The Pitch: City Love 2 by Belinda Williams Read Free Book Online

reflective,” he informed me. “Forgive me, but it’s been a long week.”
    “Don’t apologize. I’m but a humble student, oh wise one. I learn from merely being in your presence.”
    Paul stopped reaching for the door handle and stared at me, an odd look on his face.
    “What?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “Your beauty belies your wit.” Then he yanked open the door and stepped out into the night, letting a cool rush of evening air into the car. I shivered, then grabbed my suit jacket as I got out of the car.
    I shrugged on my jacket, my long hair whipping around my face and neck. Paul had his back to me and appeared to be staring up at the office tower dwarfing us. If he thought he could drop a comment like that and I’d let it lie, he’d underestimated my stubbornness.
    “You’re saying I don’t look like I have a sense of humor?” I had to speak loudly above the whistle of wind rushing down the city street and the constant hum of cars.
    Paul waited a long moment before turning to face me. His eyes were serious and it unnerved me. “First impressions can be deceptive.”
    I was not going to drop this. It was a combination of the offhand comment about my beauty and my indignation about my apparent lack of humor. “So what was your first impression, then?”
    I couldn’t read his expression, but he didn’t hesitate. “Serious, professional, controlled. Determined.”
    I frowned. What he said was true, even if it annoyed me to admit it.
    A small smile played on Paul’s lips, then he gestured for us to walk. We started toward the foyer doors. “They’re admirable qualities. Qualities that have contributed to the success of your business.”
    And to my complete and utter failure in relationships, I thought. “So my sense of humor comes as a surprise?”
    I used my security card to unlock the after hours door. We made our way to the elevators, the click of my heels echoing on the marble tiles.
    “You don’t let everyone see that side of you,” he mused.
    “Why would I? I’m there to guide and drive the business. It doesn’t seem appropriate.” When I realized how restrained that sounded, I continued. “Although I’m not against a joke or some banter in the office.”
    “But you don’t get involved.”
    “I – ”
    He turned to face me, holding up a hand. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t meant as an insult. I just find it intriguing that here you are effortlessly engaging in some healthy banter with me, yet you don’t use it to your advantage more in business.” His blue eyes held mine with captivating ease.
    I reached out and hit the button for the elevator, unnerved. “It says more about gender roles than our personalities if you ask me. Men get ahead in business by mutual back patting and friendly banter. Women have to prove themselves to be as tough as the men, but it makes us appear humorless and hard.”
    I hadn’t meant for it to be a feminist rant, but it was how I felt. I’d learned early that to be successful, I had to put my emotions aside to be respected.
    Paul looked thoughtful as we entered the elevator. “You have the experience and presence to be able to drop that facade in some settings. To your benefit.”
    “What settings?” I was interested in Paul’s perspective. I rarely had anyone to bounce off business-wise. I could talk about anything with my girlfriends, but it was hard for them to understand the pressure of running Grounded Marketing or the type of business circles I was expected to mix in.
    Paul watched as the elevator display counted upwards. “I wouldn’t do it with people you’ve just met. Once they get to know you, I think a little of that wit would add a new element to your business relationships, though.” He glanced at me. “It’d help break the ice.”
    I inhaled a sharp breath. Was he saying I came across as cold? I knew I didn’t have the warmth of someone like Cate or the effervescent personality of Christa, but his comment stung.
    The