Read Online Convincing Landon by Serena Yates - Free Book Online Page B

concerned, but not when a medium-sized client was interested.
    “Yeah, well, just make sure you’re there as fast as possible. I’ll go ahead and schmooze them while you do whatever it is you’re doing.” Mr. Ambrose turned on his heel and marched towards the elevators.
    Ouch . It wasn’t good to annoy the boss. Kendall picked up the file and drawings he needed and raced after Mr. Ambrose, trying to catch him before the elevator got there. Having made it, he focused on slowing down his breathing and remembering the pertinent details for this meeting. He needed to be sharp and prove he was worthy of being a junior partner. Not to mention starting to show that he was good enough to become a senior partner one of these days. Perhaps not strangely, based on his observations of who got promoted and who didn’t, that seemed to require more talent in the area of office and client politics than ability.
    They walked into the meeting room—Kendall one step behind so Mr. Ambrose was visibly in charge—and greeted the clients. A father and son team, they seemed to be having a great time flirting with Amy, Mr. Ambrose’s very young and very blonde secretary. Kendall tried not to be prejudiced, but Amy was just so stereotypically empty-headed, it was a wonder she managed to hold on to her position.
    “Mr. Parker, sorry to keep you waiting.” Mr. Ambrose shook hands with the older Parker then the son.
    “Oh, no problem at all. We’ve been taken real good care of by your beautiful Amy here.” Mr. Ambrose winked at the woman before turning back to Mr. Parker. “But I must admit to being awful curious about your design for my new family residence. So let’s kick off this meeting, happy hour isn’t going to wait on us.”
    Kendall almost groaned. The man was an insufferable alcoholic, which he only barely concealed. Always scheduling meetings around the next opportunity to drink, be that a long lunch or an early evening drink to ‘celebrate the end of the work day’, it was a wonder he remained sober enough to run his meat processing business. Or maybe it was actually his son who did the real work? Not that the younger Parker got any credit for it if he did.
    Kendall sighed as he spread his drawings on the big meeting room table for Mr. Parker to inspect. He knew what would happen, after all. Mr. Ambrose was going to pretend it was his work they were discussing…unless Mr. Parker didn’t like it. In that case, it would all of a sudden be Kendall’s fault.
    “Oh, I like this.” Mr. Parker bent over the papers, peering at the intricate art deco designs. “Very nice.”
    Yep, it was going to be Mr. Ambrose who took credit for the design. Kendall’s presence was now a mere formality and he could take notes on autopilot. Kendall switched off his work brain, going back to wondering whether meeting up with Landon tonight was such a good idea.
    He was in no doubt that he was going. After all, he’d promised that he would. But the expectations he had, or didn’t have, would decide how he’d approach the situation. He almost chuckled. He was already in way over his head. Landon had always had this effect on him, making him stupid and giddy like a teenager. It was both exhilarating and frustrating to find out that hadn’t changed.
    Setting himself up for failure wasn’t what he wanted, but it seemed he had no choice. Not going wasn’t an option. And once he was there, he was pretty sure he’d fall under Landon’s spell again.
    Sensing a change in the flow of conversation, he returned his full attention to the meeting, taking notes of the changes Mr. Parker wanted. There weren’t many and the meeting was soon finished.
    “Ready for that drink?” Mr. Parker leant back in his chair and pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
    Kendall was horrified. The man seemed to forget there was a no-smoking law in effect.
    “Sure.” Mr. Ambrose rose. “If you’ll follow me, we can leave the boys to deal with the