“Well, I’m following her, silly.” She gives a final tap and then drops her phone into her purse and peers back at me. “Why wouldn’t I follow her?”
My eyes grow wide, panic surging in my chest. “Wait, why? She doesn’t even know you. You haven’t even met her. We’re not even official!”
I have to text Nicole. I have to warn her that my mother just followed her. She’s never going to talk to me again. She’s going to think my family is nuts.
Mom waves me off. “Oh stop, Dom, honey. It’s just social media. She has tons of followers. I don’t think she’ll even notice that I followed her. It’s just what people do. I saw she’s kind of famous. The last name sounds familiar.”
“She’s that tech billionaire Nikko Farrarah’s daughter,” Derrick answers proudly. “And her dog is absolutely unhinged, too. He peed all over Dom’s shoes the first day of practice.”
“Could you juststop?” I turn to my brother, glaring at him. “You’re embarrassing me.”
“You embarrass yourself enough that I don’t think it matters,” he jabs back playfully. “And seriously, be proud. Nicole sounds like a down-to-earth, genuine person. I think that’s a rarity in your world.”
I can’t argue with that. It’s true. Nicoleisa rarity, but for so many more reasons than just the one that my brother gave.
And she’s totally worth all the giddy smirks my family is giving me right now.
And the explanation I’ll have to give her about my mom.
And the eighteen orders of flowers I just got an email confirmation for.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nicole
Meeting today with Cityscape Investment Group.
I’m standing outside of the high-rise office building when the reminder pops up on my phone’s calendar. I swallow hard. I didnotexpect for that email to work, and I definitely didn’t expect it to turn into a meeting the day of their response.
And considering Dom is in Texas at an away game, he has no idea this is taking place.
But as soon as he gets back, I’ll tell him.
Or not tell him, just in case the meetinggoesreallybad.
“But I’ve got this.” I nod to myself, squaring my shoulders. I stayed up nearlyallnight preparing. And then this morning, I had Nora help me pick out my business attire. I settled for a gray pantsuit with a black blouse. My blonde hair is pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and the goal is tonotremind anyone of Glow Girl.
Because that sounds mortifying.
What if they’re just meeting with me to make fun of me?The intrusive thought makes me shudder, and I bite down on the inside of my cheek as I step into the building, entirely owned by Cityscape.
I take a deep breath and approach the receptionist. “Hi.” I put on my most businesslike face. “I’m here to meet with the investor board.”
“Ah, yes!” the middle-aged lady behind the desk chimes. “They’re really excited about you.” She gives me a smile that I can’t decide is genuine or mocking. Either way, I’m scared. The receptionist picks up her phone and then says something incoherent into the receiver.
I swallow what feels like sand in my throat.I’ve got this. I’ve got this. I’ve got this.
And I think I need a new mantra.
Ugh.
“They’ll see you now,” the woman says, her voice cutting through my thoughts. “You can just follow me. We do all the proposals on the ground floor.”
Probably because it’s easier for security to escort them out.
My messenger bag strap held tightly in my sweaty hand, I follow the woman through the lobby and down a side hallway until wereach a set of double doors. She opens them and then gestures for me to step inside.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
