“Your money scares her.”
No shit.
“She doesn’t want to end up dealing with that bitch, Mallory, all the time.”
“Monica?” And I feel the same.
“Yeah, her.”
Wiping my face with my hands, I feel helpless. “I can’t guarantee that she won’t have to deal with the Monicas of the world.”
Bonnie slaps my leg. It hurt. “You want my advice?”
“Yes.”
“After you grovel….”
“Grovel?”
“Big time.” She smirks.
“How?”
“No clue, but the cat toys were a nice touch.”
They were. They were also Brent’s idea. Maybe I could recruit his help. Or Harmony’s.
“After that, you need spend time with her. Get to know her while also sharing more of yourself with her.”
“Share myself?” And then it this me. “She’s never been to my place.”
“That’s a start.”
Brent suggested that too, a while back. I should’ve listened then. If I had, I wouldn’t be in this clusterfuck now.
ChapterTwenty-One
WILLA
It’slike déjà vu all over again, except this time, there’s no knock on the door. An incessant buzz comes from downstairs. “Yes?” I can see who it is because, for some odd reason, the owner installed a brand-new intercom system that includes video. That’s why I can see the person on my front stoop. It’s Hudson. Hudson holding a pizza box and a gift bag of some sort.
“I’m fine, Hudson. You’re fine. No need to do any of this. Go home.”
“Let me in, Willa.”
“I’m tired. I just want to go to bed.” It’s not even eight at night yet, but it’s a good excuse.
“Five minutes. Just give me five minutes.”
I stare at the little screen next to my door and sigh. He’s not going to go until I give him five minutes. “Five minutes.” Five minutes that will end up being a lot more than that because I can’t seem to refuse or resist this man. Pressing the button, I watch as Hudson disappears from my screen. Undoing my deadbolt and the chain, I pull the door open and wait. I hear him jogging up the steps. When he gets to my door, I tell him. “You could’ve taken the elevator. It works now.”
He’s not even breathing hard. Ugh. Don’t you hate people like that?
“No matter. Here.” He hands me the gift bag as he retains the pizza box. “I brought our pizza. I wasn’t sure if you’d eaten. I know you didn’t have anything at the game.”
Ourpizza? I’m pretty sure it’smypizza.
I shouldn’t be angry with Hudson. It’s not his fault he’s got more money than King Croesus. I should probably be proud of Hudson that he had the good sense to invest his money into something that will build his wealth. I’m an accountant, for goodness’ sake. Of all people, I should appreciate that aspect of Hudson. And I do. It’s just that it feels like he kept the fact he owned a professional sports team from me on purpose. We met at one of his baseball games. Why wouldn’t he tell me then? Or why not mention it the day of the garden party? And when he sent me free tickets to the game, it was the perfect opportunity to fess up. When I saw him there in his suit, I felt stupid. Like a complete idiot. It was a big deal, to me, to invite him as my date. Sure, Bonnie put me up to it, but I did it.
