CHAPTER 9
Klein
Paisley’s officeis smack dab in the center of downtown Scottsdale. She’s a stone’s throw from the waterfront area, bracketed by an architectural firm and a luxury art gallery.
Pausing, I double-check the name on the glass door.P Squared Marketing.
I catch my reflection in the door as I reach for the handle. I’m embarrassed to say I spent too much time considering what to wear to this meeting. After all the deliberating, I ended up wearing my typical uniform of jeans and a T-shirt.
A middle-age woman smiles brightly from behind her desk when I walk in. “Hello. You must be Klein.”
“Uh, yeah. Hi. Hello.” Why do I sound nervous? I’m not nervous. Am I?
The woman gestures at the waiting area. “If you’d like to take a seat, I will tell Ms. Royce you’re here.” She takes a step away, then turns back as if she’s rememberedsomething. “Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee? Water? Kombucha?”
I refrain from rolling my eyes at the third option, then politely pass.
She leaves to tellMs. RoyceI’m here. The waiting area is trendy, modern, with low-slung cream leather chairs, and a glass coffee table with rounded edges and matte gold legs. Abstract art in earthy emeralds and deep blues decorate the walls. On the coffee table is a stack of pamphlets, the outward facing flap readsWhat can P Squared Marketing do for you?
Thumbing through one, I find the page listing photos and bios of the employees. Paisley is last, below a photo of a woman named Paloma. Paisley wears a red blazer and matching red lipstick, and I would never say this out loud because it’s definitely not the look she’s going for, but she looks like a supermodel.
The woman is drop dead gorgeous on her worst day. Time has done nothing but turn her into a woman with lush curves and a sharp wit.
I happen to be a sucker for both.
To make our deal successful, I’ll have to show up with invisible weapons. The first of which is a promise to myself not to allow any shenanigans to develop with Paisley Royce. The others I’ll figure out as I go.
“Klein,” Paisley calls out.
I whip around and find her smirking, arms crossed. She knows exactly which page of the pamphlet my gaze had been trained on. Today she wears a tight, white skirt, spiked heels, and lavender short-sleeved top that lookssoft to the touch. The woman is a masterpiece, a smoke show sent to test my resolve.
An uncomfortable feeling slips over me when I realize it has taken me too long to respond to her. To cover up my unease, I mockingly say, “Hello,Ms. Royce.”
Her tongue runs the length of her upper teeth as she gazes at me just long enough for it to be awkward. For me anyway. I’m pretty sure she’s doing it on purpose. Arching one eyebrow, she asks, “Are you ready to make your entrance online?”
I walk closer, closing the distance, trying not to drown in her ocean eyes. “It’s social media, not a presidential inauguration.”
Paisley laughs derisively. Gone is the red lipstick from her head shot, replaced by a petal pink that might look even prettier on her. She crooks a finger my direction. “Follow me.”
She pivots, walking back the way she came.
I nod politely at the receptionist on my way by, hurrying after Paisley’s confident strides.
Even with all that time we spent not seeing one another, I like to think I know Paisley somewhat. I’ve seen her drunk, I’ve seen her sad, I’ve seen her sassy, and I’ve seen her uncertain. The Paisley walking in front of me now is new to me. She’s a boss, a trailblazer, an expert.
I am an aspiring author with low numbers in my bank account. I ate ramen for dinner last night, and it wasn’t even the good kind.
“Here we are,” Paisley announces, sailing through an open door.
I follow her in. One long table that seats eight takes upthe center of the room, a TV hangs on the wall, and a beverage cart lurks in the corner.
Two women are already seated on the same side of the table, and Paisley introduces them as Paloma and Cecily. “This is Klein,” she says, gesturing to me. “My… friend from college.”
Paloma rolls her eyes. “Just call him what he is. Your fake date to your sister’s wedding.”
Cecily laughs behind a cupped hand while Paisley sends a death glare at Paloma. My neck heats as I take a seat opposite the women.
Paloma gazes at me intensely, undeterred. “You’d better do a good job. Make it clear to that stupid ex of hers that not only is she better off without him, but she’s better off withyou.”
