"I knew that day that you had a special sense about you." She turns to stare at the white board where I've sketched each piece that I'm including in Ella Kara's initial offering. "I mentioned it to Gabriel. He told me it was expected that you'd have an opinion since you worked in the industry as an assistant."
I'm not surprised that Mr. Foster viewed it that way. I was there to cater to him. That's what the man was paying me for. My value beyond that wasn't apparent. "He wasn't aware that I was a designer back then."
"None of us were." She moves to face me again. "I'll retire in the next year or two, Sophia. I'm glad I didn't before now. Working with you on this has been one of the highlights of my career."
I swallow back the flood of emotion I feel. "You can't know how much your words mean to me. I've idolized you for a very long time."
"Not that long." She taps the tip of my nose with her finger. "You've admired me for a few years, dear. It's been just a few years."
I smile at the reminder not to bring up her age. "Yes, you're right. It's been a few years and having the chance to work with you has made me a better designer. "
"You told Nicholas about Franco?"Cadence stands in the lobby of my apartment building. "Things must be serious."
I'd called her on my lunch break to fill her in. I could tell she was surprised, but I had no idea it would shock her enough to lure her down to my building at the end of the day. "I hadn't brought him here yet. I thought he deserved an explanation."
I'm tempted to let her respond, but I don't. I keep talking. "Why are you here? I thought you were meeting Tyler for dinner at Nova tonight."
"He bailed." She tries to fasten a button in the middle of her coat but it's never going to happen. Her belly has popped and the coat is at least two sizes too small now. "I thought we could hang out and catch up on our Netflix show."
I hate to turn her away. Cadence has always been there for me but this dinner at Mr. Foster's is exactly what I need tonight. I haven't seen Nicholas in days. I've been too busy with the impending Ella Kara launch and he's been immersed in the novel he's writing. Our only communication has been a few calls and text messages.
"I'm sorry, Den. I have plans. I'm going to Mr. Foster's apartment for dinner tonight."
"You're what?" Her expression immediately brightens. "That's a big deal, Soph. You're rubbing elbows with Manhattan's elite."
"I'm not," I scoff as I loop my arm through hers. "Come upstairs and we can talk while I get ready."
"Do you have any chocolate chip cookies?"
"I think so." I stab the elevator call button. "Do you have a craving?"
Tipping her chin, she looks down at me. "I do. Please tell me you have goat cheese."
I step back as several people exit the elevator. "You're not planning on combining those two things, are you?"
"I'm going to make a chocolate chip, goat cheese sandwich while you get ready for your fancy dinner."
I move forward onto the elevator once it's cleared. "I just lost my appetite."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Nicholas
"Thankyou for letting me pick you up at your place."
Her gaze shifts from the back of the driver's head to my face. We're in the backseat of a sedan, part of the fleet from the car service I use on occasion. I'm apt at getting around the city via Uber or public transportation but tonight is special. I knew Sophia would wear something memorable; something that deserved a heated seat and a comfortable headrest.
She looks breathtaking. Her dress is a deep royal blue, her heels nude. She's left her hair down and the entire image is mesmerizing. If this dinner weren't as important to her as I know it is, I'd have taken her to her bedroom as soon as I arrived at her place.
"We can go back there after dinner." Her eyebrows wiggle. "I have something to show you."
I inch my hand up her thigh, pushing the fabric of her dress with it. "Do you keep it under here?"
Her gaze falls on my hand. "Do you want to touch me now?"
I want to fuck her now. I have a condom in the inner pocket of my suit jacket. All I need to do is tell the driver to circle the park while I pull Sophia onto my lap and fuck her sweet body until sweat dots her upper deep red lip. The only separation between the driver and us would be a thin plastic partition.
"I'd fuck you now if you'd agree to it."
