My head is spinning from all the sights. I’m not sure I’ve ever been this tired, but my heart is beating out of my chest, and I’m exhilarated.
Taking the white beaded cocktail dress out of the closet, I slip it over my freshly washed body and turn side to side, inspecting myself in the mirror. These shoes aren’t made for walking, but I can make it seven blocks… I hope. I have a black wrap over my shoulders with a huge scarlet bow, and my hair is styled in a low bun with tendrils hanging around my face.
When we meet in the lobby, Remi is dressed in dark pants and a charcoal jacket with a green tie that brings out the green in his eyes. They blaze to life when he sees me, and my stomach flips.
The more time we spend together, talking and getting to know each other, the harder this pull between us is to fight. Once again, he takes my hand, threading our fingers. All day, walking up and down the city streets, he kept my hand firmly in his, my body pulled close against his side. I love it.
The streets are just as busy at night as they are during the day, and I totally get why they call it the city that never sleeps. All day I’ve been trying to be very Carrie Bradshaw, but I’m afraid I’m more Kimmie Schmidt. The city is so huge and alive and full of sights, I’ve been running around with my mouth open, gazing skyward like a stereotypical tourist.
At the Top of the Rock, the view is stunning. I only have a moment to see it before Remi leads me to the bar, where a tall guy with light brown hair and intense blue eyes stands to meet us.
“Remington.” The man I assume is Stephen clasps his hand, and they do a bro hug.
“Stephen, meet Ruby, my assistant.”
I’m his assistant now?“How do you do?” I smile, and Stephen leans back, eyeing me up and down.
“Not bad.” His voice is strong, snobbish, and completely arrogant. Remi punches him on the arm, and he shakes it off. “I meant to sayI’mnot doing bad. You seem to be doing quite well yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I’ve found after growing up with my dad, I’m not easily intimidated by overgrown jerks.
“Remi has never had an assistant. I wouldn’t expect him to have one like you.”
“Like me?” I smile. “Is that a compliment?”
Remi leans forward, speaking in a low voice that’s loud enough for us all to hear. “Stephen likes to think he can figure everyone out in the first five minutes.”
“I’m not wrong.” He waves to the bartender. “Whiskey up, vodka, and…” He gives me another glance. “Tequila?”
“Sunrise.” I lift my chin, unintimidated. “You’re pretty good at guessing drinks. What am I like? Or do you need a few more minutes?”
Stephen turns his back to the bar and squints. “Stubborn… smart.” His eyes graze from my head to my toes quickly. “You’re very beautiful, and most dangerous of all. Ambitious.”
Our drinks are set in front of us, and Remi puts his arm around my shoulders. “Okay, that’s enough flattery.”
“You’re not really his assistant.” Stephen grins, taking a sip of vodka. I don’t have time to answer before he turns to Remi. “I see Oakville’s working out after all. I couldn’t figure out why you stayed all those years. Why not move back to Seattle?”
Remi shrugs, sipping his whiskey. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve considered it. Last summer I had one foot out the door… But I found a reason to stay.”
My heart sinks at the thought of Remi leaving Oakville. I quietly sip my cocktail, and Stephen winks at me. “I suppose we have you to thank for that.”
“Actually, we just met a few weeks ago.”
Stephen’s eyebrow quirks. “Remi has always been the lucky one.” He turns back to my boss. “Let’s talk about tomorrow night. Stellan will be there. I suggest you make a point to get to him first. His secure communications app is the talk of the industry. It’s going to be big.”
They spend the next several minutes discussing Remi’s business at the gala. I’m intrigued because I’ve been at the house half a month, and I’ve learned very little about what he does, other than investing in new tech.
Their conversation is partly confusing to me, partly fascinating. Remi’s watching a new surveillance app he wants to procure and pour money into with the goal of selling it to the government for military use. Stephen, I learn, is like a spy, keeping tabs on other investors looking at the same developers as Remi.
“What’s new with you?” Remi finishes his second whiskey, and I lean forward slightly, curious about the answer to this question.
Stephen is cocky and arrogant, but I can tell he cares about his friend. I can also tell he’s incredibly smart.
“I’m working on something a little closer to home.” He places his empty tumbler on the bar and signals for the check. “Two things, actually. The first has more immediate use. An app that tracks prescriptions by patient driver’s license or tax identification, similar to the way the government tracks gun sales—”
“Hopefully not as sloppily,” Remi quips.
“Nothing I do is ever sloppy.” Stephen’s eyebrow arches. “The second is more dependent on current events, politics. It’s something companies can use to facilitate healthcare enrollments across state lines. Similar to how car insurers work.”
