Konni was watching me with his beautiful amber eyes, which seemed to reflect with bits of gold dust in the pulsing lights.
“I meant your stalker, who’s been trying to get your attention for the last fifteen minutes,” my uncle said close to my ear.“Remind him that, if he touches you again, he’s automatically out.”
He released me and added a little nudge to get me moving because something about Konni’s gaze had me locked in place.
Konni watched my approach, his expression serious and concerned.
“My uncle told me to warn you to keep your hands to yourself, or you’ll be blacklisted in the future,” I said instead of a hello.
Konni’s gaze flicked to Uncle Jay, and he nodded once before focusing on me again.
“I called your name twice,” he said.
“Sorry.I didn’t hear you.Music’s loud.”
He slowly shook his head.
“No, you couldn’t hear me because you’re worried about something.What happened at lunch with your Dad?”
Rather than evade, I played it cool.
“He proved me right.He wanted to use me for social and financial gain, and I said no.”I shrugged.“What can I get you?”
“Surprise me.”
I nodded and went to mix him a drink.Since it was slower and Uncle Jay could handle things on his own, I lingered after delivering it.
“As a business person, if you wanted to make money fast, what would you do?”I asked.
“Depends on how much I’d want to make and how fast.”
“Let’s say three thousand dollars in three days?”
He studied me for a long moment.“Are you in trouble, Sophia?”
“No.”I grinned.“You sound like him.”I nodded toward Uncle Jay, who was watching us closely while also watching everything else going on in his club.
Konni’s gaze searched mine.“Whatever it’s for, if you need it, I can loan it to you.”
“Thanks, but this is just hypothetical.And a loan is the last thing I’d want if I needed money.There are too many strings attached to private loans.Plus, I don’t want to be a people-user like my dad.”
Konni nodded and sipped his drink.
“If you change your mind, I’m willing to help.”
“Thanks.”
Wakingup for work on Monday wasn’t a problem since Uncle Jay let me leave early again the night before.The rhythm was working pretty well for me.Sunday through Thursday, I left by eleven, which was usually when the crowd—if there was one—started to die down.Friday and Saturday, I stayed until close since I didn’t have to be up by six.
That meant I walked into the office at 7:50 am, which gave me time to put my purse away at my desk, make myself a coffee, and start reading emails.Whitney and Shana were already at their stations when I arrived.I was tempted to start coming in earlier, but I knew I would only be a burden by doing so until I actually caught up to their skill level.
“Good morning,” I said, putting my purse in the desk drawer.
Whitney nodded, and Shana didn’t say anything.
Not bothering to offer to bring back anything for them, I went to grab my coffee and returned to my desk a minute before eight.
“She called you twice,” Whitney said before I sat.
