My smile must’ve set off some Mama radar alarm because she squinted and looked closer at the phone.
“Mama, you’re creeping me out,” I said, switching to Italian.
“Just…don’t lose sight of…”
“Don’t lose sight of what I’m here for. Yes, Mama,” I groaned. “Enzo has told me that every time he texts me. Which is about twice a day. So ridiculous.”
“Sorry, mi tesoro. I didn’t mean to push. I love you and miss you terribly. The house isn’t the same without you but I’m so proud of you. I’m going to let you get to bed. Let’s plan to talk soon, si?”
Letting my frustration ebb, I answered, “Ti amo. I miss you too. I’ll start to get busier as this job begins but I promise to keep in touch.”
“I’ll be waiting,” she answered, waving and ending the call.
Looking out at the busy downtown foot traffic, I smiled at the sight of the beautiful city at night. Tall, brightly lit buildings, the sound of airplanes landing and taking off from the nearby airport, and the smell of tempting food wafting through the small opening in the window made me feel alive. I loved the partial view of the stunning harbor.
“Well, girl, you made it through seeing him for the first time. Just need to get it together and come up with some amazing ideas for his house. And keep your silly fantasies to yourself.”
That would be harder to do than I expected. I’d hoped that seeing him after all this time would quell the attraction.
But he was just as handsome, just as sweet, and just as forbidden.
The next morning, after texting Ren to set up a time to talk soon, I waltzed into work in my navy pencil skirt and cream silk shirt that Corinna had helped me pull together from my closet. Paired with my black strappy heels, I felt like a girl boss.
Though I was sharing an office with another designer, I could tell my colleagues were impressed that I’d landed a client so quickly. As I walked through the office, their bright smiles and warm greetings told me I’d left a good impression.
“Good morning, Kitty,” I said, proud that I’d remembered not to say ‘ciao’ out of habit. The blue streaks in her golden hair matched her outgoing personality, both professionally and personally. She was my cubiclemate and had proven to be not only a great asset in helping me settle into the office but also a friend who happened to know all the best coffeehouses and cafés downtown. It was a short walk to work, and I jotted down notes of everywhere I wanted to visit.
“Hey, Vicky. How’d it go at the Austin mansion last night?” she teased. It was no secret that the Austin family was wealthy. I learned from Corinna that Miles’ brother Luke was a millionaire, and that his parents were well-known in upper-class social circles. Not that you would know it when you scrolled through Sofia’s social media profile. It was full of family days out on the beach, s'mores contests with more chocolate and marshmallow on their faces than in their mouths, and lots of backward baseball caps and hoodies.
Don’t even get me started onthoselast two items. I took a deep breath just thinking of the picture I found recently of Miles in that particular state of dress.
“It was…interesting, but good. No mansion, but a large cottage in Coronado. Miles wasn’t expecting me since his mother forgot to mention it, but afterward, we got a few things ironed out.” It wasn’t exactly the truth since Miles had no real idea what he wanted, but MJ had given me more than enough feedback on how to make her room a busy and brilliant girl’s dream.
“Miles, huh? Not Mr. Austin?” she asked, looking at me over her coffeecup. It was bigger than the soup bowls Mama and I had at home. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief. Kitty had been unsuccessfully trying to move my attention away from my work to our single male colleagues. Shutting her down immediately, I decided just to ignore her attempts at matchmaking, and this would be no different.
I scoffed as I sat down at my desk. “It’s not what you’re thinking. My brother and sister-in-law’s friend, Sofia, married into his family.”
Pulling out some design books I had borrowed from the office and my laptop, I got set up for the day. I had only a few days to gather some ideas for Miles. His party was in less than two weeks, and he desperately needed a new living room set.
“Just saying. I’ve seen pictures, and I wouldn’t mind hanging out with him either.” She snickered as she sat at her desk. I laughed and sent Anna an email, letting her know I was available to go over the meeting with Miles.
Scrunching my brows together, I asked, “Should I call him Mr. Austin when I speak to Anna?”
Kitty twisted her lips to the side with a thoughtful look. “Probably. Let Elena see that you’re viewing this professionally. I know she allows a somewhat lax atmosphere here in the office, but she’s much less so when it involves clients.”
With a firm nod, I got back to my design books. Before I got too far along, Anna replied, saying to meet her in her office.
“Heading for my meeting. See you for lunch, maybe?”
“I’ve got a date with Ben in accounting,” she said with a smirk. I shook my head and chuckled.
Straightening out my skirt as I made my way to the executive offices, I nodded to a few co-workers as I passed. Arriving at Anna’s open door, I knocked lightly and waited for her to look up and wave me in.
“Good morning, Victoria. Tell me all about your meeting,” she said, her tortoiseshell glasses perched on top of her head. She was always looking for them and had to be reminded to look there first. As relaxed as it was in the office concerning full names, Anna didn’t call me Vicky.
“Good morning, Anna. I just want to say thank you again for allowing me to accept this project. It was a productive first meeting,” I answered, sitting down in the chair facing her desk. She and Elena had decorated the offices with an interesting mix of modern and European décor. The combination of soft, elegant neutral light-gray walls with dark-blue accents, contemporary office furniture featuring curved Bergère chairs, and natural stone flooring was a stroke of genius. Wrought-iron chandelierswere paired with minimalist built-in lighting, creating an old-world-chic look.
Nodding her head, causing her auburn curls to move around her pale but graceful face, she replied, “We’re very interested in seeing what you have in mind for Mr. Austin’s home. I understand there’s an event there soon, yes?”
