners on Friday to give the presentation, so I would like to test it on you since this is my first real client.” Zaire headed to the door. She paused briefly to say, “I’ll be ready for our meeting today.”
As soon as she walked into her office, Zaire summoned her assistant. She had requested that Tyrese allow Max to work for her. He’d conceded without an argument.
“I need you to get me a list of the top ranches in the country. Bill Daniels loves horses and the outdoors. I think if we can find a ranch with corporate facilities, it would be the perfect venue for a retreat.”
Max nodded. “There are some great facilities in Denver.”
She opened her laptop and prepared to get started on her project.
Zaire scanned the notes from her meeting with the owner of several car dealerships. Bill Daniels wanted to depart from the annual retreat in Miami. He wanted something different that would require more than just sitting around a pool drinking champagne. He had become more health conscious after he’d suffered a minor stroke. Bill wanted his management team to experience a weekend of healthy foods and activities designed to keep them physically fit.
She made a note to put together a list of the top personal trainers in the country.
Zaire settled back in her chair, deep in thought.
She really wanted this first project to impress Tyrese. Zaire also wanted to prove that she was indeed the right person to head the program. She knew that some of the employees believed she had been chosen because of her family connection to Robert DePaul. Regardless, Zaire intended to prove herself.
Max burst into the office. “I think we have the perfect venue for the retreat.”
“Where?” Zaire asked.
“The eight-thousand-acre Willow Creek Ranch in Granby, Colorado, has two hundred horses for riding the terrain, tennis courts and golf.”
“Sounds good, but does it offer anything in the way of spa treatments?”
Max nodded. “Aching muscles and bruised egos can rejuvenate themselves by way of massage therapy and a Jacuzzi tub. There are even indoor and outdoor exercise areas.”
Zaire pulled up the website on her laptop. “This is very nice, Max. Great job.”
Max arranged to have lunch delivered to the office so that he and Zaire could continue working on the proposal for her meeting with Tyrese.
She was determined to capture his full attention with what she had come up with.
Chapter 4
“As you can see, the Willow Creek Ranch is perfect for what Bill Daniels has in mind for his company’s retreat,” Zaire said. “There is a lake for fishing and walking trails.”
Tyrese gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing.
“I have to say that I think you nailed it. I like the idea of having a personal trainer and a nutritionist on board.”
“I can also arrange to have the chef prepare health-conscious meals all weekend if Bill wants. He really wants this retreat to be fun but also educational. He wants his managers to start thinking more about their physical well-being. He is hoping that they will also encourage their employees to do the same.”
“It’s actually a great idea,” Tyrese said. “We have an increasing problem with obesity, which is leading to serious health issues.”
Zaire agreed, “I think more and more companies are focusing on the health and well-being of their employees. We may get more requests like this in the future.”
The telephone rang.
“I need to take this, but don’t leave,” Tyrese told her.
She studied him while he talked to Pilar. Rumor had it that she was planning to relocate to New York and open another division of M.G.
The mystery in his eyes beckoned to her irresistibly. There was an air of efficiency about Tyrese that fascinated her.
He ended his call. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not a problem.” Zaire stared with longing at him.
Every time his gaze met hers, she could feel her heart turn over in response.
Zaire noticed that Tyrese was watching her intently. She cleared her throat softly. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I should get back to my office.”
“You have nothing to worry about when you have your meeting with Bill.”
“Thank you.”
Zaire’s gaze landed briefly on his lips. She wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. Her pulse quickened at the speculation, prompting her to pick up her pace as she headed down to her office.
She was entirely too caught up in her own emotions. Zaire deliberately tried to shut out any awareness of him as she finished the rest of her workday.
* * *
Tyrese had to fight his own battle of personal restraint where Zaire was concerned.
It was an awakening experience that left him with a feeling he had thought long since dead.
He had to regain control of his emotions before they led him back down a path of ruin. Tyrese had worked too hard to make M.G. the company it was. He was not about to let his attraction to Zaire destroy his life’s work.
Tyrese checked his watch. He needed to leave now if he wanted to be on time for his dinner with Pilar.
He made a couple of phone calls before leaving the office.
Pilar was already at the restaurant by the time Tyrese arrived.
“So tell me, Tyrese,” Pilar said as they sat down at a corner table. “What do you think of Zaire Alexander?”
“She’s everything you said she was,” he responded with a smile. “She has drive, and she’s ambitious.”
“Zaire is also very beautiful.”
Tyrese looked at his longtime friend. “You and I go way back, Pilar. You know everything about me, even what happened in Chicago. You also know that I can’t go back down that road.”
“I’m not saying that you should hook up with Zaire,” Pilar stated. “But you do need a life outside of M.G.”
“I’m fine with the way things are,” he said softly. “It’s probably better that I stay single.”
“What happened in Chicago was not your fault, Tyrese. She lied to you. You can’t stop living your life because of your past.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” His tone was firm and exact.
“Okay.” Pilar’s smile did not indicate compliance. She continued, “So, let’s talk about our plans for expanding M.G. I believe that New York is the perfect location for our East Coast division.”
“Marshall doesn’t want to relocate?” he asked.
“No, he doesn’t.” She sighed. “Tyrese, he’s asked me to marry him.”
“I hope you said yes.”
Smiling, Pilar held out her hand to show him the four-carat princess-cut diamond solitaire on her left hand. “We’re getting married in six months. We both want a big wedding, and we’re having it at the boathouse in Central Park.”
“I’m really happy for you, Pilar.”
“So what do you think about a New York division of M.G.?” she inquired.
Tyrese broke into a grin. “Let’s do it. M.G. is just as much yours as it is mine.