Igreeted the doorman in the large lobby as I passed through the large glass doors, the evening’s sunset warm against my back as its sherbet colors bounced across the polished white tile floors. I still couldn’t believe I managed to get out of the office right at five today. Maybe Jeremiah was feeling generous since he sprung this last-minute trip to Dallas on me. Demanded, really. Nothing he ever ordered me to do felt like I had a choice in the matter.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of him pushing his way inside the women’s bathroom today. I had been gone from my desk for maybe ten minutes. It was like he couldn’t survive without me being at his beck and call for even that short amount of time. He had no right to barge in on me. I should have known it was him at the door by the sound of his fist insistently pounding. I was just glad no one saw him come in, or at least they didn’t say anything. He was insufferable.
Even so, my stomach did a slight flip when I saw him in the bathroom, standing there in his light gray suit that brought out the gold in his skin. My breath caught as I wondered if he was coming back for more. It had been a week since we had sex in his office, and despite my better judgment, I kept wondering when it would happen again.Wantingit to happen again. I knew it was reckless and stupid, but I couldn’t help it. Every late night I had stayed at the office, I wondered if he would make another move, but he hadn’t.
“Hello,” I said as I approached the front desk of the apartment building.
The receptionist gave me a warm smile. I recognized her from my previous visits.
“I’m here to see Erica Vallejo.”
“Ah. Sadie, right?” she asked, studying my face in recognition.
“Mhmm.”
She nodded and rummaged through the top drawer of her desk until she plucked a key card from inside.
“Here you go. You know the way. I’ll let her know you’re on your way up.” She nodded toward the elevators.
I thanked her and took the keycard from her, walking toward the wall of elevators to the right. Inside, I pressed the keycard to thesecurity pad and stabbed the button for the top floor. If only it had been this easy when my package had been wrongly delivered to Jeremiah’s door. My life would be a hell of a lot easier. I laughed at myself, thinking about how desperate I had been to get my hands on that box of sex toys. I ended up getting way more than I bargained for.
The elevator doors opened to the large entryway that poured into the large living room. The floor was covered in colorful toys and piles of books. I smiled, knowing Erica’s daughter, Josie, was nearby.
“Hello,” I called out.
“Sadie! Hi! I’m coming!” Erica called out from somewhere in the expansive penthouse.
As she rounded the corner, she was pulling her dark hair in a low ponytail, while Josie clung to her leg. Erica looked effortlessly chic in a pair of jeans, a tank, and ballet flats. I laughed as she struggled to balance as she walked toward me with her daughter holding on for dear life.
“Hi, Josie girl!” I said, kneeling on the ground to greet the wide-eyed toddler.
“Auntie Sadie!” she exclaimed, releasing her mom and throwing her arms around me.
I squeezed her tightly before pulling away and looking her up and down in her pink and white striped pajamas. Her hair wasevery which way, tangles of curls that she probably refused to let Erica brush out.
“Did you get bigger since I last saw you?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Yup! ’Cause I eat broccoli!” she said with a proud nod as she stood a little taller with the help of her tiptoes.
I laughed. She looked so much like her father, who, speaking of, rounded the corner just as he was ending a call.
“Hey, Sadie,” said Marco with a wave, still in his suit from work. “Thanks for getting this one out for a girls’ night.” He wrapped his arms around Erica’s waist and gave me a grin as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
“You trying to get rid of me?” asked Erica, twisting to give him an incredulous look.
“Never.” He laughed.
She leaned into him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They were nauseatingly in love, but I was happy for them. For Josie.
“It’s just been a while. Plus, I could use some one-on-one time with our girl.” He nodded toward Josie, who now clung to my leg. “What’s the plan, anyway?”
“Shopping. Dinner. Who knows?” I shrugged.
“Well, don’t rush! I can hold down the fort.” He gave Erica’s hips a little squeeze before giving her a gentle nudge. She threw him a grateful look before peeling Josie’s little hands from my leg. She gave her a kiss and picked her up, handing her to Marcos. I gave them both a little wave before following Erica toward the open elevator doors.
“I really did need this,” said Erica, as the elevator descended slowly to the lobby.
“Me too.” I smiled.
