Chapter 10

Cliff Ainsley had been unnerved when his friend Federico Salazar pointed out the young woman exiting the elevator and referred to her as his “dinner date.” Jesus, he thought, Fed’s got something hot and heavy going with his Head of Housekeeping and now he’s romancing this lovely young thing. How old can she be anyway? Salazar had a reputation for being a Casanova.

But after the McClain girl analyzed her family’s business and what she intended to do with it, Cliff understood why Salazar was so impressed with the girl. Appraising her appearance, he thought Wow, and tried to imagine her in Levi’s, a t-shirt, and work boots while wearing a tool belt. He too became magnetized by the young girl. But he had to leave for a theatre date with his wife. “Well, Ms. McClain,” he said, this has been a pleasure, but I have to run ... gotta meet my Mrs. at the theatre tonight. Make sure you have your father contact me about bidding for my retrofit. He stood up and handed her his card.

Giving his card a cursory glance Ashley said, “Before you run off Mr. Ainsley let me run this by you. We’re going to finish Mr. Salazar’s project three weeks early. That’s three weeks before I have to go back to Stanford. We’ll give you a written bid on your job for time and material. Here’s my proposal. If you can provide ADA bars for 180 rooms McClain will give you the same labor rate that we are giving Mr. Salazar. We can start installing on August 22^nd and finish on September 9^th when I’m due back at school. Spring Break starts on April 3. We’ll start the next phase at that time and will finish it in two weeks ... that’s 120 more rooms. Let’s see ... that comes to 300 rooms. Then on June 7^th we’ll start the last 120 rooms and finish by June 18, just as your busy season is getting underway.”

With his mouth agape, Ainsley stared as he thought, Fucking UNBELIEVABLE.

Salazar tried to keep from putting his tongue in his cheek as he thought, No shit.

“I apologize, Mr. Ainsley,” Ashley said, “You’re in a hurry and have to meet your wife. But give me another card ... and your pen. Absently fumbling for a card with one hand he pulled out his Mont Blanc pen and handed both to the preposterous young woman. “I’m writing these dates and the number of rooms on your card.” After quickly jotting down the numbers, she handed the card and pen back to him, held out her hand, and said, “It’s been a pleasure meeting you Mr. Ainsley. Have a wonderful evening at the Theatre. Hamilton, right?”

Still overcome with the blitzing way Ashley had approached him with her proposal he nodded as he said, “Yup, yup,” then “Thanks.”

“Can I follow up with you on Monday?”

“That should be okay,” he said as he began to move. “Take care Fed,” then walked quickly away, shaking his head, he appeared to be talking with himself to the elevator.

Looking nonchalantly at Federico she saw the puzzled look on his face and said, “What?”

“You’re not going to tell me that you didn’t lay out that scenario before you came here tonight, are you?” He recalled how quickly she had thought on her feet both times she visited his office.”

“I’ve been thinking of nothing but what we talked about, Mr. Salazar, but not about Mr. Ainsley’s hotel or the time frame I suggested while talking with him. I just met him.”

“And it’s true that you are twenty percent ahead of schedule?”

“Twenty-two to be exact. Why would I lie about something like that to your friend who you say works in context with you?”

There will come a time in your business career when you will, Salazar thought then said, “And you’re actually going to split your bonus with your MEN?”

“I said so, didn’t I?”

“You just came up with that?”

“No. I’ve been thinking about it since I ran the numbers.” Wondering why he was asking all these questions she continued, “But I am going to tell the men about it tomorrow. It’s the end of the week and will motivate them to work harder at it on Monday.”

Shaking his head he said, “Amazing.”

“What?”

“The way you operate Ashley. You’ll tell them to keep it under their hats, won’t you?”

“I don’t need to, but I will anyway. You have no idea how loyal these men are Mr. Salazar.”

“Federico.”

“I called you that once, Mr. Salazar, but I’m not ready to be on a first-name basis with you ... you’ll call me Ashley I understand, and I’m okay with it, but I’m working for you.”

Salazar saw how the impressionable young woman was declaring a line of demarcation. She surely has her shit together. Holding open his hands he shrugged his shoulders.

“If our table is ready, Mr. Salazar (she emphasized his name), we should eat. I have a date at Nine.”

From the time they had last talked in his office till she blitzed Ainsley with the offer to do his ADA retrofits in such a confidant way, Salazar had been merely enchanted with Ashley McClain. Now his feelings for her exploded into something more serious ... more immediate. But being cautious of his urges to mix business with pleasure he had hedged his bets for tonight by having Maxine Marshall agree to be at his suite by Nine-Thirty. As he felt the sexual energy building with this stunning young female, he noticed the glow in her cheeks. And I bet whomever the guy is will benefit from the vibes Ashley, and I generate at dinner.

When they got to the table something happened that she had never experienced from a grown man. He attended her chair. Once they were seated, she started into business immediately. “Do you think Mr. Ainsley will go for it?

“Cliff was a bit stunned by your presentation Ashley. You certainly do have a machinegun approach.”

“Is that bad?”

“Unusual, particularly coming from a person your age. Intimidating. Most people can’t formulate ideas and come out with them as if they had been thinking about them for days. Bad? I don’t think so. Confusing? Definitely. When you first came to my office, I was impressed with your quick assessment of things. But I thought you were just trying to impress me. By the second time, I realized how sharp you were and felt that you were right on. Tonight? I couldn’t believe how you produced what you did so unexpectedly. If Cliff is anything like me, he’ll be trying to figure out how it all came about.”

“What do you think he will do?”

“I think he will have a tough time keeping his mind on the musical tonight. I think he will puzzle over it all weekend. And Monday I think he will beat you to the punch and call your father to see what he knows about it ... and if you can produce what you said off the cuff. So, I suggest you put your head together with Jim and see if you can pull it off the way you think.”

“There is no doubt in my mind that I can.”

“But if your father isn’t on board and hems and haws about it when Cliff calls, Cliff will get spooked. You’re just a nineteen-year-old teenager, Miss McClain (he emphasized Miss).”

“But do you think Cliff Ainsley will go for it?”

“Only if he knows for sure that your dad is behind you on this. And Jim will know that not only is YOUR reputation on the line,” But McClain Construction as well.”

“I’ll have Daddy up to speed by Monday,” Ashley said. “Now, the reason I agreed to have dinner with you, Mr. Salazar (she emphasized Mr.) is that you said you would help me with my report on multi-unit housing.”

“The reason I invited YOU to dinner Miss Ashley McClain is to get to know you better,” besides hoping that I might get into your pants one day. “Because of our first two visits, I am convinced of your brilliant analytical mind. As far as your report goes, you’ll get an A regardless of what I say. But you can use my name as a reference if you choose. I have been thinking about the idea of converting small-scale elegant hotels into condominiums. It’s not a new idea. They have been doing it in New York City for years. But there are a lot of properties in California that are still doing well but are lagging behind properties like Jackson Hole and Aspen and such. More people own private jets and are looking for more provocative resorts ... building huge homes there. The small-scale elegant hotels I’m speaking of are in classy areas of the cities they serve. They are perfect locations to convert into condos for wealthy people who have just come into their wealth. What do you think?” Let’s see how she handles this.

“First, you have to produce a plan to finance such a venture. Will it be a Marriot project or just your own?”

“It’s just something I’ve been thinking about, Ashley. I want to consider some variables like the obstacles I would run into in converting them.”

“Kitchens first then bathrooms are the first thing people want to improve in the housing market,” Ashley said. “Hotel rooms, even suites, are not laid out for kitchens. Their bathrooms are old. So, you have to think about how much you will have to do by including adjoining rooms to produce enough space to create logical-sized kitchens and improved and expanded bathrooms ... and let’s not forget walk-in closets.”

JESUS

Seeing the disbelief on Federico’s face she said, “I grew up in the construction business, Mr. Salazar. You can’t believe the plans I’ve seen and the changes that go on in them amidst construction.” Shaking her head at the confused look on his face she added, “Why do so many men act so strangely when a woman talks about construction?”

Salazar laughed, “I’m only acting strangely because I’ve just seen you completely confuse Cliff Ainsley. Then, the second I mentioned what I like to do with an old hotel and asked you a question, you jumped into a dialogue as if we had been discussing it for a month ... and you’ve already jumped into PLANS.”

“Well,” Ashley said, “I DO have plans. All I need is some way to make them happen.”

Salazar’s heart pounded as he thought, I’m planning to fuck you someday kiddo. JESUS, I could do it right now on the table.

Ashley could see by the hungry look that a relationship with the handsome man across the table could be trouble. It was as if her pussy were leaking from between her lips. I could dive under the table and gobble his cock. Jesus Darren, I hope you are ready for what I am going to do to you tonight.

Both Salazar and she had only large salads. “Would you like dessert Ashley?” he asked.

“I have to think of my girlish figure,” She said.

What I would give to see it naked in my bed, he thought.

“It’s eight-twenty,” she said, “I have to meet somebody at nine.”

There was no business in paying the bill, the meal was immediately on his private account ... comped. Once again, he stood behind Ashley’s chair and attended it. On the way to the elevator, Ashley thanked him for the meal. “Another time?” he said.

“I don’t know Mr. Salazar; I want to keep this on a business level as much as possible.”

Smiling, he said, “Of course, I’m sure we can come up with a reason. You are a person with whom any man would love to do business. Make sure you go over your offer to Cliff Ainsley. You want him to be completely up to speed when he calls.”

“Don’t worry about my dad Mr. Salazar ... I have some plans for a couple of apartment buildings we converted to condos if you would like to see them.”

“I would love that MS. McClain. If you will drop them off at the office when you can, I’ll look at them. You could come in and clarify them for me.”

“I will. Let me know when you’ve gone over them. We can discuss them when you acquaint yourself with the layout.”

When the elevator doors closed Federico thought God, I hope Maxine is early.

Inside the elevator, Ashley pushed the button for the floor below. When the elevator stopped the doors opened. Nobody got on and the doors closed. She pushed the emergency stop button. Shuddering in both anticipation and need her knees felt they would collapse. So she leaned her back against the back wall. With the emergency buzzer continuing, she knifed her right hand inside the waist of her slacks, found her clitoris with the middle finger, and savagely manipulated it until she let out a loud gasp, orgasmed, and slumped hard against the wall. While catching her breath she released the emergency buzzer and push the button for “Lobby.”