I smile against his lips.“I will.”
With one last look, I get out of the car and watch him pull back into the traffic, disappearing down the street.I turn to face the door of Maddy’s Place, feeling for the first time like a true businesswoman walking into her domain.
I push the door open and am greeted by the familiar, comforting warmth.The rich scent of coffee wrapping around me like a hug.A welcome antidote to the sterile atmosphere of Bancroft’s office.Grace is at the register, a focused but friendly smile on her face as she hands a customer their coffee cup.
Her eyes light up when she sees me.“Whoa, Amy!You look so boss,” she says, her gaze sweeping over my outfit with open admiration.
Her comment makes Helen look up from the espresso machine.Her eyes widen, and a deeply mischievous grin spreads across her face.
“Look at you,” she declares, her voice full of delight.“That Matthew sure does you good, Ames.”
The truth in her words, combined with the giddy excitement still bubbling through me, is too much to contain.“Oh my God, Helen, you have no idea,” I say, rushing toward her.“Just wait till you hear this.”I grab her by the arm.
“Okay, okay,cálmate!”Helen yelps as I start dragging her to the back room.“Grace, finish this cappuccino for table seven, will you?”she calls out over her shoulder.
“Sure thing!”Grace answers, her laughter following us.
I practically shove Helen through the doorway and deposit her into her desk chair.It swivels under her weight as she looks up at me with amused exasperation.
“What’s gotten into you today?”Her eyebrows rise as she shakes her head at me.“So either you dress like a crazy person and act professionally, or you dress professionally and act like a crazy person.I can’t win with you!”
I let out a laugh, too keyed up to stop.I lean forward, bracing my hands on her desk.“I just came from a meeting with Bancroft.”
Helen’s teasing demeanor vanishes instantly, her eyes going wide with shock.“Bancroft?Geezer Bancroft?”
I nod, a huge, triumphant beam spreading across my face.“More intimidating than a geezer, really.”
“I bet,” Helen says, frowning.“Wait, how the hell did you get him to meet with you?”
Before I can answer, her eyes light up with dawning realization.“Ohhh.Oh, right.Of course.Your boyfriend.”
“Matthew’s not my boyfriend!”I protest, though the thought makes my heart somersault.
“Mija, please.It’s a little too late to play coy, don’t you think?”Helen looks up at me.“But seriously, that’s amazing news, Ames!”She leans forward, her excitement returning.“Is that why I saw you leaving with that mountain of petitions yesterday?”
I nod again, the beam still plastered on my face.Helen’s grin matches mine now.She grips the arms of her chair, leaning in even closer.
“So?”she demands.“How did it go?!”
I start pacing the room, too full of giddy energy to stand still.“It was insane, Helen.Absolutely insane,” I begin, smoothing my hand over my slick ponytail.“He was exactly the monster we imagined.He wouldn’t even shake my hand.He called me Matthew’s assistant.Then he called me ‘sweetheart’—twice!”
“¡Ese hijo de puta!” Helen hisses, her eyes flashing with fury.
“I know!And I just… I snapped,” I say, still in awe of my audacity.“I told him every signature represents a Madison citizen who hates his guts.”
Helen’s jaw drops.“You didn’t.”
“I did!Well…” I tilt my head from side to side.“I phrased it a bit more professionally.But can you believe he just sat there and started ripping up the petitions?One by one.Right in my face!”
“No!”she gasps, her hand flying to her chest.
“Yes!But then Matthew stepped in,” I say, turning to face her, my excitement building again.“But not how you think.He pretended he was on Harold’s side.That I was just some pesky annoyance.He completely played him, Helen.It was brilliant.”
Helen whistles, impressed.“Smart man.”
“That’s exactly what I said!”I take a deep breath.“But before I walked out of that obnoxiously opulent office, I hit Harold where it hurts.”
Helen is now literally hanging off the edge of her seat.
