had tapped to play a role in his bold venture.
“Yes, sir?” Austin sent an encouraging smile across the square table toward the man who had raised a hand.
“Thank you, sir. I’m Ed Summeral—Wilder, VP Marketing,” the freckle-faced redhead said.
Austin’s welcoming smile remained. “Go on, Ed.”
“Thank you, sir, uh.” Ed moved to allow a server to top off the coffee Charles Ruggles had been drinking since the onset of the meeting.
“Sir, what part will Wilder, specifically the marketing team, have to play in this venture?”
“Good question, Ed.” Austin ticked an index finger in the VP’s direction. “This will be the marketing team’s turn to shine and get some credit for all that back-breaking work your boss loads on you.”
Everyone laughed at Qasim Wilder, who sat next to Vectra.
“My clients know I trust Wilder with my money, which means I trust Wilder with their money too,” Austin continued. “This is your chance to show them why. The same goes for all the departments represented here tonight. It’ll be exciting to see how you toot your horns.”
More laughter followed as hands rose more freely following the opening question. Minka took notes on the queries from Wilder staff. Chances were high that she’d have to help the various departments at Wilder “toot their horns.”
Absently, she toyed with a loose jaw-length curl. She glanced away from the pad and locked in on Oliver Bauer’s bright, potent gaze fixed on her. The heat of self-awareness coursed through her, and Minka cast a subtle glance toward Qasim and Vectra.
The room and the square table were relatively large, but anyone paying close enough attention would be able to pinpoint the object of Oliver’s stare. Thankfully, Minka thought, no one else seemed to notice.
She looked down at her pad again and only made a pretense at note taking. Another hand rose, this one belonging to Rita Waymore, the floor manager for Gallery V in San Francisco.
“Mr. Sharpe, you’ve stated that Wilder handles your money, and we all know Bauer Development acquires your land and builds your executive parks, but what part will our gallery serve?”
Austin nodded approvingly and smiled. “The part your gallery will serve is the one I’m most excited about, because it’s an unprecedented one. The work done by Oliver and his team at Bauer D is staggering. We’ve all seen it and can attest to that, I’m sure?”
The room livened with sudden applause and cheer. Only then did Minka risk looking over at Oliver. Her heart performed another of its acrobatic flips when she saw that he was still staring her way. He had no qualms about allowing a few seconds to pass before he acknowledged the applause with a smile and wave.
“I’d like for Gallery V to showcase that genius,” Austin Sharpe said. “My hope is that the skills that have earned Gallery V a reputation as one of the most cutting-edge art galleries on the East and West coasts will create a dazzling showcase of the new Sharpe Executive Business Park in South Beach, Miami.” Austin waved with a flourish.
“Gallery V’s creator, Vectra Bauer, assures me that such a request is child’s play for her dynamic staff.”
Another round of enthusiastic applause erupted.
“Well, this concludes my presentation, folks.” Austin beamed as he surveyed the group. “We’ll all be meeting many more times over the course of the next several weeks.”
“I urge you all to remain a little longer and get to know one another. We’re all going to be spending lots of time together,” he added before giving a final salute and reclaiming his seat.
Conversation colored the room at once. Some remained chatting at the table, while others collected at the elaborate hot-beverage-and-dessert buffet that had been set up.
Minka was drawn aside by Wilder’s financial consultants. She focused on the conversation and took notes on the group’s preliminary ideas for wowing Sharpe’s Miami clients.
Much of the staff at Wilder questioned Minka’s decision to remain Qasim’s assistant when she so clearly had a talent in other areas. Alas, Minka was happiest helping her boss and friend, and more important, it kept her privileged background off the radar.
The consultant team made plans for a lunch meeting the following afternoon. Once they parted ways, Minka decided it’d be in her best interest to get lost while she could. It had been a long day, what with the drive and visit with her grandmother in Petaluma as well as the drive back to San Francisco in time for the Sharpe meeting.
She was wiped and made quick work of packing her tablet, pens and notepads in her tan portfolio tote. Despite her determination to make an exit, she paused and gave in to one last look at Oliver.
He was tall, but height seemed to run in their family. He had the kind of lean, muscular frame that Minka was sure would make him a formidable opponent on a basketball court. Dressed as he was in a tailored three-piece, she couldn’t help but appreciate the breadth of his frame. Even at rest, he seemed on alert somehow, as if he were ready to act in an instant if necessary.
He hadn’t bothered to get up and mingle, she’d observed. She supposed there was no need when a number of the meeting’s attendants made a point of stopping by his place at the table to hold brief conversations. Minka could tell that a great deal of the men were business as well as personal acquaintances.
She wasn’t sure what to make of the women. A number of them had stopped by to chat or...simply be seen with him. Who could blame them? Cinnamon-skinned with that luxurious crop of almond-brown curls...he was gorgeous. The hypnotic gaze was such an undeniable draw, especially when paired with a perfectly crafted nose, a generous, alluring mouth, a wide forehead and a faint cleft in his chin.
Minka closed her eyes and inhaled. Evidently, she’d observed him more closely than she’d realized during their earlier encounter. And you should go home before you do something really stupid, Mink.
Minka dug out her car keys and snapped the tote bag shut. She turned and smiled, genuinely happy to see Qasim and Vectra approaching.
“Quite the cast of characters.” Minka turned an assessing gaze toward the mingling crowd. “It’ll be great to see it all come together.”
“Yeah, it’ll be almost a shame to miss it.” Qasim Wilder looked to the woman at his side. He appraised Vectra with one meaningful sweep of his ebony gaze along her body. “Almost,” he added.
Minka smiled curiously while looking between the two. “Am I missing something?”
“No,” Qasim sighed the word and gave Vectra another look. “But we might. We’re thinking about getting lost for a while. So I want you to put together a team for this Miami trip.” Qasim eased a hand into one black trouser pocket and studied the room.
“Austin’s not looking to get things started down there for another week or so...” He looked back to Minka with an encouraging smile. “I’ll support whomever you tap to send.”
“Sim.” Minka rolled her eyes. “You know me well enough to know I can’t pick a team for something that important unless one of us goes along too.”
