OWEN SMITH POV:
"then i guess im stupid. goodbye mr smith."
she gets up from the table and turns her back walking a couple of steps. she's bluffing, she wouldn't walk out on me.
a few more steps.
fuck.
"fine. you win." he raises his voice so i could hear me.
i spins around with my lips curled "i knew you would come around" i walks back towards the table taking my seat across from him.
if i had one thing it's getting my way when it comes to owen. always has been always will be.
"you're gonna drive me fucking crazy."
"i've been dying to get back at that for the past four years."
getting a rise out of him was figuratively and literally the best part about our relationship.
"so, what should we discuss first, partner? maybe a name change. smith industries isn't cutting it for me"
"don't overstep your first five seconds on the job."
we were finishing up our food, i got steak, potatoes and carrots while she got a lobster tail with mashed potatoes and green beans.
"you frustrate me, you know that. and i don't mean that in whatever banter we have. you frustrate me." he say narrowing his eyes at me
ouch.
"i'm sorry that you feel that way, but considering you would rather work with me then never see me again means you can handle it."
he slowly nod his head. the server brings over the check, i doesn't bother to reach for my purse which makes him laugh. the server quickly comes back after running the card and he leaves a cash tip.
"you ready to get out of here?" he asks
"yeah."
we stand up and walk through the restaurant, out the door and to my car.
"you know, suddenly being so high up in the industry i can't let you get away with leggings and a sweatshirt anymore. you're going to have a lot of media attention and i can't have you dressed like that with my name."
"sir yes sir."
he shake my head and a small smile creeps onto his face.
after a while of driving i notices we are not on track to my house.
"um, you were supposed to turn back there"
"i know"
"owen"
am i being kidnapped? no he wouldn't do that to himself, spending more time with me, yeah right.
"relax"
after a little bit we pull up to a gate, owen reaches through his window and puts in a five digit code.
when the gate opens he drives straight and up a driveway to a ginormous mansion.
"where are we" i ask
"my house"
"jesus, are you looking for a roommate?"
"if it's you, then yes."
i roll my eyes and hit his arm. i didn't know he lived in manhattan
we both get out of the car and walk up the white marble stairs to the front door.
when he opens the door it's a big foyer with staircases running up to a balance overlooking the entrance.
"please don't tell me you live alone" i look at him
"okay, i don't live alone?"
"owen this is huge, you could fit a whole zoo. why have such a big house if it's just you"
"i had the money for it, and in ten years if i'm not as successful i'm reminded that i was once successful enough to buy this home."
"makes sense i guess?"
we walk through the foyer which is met with a large kitchen and connected living room. this kitchen would be a chefs dream, absolutely huge.
"do you want a drink" he asks
"what do you have?"
"i make a pretty good espresso martini" he says
"i've had two, one more and i'll be staying over night"
he winks which makes me roll my eyes. he then goes into his fridge grabbing me a water and a raspberry seltzer.
"tomorrow is saturday, no work right?" i ask him
"the team doesn't work weekends, we do. i expect you in the office tomorrow."
"okay, what time?"
"text me when you wake up and we'll go from there. i go to the gym early so ill be awake at seven thirty."
i nod and open my seltzer.
"so um, don't get mad at me for asking this"
"alana i really hate when you start conversations like this."
"how's your anger, i mean in highschool you weren't exactly the most calm guy. i just wanna know how far to go before i push all your buttons"
he laughs for a second then hangs his head low, this can't be good.
"it's better, i mean i don't drink away my problems and destroy my house anymore. i also don't punch people, as much as the daily meetings with my idiot team piss me off i have learned to step out when i feel myself getting mad."
"well, that will be fun to watch"
"yeah, im sure you'll enjoy it"
i pull out my phone reading various news articles about myself. i haven't had to deal with paparazzi much, i mean they don't catch me on the street or anything but i know owen has gotten caught up with them and has had a few bad altercations which is why i asked about his anger.
"what do i need to know about this job" i ask him
"well for starters, you will have a major pay increase, you're making now what? fifty five thousand a week? quadrupole it and that's your new weekly salary, not including what you will make from shows.
dress clothes, every day. i would prefer you to look nice when leaving your house for any occasion. you will have a stylist team at the office that will have clothes ready for you if i don't see your outfit fit for the day.
you will have an office directly next to mine, it has been vacant for a few months so do as you want with it.
The name of the company will not be changing, it is strictly smith industries.
we have a team, i will introduce you to them all on monday, i go to at least three meetings a day sometimes my whole day is meetings, that means you do too. you will be in a room full of men who will pick you apart for being a woman in there. dont let it get to you, you're a smart girl, let them see that.
i will have a packet printed out of all my companies, you need to know these in and out.
we have staff diners once or twice a week and brunch every sunday before going into the office. there is about six of us who go but it varys's every week. i think it could be beneficial for the two of us to get dinner or lunch once a week and we can recap on how the day or week went; what we can do better and how we can prevent future issues.
finally, don't contradict me, i brought you in and i can take you out" he says
my eyes widen, that was a lot of information. i was expecting something a little shorter.
"who's going to be in the office tomorrow?"
"you probably haven't met many of them, theo jesse and chris won't be there. it's my- ...our corporation, security, strategizing, PR and marketing teams."
our. i smile when he says that.
"it's getting late, let me get you home" he says
i nod and grab my purse following him back out to the car.
"i had a good night with you alana"
"well i can't say the same, but i understand it's always a pleasure to be with me."
"you never quit do you"
i flash him a smile.
"i'll walk you up" owen says when he pulls onto the curb in front of my building.
we get out, go through the lobby up the elevator down the hall and through my front door where there is laughing and music on.
"oh shit, i didn't think you would be home so soon, oh. you brought a guest, do you want a key at this point?" lexi asks looking at owen.
there is a man sitting on the couch next to her.
"you also have a guest, who's this?" i ask
"ummm victor?"
"vince" he corrects her and they both stand up to walk over. he sticks his hand out to shake mine and owen's
"vince, right this is my roommate alana and owen, our ex boyfriend" lexi says
"our?" he looks between the three of us
"it's complicated" i say.
"well, vince and i are going to be in my room, alana i expect details tomorrow about this little work dinner. owen, never a pleasure but im sure i will be seeing you soon."
she takes the man's hand and leads him to her room.
"god, i'm sorry, i didn't know she had anyone over."
"dont worry about it. ill see you in the morning. goodnight alana"
"goodnight owen."
he flashes a smile and walks out the door.
YOU ARE READING
better off with you | book two |
Teen Fiction-BOOK TWO- This is the second book to better off without you, four years later owen and alana meet again. can be read as stand alone but would be better if the first book was read before to make more sense.
