• CHAPTER 2 •
Matt and Jeff shook hands with two other business men in their conference room at the NeroMoore headquarters. They had just closed another business deal and were excited about the future plans for their business. Matt saw the men out the door before closing the door behind him and turning to his brother.
"Well Jeff, another successful meeting done and dusted" he said breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah that went far better than expected" Jeff replied, his southern accent hinting through his sentence.
"You can say that again. What do you say we end the day on a high note and go celebrate the new business deal".
"It's like you read my mind brother" Jeff said tapping his knuckles against his brother's. This was a usual thing for the brothers, it was like a secret handshake…although it wasn't a secret. They would always tap each other's knuckles before a big meeting to wish each other luck, or after one as if to say 'a job well done'.
Jeff turned the handles to open one of the double doors and just as he did he was stopped in his tracks as his new assistant accidently bumped into him.
"I am so sorry Mr. Hardy" the petit blonde said gasping quickly kneeling down to grab all the papers she had dropped. Jeff was quick to kneel down and help the young blonde.
"It's quite alright" his southern voice said as he helped to pick up the remaining papers accidently brushing his hand against hers in the process. The blonde woman quickly looked up, her hazel brown eyes staring straight into the piercing emerald green eyes that belong to her boss and Co-CEO of this successful company.
He took this opportunity to take in as much detail of the woman in front of him. She was a petite woman but her black pump heels helped to visually elongate her height. She was fit and attractive. Her perfectly tan olive silky smooth skin hinted that she had some European blood running through her veins, but her accent in her speech spoke that of Canadian. He couldn't help but get a little lost in her hazel brown eyes which spoke more volume to Jeff than her model like figure. In saying that though, Jeff was a guy after all and he couldn't ignore the fact that she was very well gifted in the chest department. He cleared his throat bringing his focus back to her face.
"I'm so sorry to say this" Jeff broke the awkward silence. "I'm a little embarrassed but I've forgotten the name that belongs to your beautiful face" he continued blushing a little. He wasn't normally that forward. In fact, Jeff was normally very shy around women.
"Ahh…Trish. Trish Stratus. I'm… your new assistant. I must have forgotten to put clumsy on my resume" she said a little off guard as she and Jeff stood upright. Her sentence caused Jeff to smile a little. He liked a little humour. "Uhh…these are for you and your brother" Trish said handed the papers she had just picked up to Jeff. Jeff smiled and nodded as a way of thanks. He was having a little trouble now getting any words out.
Right on cue, Matt who had stood back and watch this encounter unfold smiling to himself, stood next to his brother, grabbing the papers from his hands.
"Thank you very much Trish." He said smiling. "I hope the new job is treating you well and you are enjoying your time at NeroMoore" he continued.
"Oh I am very grateful for this opportunity Mr. Hardy and look forward to giving my all to this company whole heartedly" Trish said maybe a little took eagerly. Both brothers smiled.
"Well we are very pleased to hear that Trish and we have full faith that you will achieve great success in this company" said Matt extending out his hand, giving Trish and firm businessman handshake.
"Thank you again Mr. Hardy" she said reciprocating the handshake. She then went to shake Jeff's hand who currently hand his hands in his pockets. Jeff took one hand out of his pocket and grasped her hand to shake it. Trish noticed the different between the two brother's handshakes. Jeff was not as firm as Matt's. His handshake was more like a caress of hands then a firm authoritative shake. But Jeff's handshake had more of an impact. It sent electric pulses through Trish's body causing her to get goosebumps.
"Mr. Hardy…thank you…also…not just for this job opportunity but also for helping me with my clumsiness" she said turning her gaze towards the ground in slight embarrassment.
"No problem at all" Jeff said trying not to reveal his smile from her humor. Matt couldn't help but chuckle quietly to himself as he watched his brother interact with the blonde. Again, Matt stepped in to save his brother. It was like brotherly instinct you could say.
"Trish, Jeff and I have completed all that we need to do today so we will both be out of the office for the remainder for the day. Feel free to contact myself or Jeff on our cells for matters of urgency; otherwise the rest can be emailed to us. I assume you have been given all our contact details already?" Matt questioned.
"Yes Sir Mr. Hardy. I have everything on file and on my cell in case I need to contact you outside of the office." Trish quickly responded.
"Trish, since you will be working closely with myself and my brother Jeff. Feel free to call us by our first names. It might be a little easier." Matt said as he threw a quick look to Jeff who stood next to his brother, his hands back in his pockets and just nodded in agreement.
"Oh thank goodness because it was getting a little confusing calling you both Mr. Hardy. I would forget who I was referring to after a while." She said smiling then quickly dropped her smile thinking that maybe that was a little inappropriate and unprofessional. "I'm sorry" she quickly added looking very remorseful.
Both Matt and Jeff let out a small laugh.
"We get that a lot don't worry" Matt assured her, causing Trish to let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in. "Do you have any questions at all Trish?" Matt asked.
"None at the moment" the blonde replied.
"Well hopefully we haven't taken up too much of your time. Feel free to grab us anytime you have a question Trish. Otherwise, that will be all today…thank you." Matt said as both brothers gave a friendly smile.
"Thank-you" Trish said, giving a slight wave as she turned to walk back towards her office. The two brothers stood together, Matt resting one arm above his head on the door and Jeff standing next to him, hands still in his pockets, as they watched the blonde walk away. Her grey pencil skirt fitted tightly around her small waist, extenuating her curvaceous hips and perfectly toned backside. She was very gifted when it came to her body. She had all the right curves in all the right places and her long beautiful blonde hair radiated in the light as she walked.
"She looks just as good from behind as she does from the front huh Jeff?" Matt teased as he turned back towards the conference room, nudging his brother's shoulder as he walked towards the office attached to the conference room and placed the papers that Trish had brought on top of his desk. Jeff followed behind him with a confused look on his face, his hands gesturing the same confusion.
"What the hell is that meant to mean?" Jeff said as he stood in the doorway of his brother's office.
"Exactly what you think it means. I saw the way you looked at her. I honestly never seen you so stunned and speechless in my life."
"You have no idea what you are talking about Matt." Jeff said getting defensive.
"Jeff…I know you better than anybody. You get very shy when it comes to women but never ever this shy. It was like she caught you off guard." Matt teased.
"She did catch me off guard. She bumped straight into me."
"You do realize that you said she had a beautiful face."
"I never said such a thing."
"Yes you did. You said I've forgotten the name that belongs to your beautiful face".
Jeff paused for a moment realizing that Matt was actually right, as he recalled the encounter he had with Trish. "Well she is an attractive woman". Jeff eventually added.
"That she is. But there were no sparks flying between me and her like they were between the two of you."
"Now…you're being ridiculous bro" Jeff said turning to walk away.
Matt laughed as he followed behind him. "You keep telling yourself that" he said gently slapping his hand on his brother's shoulder before wrapping his arm around his neck, pulling his brother's head down closer to his chest and rubbing his knuckles onto Jeff's head, ruffling up his hair as they walked out the conference room door. "Let's go get that drink" Matt concluded.