Elias Svensson is a recruit that Drake brought on six months ago after his long-term assistant retired. I’ve known Elias for less than forty-eight hours, but I’m impressed by what I’ve seen so far.
“You mentioned that you wanted to know when Ms. Montgomery arrived.” He jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “She’s here.”
I glance down at the desk. “Send her in.”
“Will do, sir.” He nods. “If I didn’t mention it before, it’s good to meet you.”
He did mention it.Twice.
I looked over his resume. He’s a twenty-four-year-old personal assistant who should be in our software development department. I have no idea why Drake gave him this position, but a few weeks from now, Elias will have a new job title and a bigger paycheck.
“You too,” I toss back.
He inches forward. His gaze skates over the open file folder in front of me. “What do you have there?”
“The inner workings of Drake’s brain.”
He chuckles. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“Will do.” I point at the door. “Get Ms. Montgomery in here. I’m about to make her dreams come true.”
In California,when I want to clear my mind, I pick up one of my surfboards.
The ocean has felt like home to me for years.
My mind can be thrumming with a dozen different ideas, but once I hit the waves, all I feel is tranquility.
Trying to find that in Manhattan is a fool’s pursuit.
After I met with Blair Montgomery, she invited me to dinner at her apartment tonight. She wanted me to meet her husband and kids so they could thank me for the opportunity I just dropped into her lap.
I passed.
I expect great things from her, but friendship isn’t one of them. She’s a hard-working employee who deserves the chance I’m giving her.
She’ll prove that I made the right choice. I have no doubt about that.
I step out of the building that is home to Cabbott Mobile’s offices, button my suit jacket, and take a deep breath.
It’s mid-afternoon.
The sun is bathing the island in heat today. A day like today brightens the spirit of the people who call this city home.
Summer has settled, bringing with it blue skies and warm breezes.
I’m not a New Yorker anymore.
I don’t give a shit about the weather or what season it is.
I may be standing on a sidewalk outside the office of a multi-million-dollar company that I built from the ground up, but all I feel is regret.
My life was ruined in this city once.
I need to get the hell out of here and back to where I belong.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Emma
