Colin

Another step of my master plan was complete. To be honest, I had expected this step to be a lot more difficult. Afterall, acquiring another company should be complicated, right? I mean the legality side of it alone should take weeks, if not months. Though I suppose the merger itself was still in process. I owned Tech Security but it was not technically part of my company yet.

When I discovered Tech Security, their name alone was enough to tell me that this was someone who did not know how to run a company. And sure enough, when I did a little digging, I discovered a mountain of debt and unpaid creditors. When I offered their CEO a cash buyout, he took it so fast he left behind skid marks.

So now, less than a week later, I found myself sitting in a new office staring out onto Toronto's skyline. I had made it quite clear that I was not to be disturbed at this time. I needed to ponder and plan my next steps. If I wanted to become the top cyber security company in Toronto, and one day all of Canada, then I needed to think through each step thoroughly. It was ambitious, I know, but not impossible.

Just as I began to go into my zone where even the idea of taking over the world seemed possible, I heard the door open behind me.

I let out a small growl at the intrusion and swiveled my chair around to see who would dare defy my order. But as soon as my eyes landed on the intruder, I paused. I blinked a few times, thinking my sight had failed me. Did I remember to put in my contacts that morning? For it looked like Alicia Hannigan had just walked into my office.

I mean, it was almost like it was the essence of Alicia, just in a different tone. Her hair was no longer blonde but brown. Gone were the stylish "hip" clothes that she always seemed to wear in high school, but even though she wore a professional outfit of a blazer and skirt, she still looked like a model for Ralph Lauren. The one thing that hadn't changed was that she was still drop dead gorgeous.

She swung a lock of hair over her shoulder and placed a hand on her hip, she gave me a stare that could've melted a whole iceberg. Oh yeah, this was definitely Alicia.

"I want to know why my contract was terminated before being consulted first."

I blinked again trying to process what she just said. I realized she didn't recognize me. Or if she did, she didn't care enough to acknowledge it. Contract? When I took over Tech Security there were a dozen contracts that I terminated. It had only been a week, so we hadn't gotten around to notifying everyone yet. To be honest, I was probably doing them all a favor. Knowing the money trouble Kinesman got Tech Security into, I doubt he planned on paying for half of them. The question is, which one did he hire Alicia for?

I leaned back in my chair and gave her a frosty look to combat her fiery one. Alicia was going to learn that I'm not that same nerdy boy from high school. I've learned from my mistakes. And for once it looked like I held the upper hand.

"When my company took over Tech Security, all prior contracts became void. You had an agreement with them, not me."

"And who exactly are you?" Alicia asked, raising a haughty eyebrow.

Ah, so she didn't recognize me. Well I wasn't about to give her that satisfaction. "CyberSecure Inc." I responded.

"I've heard of you. One of the fastest growing cyber defense companies in Toronto right?"

I'm impressed but I don't show it. Instead I deflected with a question of my own. "And what service had Mr. Kinesman hired you for?"

"To implement a marketing strategy that would put Tech Security on the map."

Marketing, I should have known. I held back a snort, I doubt a simple marketing plan would've boosted Tech Securities bottom line. "Like I said, we have no agreement. Your contract was with Mr. Kinesman."

I saw her shoulders begin to deflate but looked far from backing down.

"Then let's make a new agreement. I'm sure CyberSecure needs marketing just as much as Tech Security did."

I would rather pull my own teeth then enter into another "agreement" with Alicia. "I have a marketing department already." Albeit, a very small one but she didn't need to know that.

"As a consultant I can adapt my strategies to fit in with your current marketing plan. I'll come alongside your department and make sure that it is being utilized to its full potential."

She didn't know how to quit, did she? Obviously, she really wanted this contract, the question was, why? "Hiring a marketing consultant wasn't in the budget for this year. With the merger, funds are a little tied up at the moment." Which was mostly true. Marketing had been sorely neglected, hence why it was so small but I had bigger projects I wanted to focus on. There was only so much money to go around.

"You should be pushing your company's image even more so because of the merger. Show that your company is bigger and better." Her jaw went rigid like she was chewing on something she'd rather spit out. "I'll make you a proposition. Give me a thirty day trial. If in that time you don't see an increase in either the number of clients or revenue, then my fees will be waived."

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Either she was a fool or she was really desperate. "And if there is an increase?" I asked, waiting for the catch.

"Then my services are extended for two more months and you pay me in full."

I drummed my fingers on the desk while I mulled over her offer. It's a win-win situation for me and I'm sure she knows it. Still I wouldn't be the shrewd businessman I was if I dived head first without first looking at all the angles.

"Come back in a week with a presentation on your marketing strategy and then I will consider your offer." What was I doing? This was Alicia, the girl who hurt me in the worst possible way over ten years ago. Did I really want to get close to her again? I got burned last time, what if this time it's a raging inferno?

A genuine smile broke out onto her face that I was slightly taken aback. "Thank you Mr. Evans. Trust me you won't regret it."

Before I could even respond she was already leaving the office and was gone. I really hope I won't regret this later but I had a feeling I would. My curiosity was piqued, that's for sure.

Last I heard, she had planned on going into accounting, albeit at the urging of her father, but to start your own firm takes backbone. I would know. Which leads me to think that her firm might not be doing so well. Who else would offer services for free? A desperate one in my experience.

Friday should be amusing, I'm interested to see what she comes up with. CyberSecure is already pretty successful so I doubt she'll be able to offer anything that will boost that. The bigger quandary will be what to do if she figured out who I was. Why was it that I could not seem to say no to this woman?

+++

Alicia

I couldn't believe I wrangled myself another chance. Either I was a cat with nine lives or God was seriously working behind the scenes. I ran out of that office as fast as I could before Mr. Evans could change his mind.

Mr. Evans...Now there was a man who kept his cards close to his chest. He didn't even offer his first name. Calling him mister seemed way too formal, especially when he didn't look much older than me.

Either way, it was a totally different reception from the one I had with Zach a week ago. Where Zach had been so friendly to the point of creepy, Mr. Evans had been cool and reserved. There was definitely something about him that I couldn't put my finger on. Something that was familiar.

I thought about it on my way back to the office but came up short. I would have to let it go for now because I had some serious work to do. I needed to blow this Evans guy out of the water if I wanted to convince him that my services were essential to CyberSecure's success. I didn't even want to know what the bank would think if they found out I had lost the contract. But I hadn't lost it...yet.

I book in a long day but call it quits at seven to prevent another panicked phone call from Cameron. When I get home, I'm surprised to find the apartment empty. Cameron hardly ever stays out late because it's when all the "serial killers" come out. Happy to have control of the tv for a change, I turned on an episode of When Calls the Heart and settled down with some reheated leftovers from the fridge.

About thirty minutes later Cameron came trudging in the door. Judging by the rumpled clothes and her hair sticking out at different angles, I would say she had a hard day.

I muted the tv and turned towards her in concern. "You're back late. Did something happen at the law office?"

Instead of answering my question, Cameron throwed a worn briefcase to the side and began removing her black heels. Cameron never looked more different then when she was wearing her work attire. At home I rarely saw her in anything other than leggings and yoga pants.

"Let's just say that being a legal assistant is so not worth it." She stumbled off to her room before I could comment further. Probably to change into something comfortable.

When she came back out I had her favorite tea ready with a warmed up croissant sitting on our coffee table.

"You are a lifesaver," she said as she picked up her tea while curling into as small a ball as possible.

"What are roomies for?" I said with a grin and nestled down beside her to finish my show.

When I unmute the tv, Cameron let out a moan. "Not this again. How can you stand the level of cheese that is literally pouring out of every pixel on the screen?"

"What can I say? I'm just one giant poutine covered in cheese curds."

"I don't know which is worse for my health; you or this show."

"If you like I can switch it to Pride and Prejudice?"

"You mean with Kiera Knightley right?"

"In my mind, the BBC version is the only one that exists."

Cameron gave a long dramatic sigh. "I'll let that one go because you made me tea." Rising from her seat, she took her dishes into the kitchen. "How did your meeting go? Did the slimeball at least keep his hands to himself this time?"

"Oh, the plot thickens," I said, turning off the tv as the credits begin to roll. "Mr. Kinesman is no more and has been replaced with Mr. Evans."

Cameron shot me an odd look. "It's the 21st century. Does nobody use first names anymore?"

"He never gave it." Then all of a sudden, an odd thought struck me that made me go, "Huh."

"Huh?" Cameron echoed.

"It's probably nothing, but I just realized he never asked me my name. Wouldn't you want to know who a person was before hiring them?"

Cameron gave a half-shrug. "He probably didn't care. I'm pretty sure half the lawyers I work with still don't know mine."

"Yeah, I guess so." Though it still felt off to me.

"So, what's this Evans guy like?" Cameron asked. "Sounds like he's not much better than Kinesman."

I reiterated the details of my meeting, hoping Cameron could help sort it out. Although this Mr. Evans was giving me a chance to prove myself, I had no idea where he stood.

"He could just be stuck up," Cameron said as she opened up a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream from the freezer. "But if you ask me, I think you threw him off-kilter."

"I did kinda go in guns blazing," I admitted.

"How old is this guy?"

"Thirty maybe? He looked about the same age as me."

"Good looking?"

I rolled my eyes at the question. "What does that matter?"

"Oh, it matters," Cameron said so seriously I almost believed her.

"He's handsome in an understated way. Like he had on a striped blue vest that matched his eyes. He looked...nice."

"I'll confirm my earlier statement but with a slight edit. He was off-kilter because he was attracted to you."

"Oh, please," I said, flopping down on the couch. "The guy was as cold as the Arctic desert in a snowstorm."

"Mark my words," Cameron said, pointing her spoon at me. "The guy is into you."

I covered my eyes with both hands. This was so not what I needed right now. "Is it not possible to just have a normal working relationship with a man?"

Cameron snorted. "Girl, have you looked in the mirror lately?"