“Okay, okay. Tomorrow. Lunch.”
“Awesome. See you at one.” He sauntered out, whistling, and I let out awhooshof breath. So. Here I was. I checked my emails and saw Edward had scheduled me for back-to-back meetings with the different editorial departments, and tomorrow we had a department-heads meeting. I guessed that was what I was now. It still felt strange to sit here in this office, with a gorgeous view, and write my columns about real New York for real New Yorkers. Was I a sellout?
My personal phone buzzed with a call from Mike.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“How’s it goin’? You in your fancy office?”
“Yeah, hold on. I’ll show you.” I put the phone on FaceTime and did a 360-degree view. “What do you think?”
He let out a long whistle. “Bro, you hit the big time. Lookit that view.”
I propped my chin in my hand. “I know. Can I ask you something?”
“Anything. By the way, when you see Frisco, ask him for his recipe for the fish stew he made that time at Mangia. Jasper said he’s trying to figure it out but can’t get it right.”
“Sure.”
“So what do you want to ask me?”
“Do you think I’m selling out?”
“Selling ou—what the fuck’re you talking about?”
“Because I’m sitting here in this gorgeous office with my own secretary who will bring me coffee every morning, a company phone…”
“Cue me in where I’m supposed to feel sorry for you, buddy boy, ’cause I’m not seeing it.”
“I’m writing about real New Yorkers. They don’t live like this.”
“So you think where you write your reviews and opinions matters? You could be writing in a fucking coffee shop, for all your readers know or care.”
“But—”
“Why the guilt? You feeling it for getting noticed and recognized? You have something against making money? Because if you are, I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to have you work for free. Look.” I could picture him running his hand through his hair in frustration. “You got to get out of the mindset that being rich is a bad thing. If that were the case, everyone would work for nothing. Not all rich people suck. And I’d sure as hell like the chance to find out how it feels.”
Talking to Mike always put things in perspective. “Thanks. I just needed a kick in the ass.”
“Always happy to oblige.”
“Ha, ha, you’re a riot.”
“So, how’s things with Frisco?”
“You just saw us the other night. Nothing’s changed.”
“What does he say about your new job?”
“Well, I haven’t told him anything about it. It kind of took a back seat to everything else we were going through.”
“Oh, wow. Well, yeah, okay, I can understand that. Why bother to tell him all the personal shit if you weren’t gonna be together.”
“Exactly. But I’m seeing him tonight, so I’ll tell him then. Now that it’s finally real.”
“Yeah. Why not? I’m sure he’ll feel the same way. I mean, the guy isn’t hurting for money, that’s for sure. Even I can see that.”
“I know. Okay.” I checked the computer clock. “I gotta go. I have meetings and shit to do.”
