Because I still love him.
Ten
Alex
Ilean back in my chair and close my eyes, stretching out my neck. “That covers the private credit arrangements. Where are we on the family structure?”
“The board is clear enough,” Tomkin replies. He’s one of our senior analysts, and a regular on my team. “It’s the cousins that will take longer. They’re not so visible.”
“Do you have a split of their voting power?”
“Only about half of it so far.”
I nod. It’s Tuesday, two weeks since we kicked this off, and progress has been good. But my mind is elsewhere: on the dance in three days’ time.
And Vicky still hasn’t unblocked me, or confirmed she’s coming byany other method.
“Operating picture?” I ask, trying to stay focused. It’s been a long day already; most people have already gone home.
“Rough numbers so far, Alex,” Nair replies. He’s Tomkin’s level, another of my hand-picked analysts. “Upstream, midstream, and generation look pretty tight, but renewables and trading are murkier. Should have more later this week. I’m meeting for a market check with a midstream trader on Thursday.”
“Invite me to that,” I say. “I might come along.” I look at Stevens. He’s our in-house legal, and will be key for this. “Regulatory position?”
“Definitely enough to go hunting, but how are you going to do it?”
“Leave that bit to me,” I tell him. Only Rita knows about the Company and the link to Serrano, only because she needs to, and onlywhatshe needs to. DeLuca signed off on that; he told me he’d already briefed her, right after the lunch we’d had. Before we even attended the meeting at Westchester.
She gives me a look full of meaning now, and it’s not particularly subtle. I’ll have to talk to her about that, because I want all my fingers when this is done.
“Then let’s call it there for tonight. Good work, everyone.” I glance at the time: almost nine-thirty. I suppose I should go home, but there’s nothing there for me.
I’ve spent many nights in my Manhattan apartment and it’s never felt empty before. Now, knowing the house in Westchester is equally empty makes everything seem somehow… pointless?
That’s a crazy thought. I must just be tired.
The others make their way out and back to their boyfriends, girlfriends, or families. Rita lingers behind, waiting until we’re alone before she speaks.
“We still have the financial model to finish.”
“That’s my area.”
“I know. I want to help.”
“I’ll do it tonight, when I get home.”
“Home is two blocks away, Alex. It’s too late for you to drive to Westchester.” She walks around my desk, comes behind my chair, then her hands are on my shoulders, kneading the muscles. It’s not the first time she’s done this, but it is the first since she suggested I bent her over this very desk. That gives it a different feel. “I’ll come with you. We need some food anyway, right?”
“I’m just going to order in.”
“Thai?” she suggests. She knows it’s my go-to when I’m feeling lazy and indulging. It’s shit for my gym routine, but once in a while it’s not too bad.
“Maybe.” I sigh. “What I’m really thinking about is a hot shower.”
She leans down until her lips are near my ear. “Now I’m thinking about that, too.”
I stand up, slipping out from beneath her touch, and she walks around the side of my desk like she was going to anyway. “I need to see if DeLuca’s still here before I head off.”
“That’s fine,” she says. “I’ll wait.”
