“We agreed on work-life balance, hotshot,” I say, bumping him with my hip as I enter the bathroom and smooth down my hair through my fingers.
“Only because my co-founder is a workaholic.” He slips his phone into his pocket, slides his hands over my waist and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Ready now?”
I turn, leaning on the sink. “No, your tie is crooked.”
Eric glances in the mirror over my shoulder and thenback to me. “No, it’s not.” He tilts his head and gives me a confused look.
I run the silk through my fingers and tug him toward me. His eyes flare for a second and then close as we melt into each other. Our own little bubble before the chaos begins.
He huffs a laugh as I restraighten it. “I’m sorry, I must have been mistaken.” I grin. “What would you do without me?”
“Have much,muchmore time on my hands,” he says, lifting me up by my thighs. I scream-laugh as he walks me back into our bedroom and drops me onto the bed, prowling on top of me until his lips meet my nape and leave toe-curling kisses up my neck.
The doorbell rings and we ignore it for a few seconds, too focused on holding on to these last moments. It rings again, followed by the sound of keys tinkling in the door.
“I gave Iris a key last week,” I admit, biting my lip as his hands travel up my chest. “For emergencies.”
“Hiiiiii!” Iris’s voice echoes through the apartment, the sound of her shoes clattering on the wooden floor as she flings them off.
Eric drops his head onto my shoulder. “You know if she has a key to this place, the only sacred space left where I can have you all to myself is your new office.”
I plant one last kiss on him, holding his lip between my teeth for a few seconds before relenting. “The sofa is arriving next week so I’m absolutely holding you to that.”
“OK, let’s go.” He hauls me up and we smooth down our clothes.
“Hey, Rissy.” I bundle his sister into my arms and sway back and forth.
“Those were at your door.” Iris points to a huge arrangement of orange, fuchsia and violet flowers, birds of paradise sticking out of the top. I know who they are from just by the sheer ridiculousness of the bouquet.
Congratulations on your new venture, let’s talk soon. Susie x
My mind conjures an image of Susie sipping on a mimosa in Greece with her other friends dressed in white and beige like a cashmere cult. Susie left Fate not long after me and began a full rebrand into hashtag girlbossery. I have yet to attend her women-only networking retreat, but according to Susie the door is always open.
“And Mum asked me to get you this.” Iris holds out a shiny black bottle of Dom Pérignon Vintage to Eric. “She sends her love from Dubai.”
“She sent her sober daughter to pick up champagne?” he asks, sliding the bottle out of her hand and inspecting it.
“Her maternal instinct remains alive and well,” Iris deadpans as he pulls her in for a tight hug.
“How’s your dad?” I ask as Eric pads through to the kitchen with the champagne and flowers.
“He’s good! His residency is going well and I’ve been helping the videographer whenever I can.” Iris’s cheeks blush peony pink.
“Yes, I’m sure you’ve been very... helpful.” I try not to smile.
She widens her eyes and shakes her head. “I haven’t told him about her yet,” she mouths, glancing at Eric.
I mime zipping my mouth shut.
“I have no idea where to put this.” Eric holds out the giant bouquet and hands it to me, wiping the water left over on the surface with a kitchen towel.
“Susie is never one for practicality,” I reply. I take the flowers to our bedroom, resting them on the dresser behind our framed strip of photo-booth pictures. The door clicks again and the voices of Yemi, Robert, Alice and Claudia fill the space with scattered joyful greetings. I grab a light blue velvet pouch from the dresser and slip it into my pocket.
Fifteen minutes later my parents arrive, each embracing Eric at the door. They bear-hug Iris too, adopting her into the family just as much as Eric.
As my parents take their seats on the sofa, Eric straightens his shoulders and clears his throat. “OK, now you’re all here, we have some exciting news to share.”
I take a breath. “So, you know we’ve been working on a project for the past few months since leaving Catch Group. Well, thanks to Eric’s excellent schmoozing skills—”
