"It was. Doesn't mean I have to think it's fun."
"Vanessa, show me some respect." She burst out laughing, and I joined her as she responded by casually flipping me the bird.
#11
"Passa o tempo e não me supera, amor. Pede pra me ver e eu não nego, eu vou. Sabe que aqui vai ser só emoção" - Carol Biazin
On Friday morning, I settle on dark blue linen pants, a simple silk blouse, and a blazer. I have to remind myself that the hotel is well-heated and that I don’t plan on leaving—at least not today.
My hair is loose, falling just past my collarbones. I apply a quick layer of makeup to mask my dark circles, then rest my hands on the edge of the sink, taking a deep breath as I study my reflection.
I ignore the nagging voice of my subconscious as I pull on a pair of ankle boots and head toward the businesswoman’s suite. The wooden door in front of me is a wall between the decision to open my life to get to know and learn more about her or goback to my daily routine and, and perhaps, go shopping on Fifth Avenue.
I think briefly about the sharp turn my life has taken since I signed those transfer papers at the last second. The door opens, and a stunning woman stands there with a broad, welcoming smile.
Her features a blend of Hispanic and Arab heritage, which gives her skin a smooth, ceramic-like paleness. Her eyes are slightly slanted, and her lips are full. She is breathtaking.
"Megan, right? I’m Vanessa, Kelsey’s personal assistant. She’s waiting for you." I’m still a bit dazed by Vanessa's beauty when I see Kelsey walking toward me, dressed down in black sweatpants and a white sweatshirt.
She runs a hand through her short hair, catches my eye, and takes my hand, sheltering it briefly between hers. We exchange a quick greeting, and I follow her to the breakfast table.
There are, as promised, other people in the room. Vanessa, the assistant Kelsey is rumored to be involved with, and two others. They politely excuse themselves and move to a more secluded table in the corner, settling in with their laptops and low-voiced conversation.
"At the gala, I saw you talking to some of the senators' wives... I assume they didn't have many nice things to say about me," Kelsey notes as she pulls out a chair for me.
"How do you know they were talking about you?"
"You looked over at me several times while they were speaking. I had a hunch." She sits across from me, and I find myself staringinto those green eyes again. She notices a slight furrow in my brow. "Yes, whatever they said is probably true."
"Except the part about me," Vanessa interjects, appearing behind Kelsey with a friendly smile that, for some reason, makes me feel more at ease. "People are just bitter because Kelsey and I are a team. We do everything together, so they assume we’re having an affair. Sign here, Peanut."
Kelsey takes the pen and signs the document without even glancing at it. I chuckle; it feels as though they were sitting at the table with me during that gossip session last night.
"Tell me, Kelsey, what exactly am I doing here?"
"Meeting someone who’s interested in you and wants to ask you out," she says casually, sipping her orange juice. "I’ll skip the formalities and pretend we aren't essentially in the same social circle. I'm Kelsey Calama. I'm thirty. I like running, working out, and reading while listening to documentaries on TV."
I smile at her attempt at simplicity. I take off my blazer and reach for some toast.
"Well, I’m Megan Woods. I’m a law grad, and I just accepted a federal judgeship in DC. I like to watch movies and fall asleep halfway through them. I love my job, and I’m far too lazy to enjoy the gym, but I run every day to keep my anxiety at bay."
"You fall asleep during movies?" She shakes her head with a lopsided smile.
"Every time. Doesn't matter if they’re good or not. Action movies are the best for it."
"Who can sleep through the end of an action movie?" She laughs. "I tried watching that series..." She snaps her fingers, trying toremember the name. Vanessa calls out from across the room, "The Blacklist." "Right! Thanks, V. I couldn't stop. It's terrible, but now I watch it whenever I’m traveling."
"I’m like that with clichés. That’s why I don’t do series. I don’t have the time to get hooked." I pick up a piece of papaya with my fork and look at her. "My dad loved Law & Order. We used to watch it together at night."
"I remember seeing you with your father. He was an interesting man."
"It's strange... I only remember your father talking about you being away at school or traveling. But he always said wonderful things." She twitches the corner of her mouth, and I realize I might have hit a nerve. "Sorry, did I say something uncomfortable?"
"He didn't like me much, but he was always polite. And he was right. I was always studying or away. I actually remember seeing your family one Christmas in Paris. I was at the next table, but I didn't want to intrude."
"I remember that day," I say softly. "It was my father’s last Christmas. He would have loved to see you. What’s it like, being so young and running a massive empire?"
She relaxes her shoulders, and I feel the tension between us finally start to dissipate. We have more in common than I thought.
