“Well, at the moment, he’d be better off hiring a better security detail,” I muttered as the paparazzi shoved a mike into his face.
He stood on the steps of Luxe Hotels’ offices, and I couldn’t go past him while the crowd still remained.
“Mr. McKinley, can you discuss any plans for the expansion of Luxe Hotels?” a reporter asked.
“Mr. McKinley, how does your company prioritize corporate social responsibility and sustainability?”
Desmond held his hand up, and all the journalists outside fell silent. Sheesh. The guy commanded respect like no one else I’d ever seen. I could see him speak as the journalists held their microphones and recording devices out to him.
Is this normal for him?
“An impromptu press interview out on the street?” Rishi said, standing with his back to me. He gave a running commentary on Desmond. “They’re shoving the mikes in his face. One’s aimed at his nose—nope! Missed it just by an inch. He has a really fine nose. Wonder how they managed to miss that.”
“His strong reflexes,” I mentioned before I could help myself.
Rishi guffawed. “Someone’s memorized his every skill, I see,” he said, eyes still on the spectacle in front of us. “Desmond’s making a run for it—his car or the building doors? Let’s see. He sees an opening to his left. Is he going for it? Nope. One man blocked his path there. Did I mention in my previous acting role that I played a football commentator? I’m doing a splendid job, if I say so myself.”
“Oh dear God,” I said, bringing my hands to my head in disbelief.
To my utter relief, Desmond disappeared inside the building. Rishi shot me a disappointed look and indicated that we follow. I checked my watch. I still had twenty minutes to go before I needed to get back to work.
“Where’s he gone?” Rishi asked as we walked into the spacious lobby and looked around.
I remembered the employees-only break room on the second floor and decided to have a cup of green tea in peace before I started my afternoon shift.
“You’ve gone Desmond crazy, and I need to leave,” I said, looking around. I walked to the elevators at the center of the lobby before Rishi could accuse me of wanting to sneak in more looks at Desmond. “Bye, Rishi,” I said. “I shouldn’t have accompanied you to the party that night, you know,” I said.
He scoffed. “Tchah. You love me and haven’t stopped texting me all day ever since. Oh shoot, wheredidDesmond go?” he asked, craning his neck to look around.
“Good luck finding him,” I said.
“You’ll miss me,” Rishi warned just as I reached the elevator doors, which were closing.
I hit the elevator button, and as the doors opened, I could see Desmond in it.
He gave me a disarmingly cute smile, a verymelt into apuddlekind of smile, that I’d bet he spent ten minutes every morning perfecting. I would not fall for that smile again.
“Ooh, this is going to make the news.” Rishi grinned, walking up behind me. “CEO of Luxe Hotels and his love-interest employee meet again.”
I spun around to face Rishi, who seemed to realize he was in trouble.
“I’m leaving,” he said, putting his hands up in the air in a mock surrender pose. “Toodle-oo!”
And he was gone. Leaving Desmond to me. Smiles included.
“I want to say hurry up, but also, take your time,” Desmond said, holding the door open.
His attention snapped over my head, and I realized the reporters were still out there, outside the hotel doors and looking like they’d barge in at any moment now.
“Okay,” I said and stepped in just as the elevator doors closed.
He turned to me, his smile now a rather cheeky grin. As though he realized with pleasure that he now had me all to himself. Before he could speak, however, the elevator stopped at the second floor, and I got out. I turned to wave goodbye but saw him step out with me.
“Are you spying on me?” I challenged, walking with him down the corridor. It was empty, and our footsteps resounded in the quiet hallway. “For the record, I think you’d make a terrible spy. But also, in case I’m wrong, I must warn you that I have very good reflexes.”
We came to a stop midway in the passage. It was secluded, dimly lit, and Desmond took a step closer to me.
“Nah, I’m just going to follow you around until you agree to quit and put me out of my misery.” He grinned and put his hands in his pockets.
