“It’s getting out of hand,” I tell him, reminding myself to focus.
“Really?” Tristan comes to stand next to me and drops a kiss on my head. “Show me.”
I’ve been clutching my mouse as if it will run off if I let go. I indulge my masochistic streak and click so the short starts to play.
It doesn’t take long for Tristan to break out in a deep guffaw. “Babes…I’m sorry, but you have to admit, that’s goddamn funny.”
I bite my lip, wanting to laugh but sulk too, and glare up at him. “It’s totally cringe.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” He shakes his head. “I told you, when I first saw the original video I almost pissed myselflaughing.” His hand slips over my back to my shoulder for a soft squeeze. “Come on, Lex, have a good laugh too. It’s the only way forward.”
I sink my head to my desk with a chuckle of despair. He’s right. “There’s nothing I can do.”
“So don’t torture yourself.” He touches my hand, and I already know what that means—that’s how much we’ve gotten to know each other over the past weeks. He takes control of the mouse, and with a few clicks, he closes all the sites. “Feeding this beast isn’t good for your mental health. We came here to escape exactly this, and by sitting here doomscrolling, you’re bringing it home.”
“I know.” Being me sucks. I’ve never been happier in my life, and it’s all because of Tristan. He gets me. The intimacy is next level.Heis next level. At the same time, my whole life seems to be unraveling into a pile of shreds even I don’t care to salvage.
“You’re done here?” Tristan asks.
“No. There’s another wedding next week, and I need to go over a few details.” I shrug. Jem won’t let me touch the wedding plans, but I’m committed to learning everything I can while I’m here, even if it’s on the sly. “And I want to run the spa’s numbers. Sarika mentioned this morning that they’ve been fully booked with the new changes. We’ve had no word from head office, but we’ve had two five-star guest reviews recently that mentioned the spa and their excellent services.”
When I showed the reviews to Deshni and Sharika, they glowed with happiness. If I’ve achieved nothing else here in my time, at least I’ve done that for them.
“I’ll fetch my laptop,” Tristan says. “I have files to send to my production team, and I want to see how I can set Roger up with his own website.”
“What did Nick say about your updates?” I ask. He showed me a few edited clips he’d sent to his agent two days ago, andthey were fantastic. Tristan’s work is coming along. This man has such focus. It’s admirable.
“Nick’s happy. I’m finally back on track to meet our deadline.”
“Great.” At least one of us will meet our goals. Tristan will finish his series on time and likely go on to fame and glory. As for me, with my face all over social media, I might have to cut and color my hair black to get a job in the States again. Thank God I’ve got a foot in the door with Beaumont and their vast portfolio outside of the US. Hopefully the spa’s performance will throw that door wide open.
Tristan squeezes my shoulder. “See you in a minute.”
I watch as he walks out of the office and disappears only to pop his head back a split second later. “Don’t do it, babes!”
I laugh. Tristan is looking out for me. I would be completely derailed by now if he weren’t here to be my anchor and keep me level-headed.
That thought makes me hurt even more.
With brutal determination, I ignore the internet and open the hotel’s accounting system to run the numbers for the spa.Wow… My eyes do a double take. In just a couple of weeks, the profits have gone up three hundred percent.Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Jem.
It’s the pick-me-up I need, and on a whim, I download the report, attach it to an email and address it to Nathan Beaumont. He might not have responded to my initial proposal email, but maybe he’ll respond to numbers. I keep my email to the point and professional, knowing this is Deshni and Sarika’s future in my hands, and send it off.
Tristan walks back into the office. “She won’t mind, will she?” he asks as he goes over to Jem’s desk to take a seat.
“I don’t think so. What she doesn’t know and all that…”
Tristan sits and moves Jem’s keyboard and computer screen to the side to plug in his laptop. That thing really isn’t small. It’s heavy too.Ah hell… Bad word selection given the direction my mind goes in every time he’s around. I watch him from beneath my lashes, heat spreading over my skin as memories of last night’s sex replay too vividly in my mind’s eye. I bite my lip.What is he going to do to me tonight?
Clearly Tristan hasn’t thought that far yet. Soon he’s typing away and doesn’t look up once.
For a moment we’re both submerged in our work, but then it becomes weirdly quiet.
“Jesus Christ,” Tristan says, and I meet his eyes across the room.
“What?”
“Have you checked your personal email yet today?”
