Hoping EVERYONE has a SAFE HAPPY and FANTASTIC New Year!! 2016 is going to be EPIC!!!
UNEDITED SNEAK PEEK
Nate paused for another moment before turning to bring in Ms. Lee Xiou. This was one meeting he’d love to be a fly on the wall to see. There was a connection between that woman and Alex. Nate would bet money that it was more than that attempted takeover of his company. He didn’t think Braylee knew exactly what the connection was either and was too curious for her own damn good. Apparently, so was Ms. Lee Xiou. He stepped out into the lobby where she sat expressionless wearing almost the same mask as Braylee.
“Miss Lee Xiou? Ms. Hinsdale will see you now.” Gina stood in her all black designer pant suit. It fit her like a glove hugging her slim waist and rounded hips. While having a cinnamon complexion and eyes the color of dark chocolate, it was clear she was bi-racial part Chinese. As she walked past him, Nate also realized how tall she was. Her head probably came to his chin. Beautiful, powerful, and apparently ridiculously wealthy. If nothing else, Alex had great taste in women.
The door crept open, and as Braylee stood, she smoothed down her skirt. A moment later, she was face to face with Gina Lee Xiou.
She moved from around her desk and walked toward her with the grace of a panther as she pasted on that smile. Braylee extended her hand and Gina shook it. “Ms. Lee Xiou please have a seat.”
Gina couldn’t help but assess the woman who was keeping Alexandro’s bed warm at night. She looked a bit different from her pictures. It must be the hair. She’d cut it. The short hair drew attention to her high cheekbones, rounded eyes, and full lips. She guessed some people might even call her pretty.
“Thank you Ms. Hinsdale. I wasn’t sure we’d have an opportunity to meet during my brief visit to the States.” Gina had done her homework on Braylee Hinsdale and she would make a formidable opponent.
Braylee went to sit back down behind her desk. “You have me at somewhat of a disadvantage. I didn’t know you would be on my calendar today.”
“My apologies but a woman in my position can’t be too careful. I like to move discreetly you understand. Surprises are sometimes necessary.”
The Mask was firmly in place, “I’m not surprised to see you. I just didn’t know it would be today. Sooner or later, I knew we would meet.”
Nate tapped once on Braylee’s door before coming inside. His voice was low…serious. “Your appointment is here.”
Doing that thing she does with her eyebrow where she only raises one of them, she looked at him, then her phone. “You couldn’t buzz to let me know that?”
He didn't respond with his usual smirk or even a mischievous smile. There was nothing. “No. You’re supposed to be meeting with a Victor Manor of The Manor Group, Inc. Instead, there is a big ass bodyguard in our lobby with a woman - a stunningly beautiful woman.” This time it was him who looked at her questioningly, “Does the name Gina Lee Xiou ring a bell? If it doesn’t...it should.”
Instantly, The Mask appeared. Old habits die hard. Braylee gently placed the sterling silver pen she'd been holding on her desk before leaning back into her chair. She steepled her fingers together and taped them on the bottom of her chin. “Interesting. Well well well…she’s here. By all means please send her in.”
Nate didn’t know if that was a good or bad idea but decided to do as he was asked. However, before he left he made a request. “Braylee…keep your composure.”
While her smile was easy he knew better than that. Nate hoped Braylee would play it cool, but he also knew she was anything but. Even though her mask was in place, that one unguarded moment in her eyes told another story. The warrior in her had shown up. Smoothly she responded, “When have you ever known me not to keep my cool during battle?”
He pointed a finger at her, “See, that’s what I’m talking about. This isn't about Alex, it's about business. So, stay focused. You have no idea why she’s here and you’re already preparing for war.”
She turned her cat-like gaze directly at him, “She already started the war. I just plan to finish it. So, Nate, please send her in. I’ve got this I promise.”
COMING DECEMBER 2015
I will NEVER get married! According to Shonda Rhimes and Oprah Winfrey. Not every woman has picked a gown, a location, and the song they want to walk down the aisle to before they've met the man of their dreams (although I chose Tony Terry's When I'm With You - that was my JAM)! **Clears throat** I digress. At any rate, I found their conversation about getting married very interesting. Which led me to ask : Is it still considered taboo for women to NOT WANT TO GET MARRIED? Because....well...just because they don't want to. There doesn't really need to be a reason does it?
PLEASE SPEAK ON IT!
Okay...so they haven't really been banned but you have to admit that was a great headline. However, it could happen. For example, if Amazon dropped all of my books today, how would you find me?
Let me start off by saying I have the best career in the world. I’m an AUTHORPRENEUR! *ahem ahem* What is an an authorpreneur you ask (you didn’t but that’s okay)? Well, I’d love to share my definition. An authorprenuer is not a term I coined but it’s on the cusp of being a real word. If you do a quick internet search thousands of definitions will appear. The short answer is an independent writer who is self-published. However, some published authors still indulge in a bit of authorpreneurship responsibilities.
An authorpreneur is a writer – FIRST and FOREMOST (otherwise nothing else matters), publisher, media communications specialist (i.e. publicist), salesperson, marketing/promotional strategist, finance director, art director, and editor. I might even be missing a responsibility or two. But, that’s what we do because we LOVE to create engaging and intriguing stories for our readers to read. We wear a lot of hats even if we outsource some of our responsibilities. However, because we are the CEO’s of our brand the buck stops with us. I love that and wouldn’t want it any other way! Who doesn’t want to be the master of their own destination? That amount of responsibility also comes with a lot of risk but a very high reward if successful.
We’ve always been taught to never keep all of our eggs in one AMAZON basket.
I love Amazon but back to my original question, if Amazon dropped all of my books today, how would you find me? My hope is by joining my e-mail list at http://lashawn-vasser.squarespace.com . If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my and your favorite authors websites. Join our mailing lists! This is our way of being able to keep you in the loop and keep all of our eggs in plenty of baskets.