April 2019
After checking in and receiving the key to her room, Aida turned to go toward the elevator and found Disa waiting for her.
“Good evening, Aida.”
Aida almost didn’t recognize her—Disa’s appearance was a sharp contrast to how she’d looked in Boston. She was impeccably but strangely dressed in a wild taffeta mid-length skirt with a navy star pattern, a ribbon emblazoned with Christian Dior on the side. Atop the skirt, she wore a white sleeveless, asymmetrical top with an external white corset. Her white boots were half sandal, and she wore socks with them. Her hair was loose with curls that fell to her shoulders.
Look at her, so self-assured, Aida thought, her mind momentarily sidetracked.And here I am, an emotional train wreck barely holding it together.The image of Graham and Erin lip-locked flashed in her mind.
“I didn’t expect to see you so soon,” Aida managed to say, words strung together by sheer willpower.
Disa cut straight to business. “Are you ready to give your report?”
“I think so,” Aida replied, her voice wavering more than she’d like. She wasn’t sure what that would entail. She had prepared her presentation like she would an important lecture, making sure she had her narrative and points straight, but she wasn’teven sure that was the right approach. Trista hadn’t been helpful at all—she apparently had never been to one. She only knew that a number of questions about the research would be asked.
“Well then, let’s get to it.” Disa turned toward the elevator.
It took a second for her words to register for Aida. Panic surged through her veins. “Wait,” she called. “I’m giving the report right now?”
Disa paused. She looked back and raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were ready?”
“I didn’t realize that I would be doing it the moment I arrived. I thought it was tomorrow.”
“Time is short. You should be rested,” Disa said, folding her arms against her body. “You slept on the plane.”
Aida took a deep breath, shocked.
“Shut your mouth before a fly lands on your tongue,” Disa said. “The flight concierge gave me a report when you landed.”
Of course, that makes sense, Aida thought, relaxing a little.
“So, are you ready or not? Your luggage will be delivered to your room, don’t worry.”
Aida’s jaw tightened.Am I ready? Can I compartmentalize enough to get through this?But she couldn’t afford to show weakness, not now. “Lead on,” she said, forcing herself to match Disa’s tone. “I’m ready.”
She followed Disa to the private elevator, which whisked them up to the penthouse floor. While the view was not half as spectacular as that of the hotel in Boston, the suite was even more luxuriously appointed, with hardwood details, bespoke couches, leather chairs, plush carpets, all manner of trinkets and curiosities on the bookshelves and tables, contemporary wallpaper and artwork, all punctuated by white flowers in vases throughout the room. Disa led her through a small bar area and a little library to the massive living room.
“How big is this suite?” Aida asked, trying to make conversation with her gruff hostess.
“Two hundred and eight square meters.”
Aida did the math, over two thousand square feet. “Wow, that’s big,” she said. The words sounded silly as they left her mouth.
“That’s the main suite. There are six bedrooms you can connect, taking over the entire wing.” Disa gave Aida a rare smile. “The Manor Wing has its own postal code.”
“Oh my.”
“Yes, oh my.”
Disa left her there. Aida watched her go through the library and enter a sliding door on the other side.
A butler appeared from behind Aida with a tray holding a selection of cocktails and a little bowl of nuts. He set the nuts down on the mahogany coffee table and proceeded to describe her drink choices. Against her better judgment, Aida went for the bourbon. She needed something stiff to calm her nerves.
Muted voices floated from the room where Disa had disappeared. Aida wished she could make out the words, but it was too much like the cacophony of adult voices in the old Charlie Brown cartoons she had watched as a kid. Instead, she reached for her laptop bag and pulled out her notes in an attempt to refocus her attention on the presentation she had prepared. But it was a fruitless attempt. Between her nervousness about the report and the image emblazoned upon her mind of Graham kissing her oldest friend, she could barely focus on the words on the screen.
The bourbon was nearly gone when the door opened and Mo appeared in the doorway. “Ahhh, my funless one. Come along.” He waved a hand at her.
Aida cursed under her breath. She hadn’t expected him here. His biting humor was the last thing she needed.
