I pick up my first drink and take a half-decent swallow, the burn not doing a thing to wash the memory away. "Thank God."
WN doesn't text back that night, and as I crawl out of bed at six a.m., I tell myself I'm glad.
But I'm not.
It burns like rejection and burns hard.
I don't date. Even back when we were rich, I didn't date, either. Dad didn't like it, and he used to talk about the virtues of marriage, of being the whole package.
Of course, then his cheeks would go red, and he would clear his throat and find something else to do, but I got what he meant, and the boys he set me up on dates with back in Chicago weren't guys I liked.
When I came to New York for school, I concentrated on my education. I went out with friends, flirted a little, but still didn't do anything.
Going commando now, at the age of twenty-five, is me being pushed beyond my limits.
I mean, I would go to parties, but didn't drink, didn't do anything. It was still fun.
My phone pings as I get out of the shower, and I hurry to it.
Ruby:CEO's called an urgent meeting for all staff. Get here ASAP.
She lives close, so she sometimes rocks up early to get some work done before people start pissing her off—her words, not mine.
But I hurry. I throw on the clothes I laid out, and since there isn't time to tame my hair properly, I shove it in a ponytail and hope for the best. Then I shove my feet into mykicks, put my shoes in my bag, grab my phone, a packet of cheese and crackers from the fridge, and then my keys, and I rush out.
Even at six-forty-five, the subway is a crush of bodies, and I squeeze into the third train that comes along, one with a tiny bit of space, fighting against all the others who try to muscle in.
When I get to the office, I change shoes in the foyer, shove the sneakers into my bag, and rush up to the conference room.
Ruby waves me over, and I join her just as our CEO, Louie, rises and motions for quiet.
"I need to inform you all that the company has been sold."
Shock makes me jerk on the spot, and a murmur snowballs through the room.
I glance at Ruby, but she shrugs, looking as shocked as I am.
Are our jobs safe? Or are we all about to be fired?
I can't ask her, and I don't think she knows.
I raise my hand to ask when Louie continues. "Probably the best person for all your questions is your new CEO."
He gestures to the door, and my heart hits my feet, my adrenaline goes into overdrive, and I'm hit by the urge to run. Possibly screaming.
It is not just any well-dressed, handsome man. It is the hot one I flashed in the elevator. The hot one who looks as good as he smells, which is saying something.
The murmurs trail him as he makes his way to Louie.
He glances at me, and I think he winks.
They shake hands.
Okay, so I flashed my new boss. And he flirted in the elevator. He also might have winked at me just now, but that could also be my libido wishing a blink was a wink.
Okay, then. I can deal with this. After all, it is not like things can get worse.
Louie nods at the man. "This is Enzo Marino."
