company was housed. The five-story building located on San Vincente Boulevard was considered Westside’s premiere business location.
Her eyes traveled upward, admiring the dramatic two-story atrium. The select museum-quality art pieces throughout the building beckoned artists and art lovers from all over. It was apparent that Tyrese Moore was a man who appreciated art and the finer things in life.
“Miss Alexander...”
Zaire was jolted out of her reverie when she heard her name.
She glanced up into the most beautiful brown eyes she had ever seen. She broke into an open, friendly smile. “I’m sorry. I was just admiring the view.”
She thought she detected a hint of a smile, but it disappeared before Zaire could be sure. She flushed when she realized that he may have assumed that she was talking about him. Although, he was extremely handsome.
“I’m Tyrese Moore,” he said in a deep timbre. “I wanted to come down and greet you personally.”
Her perfectly shaped eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’re Mr. Moore?”
He chuckled. “You sound shocked.”
Zaire gave him a quick and not-so-subtle once-over. Tyrese looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. She hadn’t expected him to be so young, but she did not give voice to the thought. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Moore.”
Tyrese’s smile was courteous as he guided her toward the elevators. “Pilar wanted to be here to welcome you herself, but she wasn’t able to change her plans. She’s still in New York.”
Pilar Millbrook was Tyrese’s partner and the person who had arranged this meeting with Tyrese.
They got off on the fifth floor.
“I’m very excited about this meeting with you,” Zaire said. “Thanks for allowing me this opportunity to present my idea.”
A smile remained on his extremely handsome face.
Why did he have to be so handsome? Zaire wondered. How was she supposed to focus with Tyrese Moore in her presence?
* * *
Tyrese’s eyes landed briefly on the red leather tote as Zaire switched it from her right to her left shoulder. He noted from her overall look that Zaire was stylish, glamorous and she was definitely not afraid of color. Tyrese would bet money that she also drove a fancy sports car in red.
This was not the type of woman who played it safe, he decided. That quality made Zaire perfect for the direction in which he wanted to take the Moore Group. He could see why Pilar liked her. They shared similar qualities—they were both willing to take risks.
Tyrese knew that Zaire was the daughter of hotel magnate Malcolm Alexander, but this had nothing to do with his decision to meet with her. She was here based on her own capabilities.
He observed as she interacted with some of the other employees. Zaire appeared to be unaware of the captivating picture she made when she smiled.
She glanced over in his direction.
Tyrese exchanged a smile with her, and then turned his attention to the young woman who suddenly appeared by his side. She carried a folder, which she presented to him.
He quickly provided his signature.
“Zaire, my assistant will show you to the conference room. I will be there shortly.”
She responded with a smile.
His grin flashed briefly, dazzling against his dark chocolate complexion. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
As soon as Zaire entered the conference room, she sank down in a nearby chair to steady her trembling knees. “What am I doing here?” she whispered. She had been out of grad school for a few months and now she was about to present a bold proposal to a complete stranger.
Zaire hoped that Tyrese would keep an open mind. She had researched his company and had actually included it in her thesis—it was how she had met Pilar.
She already knew that Pilar supported her idea. Zaire just needed to convince Tyrese. If only his partner could have been in attendance. She could have used the extra support. Perhaps Pilar’s presence could help distract her from the sexy man that she was meeting with. It was too late to run away now, Zaire decided. She would have to make the best of the situation.
Chapter 2
Zaire loved the large windows with a garden balcony in the conference room. They offered her a spectacular view of Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills and downtown Los Angeles. She loved nature and the outdoors in general.
Shortly before ten, Tyrese appeared in the doorway. “I’m sorry about the delay.”
“You’re fine,” she responded. “Your offices are very nice. I really love the art pieces you selected.”
“Are you an art lover?” he asked.
When she nodded, he said, “After our meeting, I’ll have my assistant give you a tour.” His tone was warm and welcoming.
Zaire opened her tote and pulled out her pen, a legal pad and a proposal that she handed to Tyrese.
He took a seat at the head of the table.
Zaire stole a peek in his direction.
Tyrese once again captured Zaire’s attention. His dark eyes framed his square face. His lips parted, showing a dazzling display of straight, white teeth. His profile was proud and full of strength, a quality that could be attributed to his commanding presence.
“As Pilar may have already told you, I am launching a high-end concierge service,” Zaire announced. “Those who reside in the world of luxury are maintaining open-ended expense accounts for necessities such as client entertainment and personal lifestyle accoutrements,” she stated. “What I have found is that a lot of these affluent families are looking for family excursions to help build schools in Africa instead of superfluous visits to privately owned boutiques and one-on-one attention at exclusive vacation resorts.”
“And you are proposing a partnership with my company,” Tyrese said as he reviewed the proposal in his hands. “Why do you believe we will be a good fit for one another?”
Zaire smiled. “The Moore Group was created to go beyond the typical marketing schemes. With over five years in the business of luxury marketing, you and Pilar have developed programs that allow you insider knowledge and access to what other companies may not be privy to—by partnering with me, you will be able to provide your clients access to things they may not have heard of or have access to.”
“I hope this is not about lavish birthday parties,” Tyrese stated.
“It’s not,” Zaire responded. “The message you will be sending by offering specialized or VIP client services is that the Moore Group recognizes what is going on in the world today, but we also have an understanding that certain clients still require high-end services.”
“We
