Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
The door slams behind me and I toe off my shoes before heading into the living space. The music turns off. Jules has heard I’m back.
“Hey,” I call.
She pokes her head out of her bedroom. She’s chewing. She swallows. “Hey.” She comes out and leans against the doorjamb. “How are you? You look mighty happy.”
She’s holding a half-eaten apple in her hand. I grab her wrist and hold it up, then take a bite of her apple.
“Help yourself,” she says, smiling at me as I chew.
This time it’s my turn to swallow. “Jules, today is a good day!”
She follows me as I head to the windows of the apartment.
“New York Fucking City,” I exclaim. “So great they named it twice.” The low sun has turned the skyline dusky orange. It’s fucking beautiful. “New York is the love of my fucking life.”
She stands beside me, looking out over the city. “You win the lottery or something?” she asks.
“Sure did. Look at my life!”
She laughs. “Yeah, well, when you put it like that. But what happened today? You’re not always so… chipper.”
I chuckle and my eyes slide to hers. Her hair is on top of her head in a messy bun with strands poking out all over. “Oh, I didn’t even ask—how was your first day?”
She sighs. “I thought it was good, and then you arrive punching the air and doing your little New-York’s-so-great dance.”
“There’s no dance.”
“If I wasn’t here, I bet there’d be a dance.” She looks at me, beaming, and all I can think about is how I’d like to dance with her right this second.
But I’m not dancing with women. I’m having sex with women. That’s as far as it goes. I’m not getting embroiled again. Not after making such a terrible mistake with Nadia.
“I just had my first walk around New River and it’s great. The views are great. The space is great. It’s… lovely.”
“That’s amazing, Leo. New River is going to be spectacular. I’d love to see it.”
“Well, good, because you will see it. I’m having a cocktail party there in a week or so. We’re launching the sales center. Did you get the email from Aesha?”
“I did. How’s she working out for you?”
“She smiles more than you did when you were my assistant.”
Jules laughs and it’s like my joy cup is being topped up. She’s dazzling when she smiles. “That wouldn’t be difficult. But is she a good assistant?”
“She seems fine. You trained her well.”
“Of course I did. I don’t want to have to go back to that job. Anyway, she’s a quick learner.”
“Was it really so bad?” As soon as I’ve asked, I wish I hadn’t. There’s something in me that doesn’t want to hear how bad working for me is. Not from her.
“No, of course it wasn’t, but being back in the hotel today… it’s where I belong.” She turns and takes a seat on one end of the sectional.
I grin at her. She’s so relaxed, so comfortable. It’s nice. I’m pleased she’s here.
“Thanks for the flowers, by the way.”
“My pleasure. How did it go?”
“It was interesting,” she says. I pause, wanting her to expand a little bit. I go and get a glass of water from the kitchen. “It sounds kinda douche-y,” she calls over to me. “But I see things differently now. I always knew there were areas to improve and things I’d do differently, but today, I saw some things I wasn’t expecting to see. It was… disappointing.”
“You want to elaborate?”
She laughs. “You don’t give two shits about The Mayfair.”
“I give half a shit about The Mayfair, but I definitely give two shits about your day, which happens to have taken place at The Mayfair.”
She looks at me for a second, then two, then says, “Goddammit, Leo. Stay on-brand for all our sakes, will you?”
“If only I knew what that entailed.”
“I’m going to hold fire before I tell you what happened today,” she continues. “I want to do some more digging, figure more stuff out. Then I’ll either find solutions or come up with a plan to solve the problems that may or may not require your input.”
“How very cryptic,” I reply.
“Not cryptic. But you’re Just Leo here, right? Not my boss.”
She has a point. “Fair enough.” I join her on the sofa. “So tell me about when we met before. Was it a work context?”
She shakes her head. Maybe I’m imagining it, but all of a sudden she doesn’t seem to be able to look me in the eye. Is she worried I’ll be able to place her? Surely not. If I was going to figure out we’d met before, I’d have done it by now. She’s been working for me for months.
“Give me a clue.”
A grin twitches at the corners of her mouth. “My hair was a different color.”
I squint. “What color?” She shrugs. Why is she being so reticent about this? Did I embarrass myself? Did she? I really hope we haven’t slept together. “Why won’t you tell me?”