I left the bar shortly after he did. I ran out to the street not sure of what I'd say if I did catch up with him, but by the time I made it to the entrance of the hotel, he was getting in the back of a taxi.
My need for him was strong in that moment. It overpowered my common sense. If I would have approached the taxi before itpulled into traffic, he would have seen my desire to go home with him.
Instead, I stood silently and watched it drive away before I waved to the hotel doorman so he could flag me down a taxi too.
I fish in my purse for my phone when I hear the familiar chime signaling an incoming message.
I swipe my thumb over the phone's screen to read the text.
There was an emergency at the clinic so I just read your message about the penthouse job now. Holy crap, Maya! I'm so proud of you. I'll call you tomorrow!
I immediately type back a response to Tilly.
Thank you, sis. Love you.
After I press send, I scroll down to another unread message. This one is from a New York number I don't immediately recognize. It's a familiar part of my world. I get dozens of messages every day from prospective buyers and sellers.
You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met, Maya. Use this number at any time for ANY reason.
I check the timestamp on the message. It was sent when I was in the hotel bar.
Julian. It's Julian's private cell number.
I enter it into my contact list. My thumb hovers over the screen.
Finally, I type out a message.
Thank you for the drink, Julian.
His response comes quickly.
It was my pleasure.
His pleasure. It's what I think about as I crawl into bed, tuck my hand in my panties and fall asleep dreaming about what it would have been like to go home with him tonight.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Julian
"Do you want my advice, Julian?"
I scrub my hand over my face. I'm paying her for her advice so the answer to that question should be clear. "Of course, I do, Chloe."
She stands in front of my desk. "As I told you on the phone, Isadora has retained counsel to represent her interest in the company. She has no intention of quitting. Her attorney stressed that point when she called me."
I'm not fucking surprised. Isadora's life has been consumed by this job for the past three-and-a-half years. She has no family to speak of. Bishop Hotels and our relationship are all she had. If she can't have one, she'll fight tooth and nail to hold fast to the other.
"Get to the advice part."
"A quick question first." Her hand smooths her messy bun. It's obvious she's put in a full day at her office. I asked her to meet me at mine after I'd left Maya at the bar. I don't need theprying and curious eyes of my employees around to witness this meeting. Too many of them are loyal to Isadora.
Although Isadora is aware that I've brought Chloe on to help negotiate her severance, she doesn't need the reminder of it being thrown in her face when she comes back to the office. She requested an extended leave of absence, which I readily agreed to. That won't last forever though.
"What's the question?" My patience is waning. I'm frustrated and tired.
"Has Isadora ever mentioned wanting to work for another company?"
I cock both brows in answer to that. It's a ridiculous question. "What do you think?"
