As she heads around the corner, I stand. I tug on the belt of my trench coat to tighten it. The smooth black fabric slides through my palm easily.
I look down at the watch I'm wearing. It says it's seven p.m. I wish it were true. By that time tonight, I'll hopefully be in Julian's arms or in his bed.
"I'll always come when you need me, darling."
I look toward the sound of that voice. It's the unmistakable voice that I listened to during a lecture about women in business. It's the same voice that greeted me at the launch party last month when she thought I was making a move on her boyfriend.
I glance at Julian's office door as she exits with him on her heel. "I'm grateful, Isadora."
"You know how important this is to me, Julian." She turns so her back is to me. "I'd fly to the ends of the earth for you."
I can't see his face because her head is blocking my view, but I can hear every word that he's saying. "I do appreciate it. Thank you."
"So, we'll meet at seven at Normand's?"
"Axel Tribeca," he corrects her.
She inches back on her heels. "I'll see you there."
He doesn't notice me when she turns to make her way toward the elevator. Instead, he walks back into his office, shutting the door behind him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Maya
I don't leavebecause I'm not a coward who runs from something she cares for at the first sign of trouble. I'm also primed to fight. My blood has been simmering with anger ever since Isadora left and Julian shuttered himself away in his office.
I count the minutes until his assistant comes back from her break. It's thirteen, three more than the ten she promised but it's still not enough time to calm me down.
The temptation to walk over and push open the door to his office was strong, but I've always tried to cool down before I confront anyone. Words said in anger are often never forgotten.
"Oh, his door is closed now?" She glances over at it as she hands me a paper cup filled with coffee. "That's a sign that he doesn't want to be disturbed."
I want him to be disturbed. I need him to be disturbed right now.
"Can you tell Julian that Maya is here to see him?"
"You're Maya?" She lowers herself into her chair. "You didn’t say you were Maya when you got here."
"Does it matter?"
She nods briskly as she picks up the bulky phone from her desk. "Maya is here. I'm sorry, sir, but she's been waiting for some time now. I didn't know it was her."
I arch a brow as I listen to her rattle on to Julian.
By the time she's placed the receiver of the phone back in its cradle, his office door swings open.
He shuts the door behind him before he closes the distance between us with heavy steps. He no longer has his suit jacket or tie on. The sleeves of his blue dress shirt are rolled up.
"Maya." He stops abruptly when he reaches me. "What is it? Is everything alright?"
I'm tempted to flash him on the spot, but I'm not wasting my expensive lingerie on him after seeing him with Isadora. "I came to surprise you."
"It's not a good time." He glances at his assistant before he looks at me. "I'm in the middle of something right now."
"You asked me when I was here earlier if you could see me tonight. The answer is yes." I thread two of my fingers through the bottom of my hair.
It feels as though my heart is thrumming against the wall of my chest as I wait for him to respond.
