But, everything seems different now.
12
CARTER
8:03.
Three minutes since I last checked.
The Vale Hotel's lobby is a scenery of drop cloths, remaining scaffolding and the smell of fresh concrete baking in the early heat. Through the open framing of what will be the entrance, the Ojai hills are starting to get hit by the morning light, that specific early angle that makes the whole property look magical.
I have a coffee in my hand and a hotel manager standing in front of me talking about the inauguration party for long minutes.
Sienna asked for this meeting. That's what’s occupying my mind. She sent the message yesterday, and the only reason I can come up with is that now that she knows William is one of the owners of the MG Group she's pulling out.
The plans she sent are the best site design work I've seen in years. Clean, specific, thought through. I've been looking forward to seeing how she executes them.
Work. That's all it is.
"The guest list," the hotel manager says.
My head is not here. It keeps going back to that hospital waiting room. Sienna and I going for coffee. Sienna with her hand in Adrian's, quiet and steady, pulling him back from something that was taking him under.
And then she left with him.
And I don’t like the way it made me feel.
"The guest list," the manager says again.
When I look back at him he has an expression of impatience that he is trying to hide. I am feeling quite impatient myself.
Then through the foyer window I see Sienna’s truck.
I'm already setting down the coffee and excusing myself before the hotel manager has time to say anything.
She's pulling into the spot when I get to the parking lot. I open her door.
She startles. "Oh. You were right here."
"Just walking past."
I am a straightforward liar.
She gets out and I can’t stop staring at her. Worn jeans with a rip at the left knee that came from actual work and not fashion statement. Army-green t-shirt, faded soft from sun and washing. Hair up in a knot with the bangs almost in her eyes, and she doesn't seem to notice or care.
"I had a chance to go through the plans you sent—" I start, but Sienna interrupts me.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." She adjusts the strap of her backpack. "I didn't know William was connected to this project."
I start to brace myself. She is going to walk away from the project. And that feels like I’ve just been punched in the gut, making me hold my breath.
She looks away for a second. "He didn't know it was my company either. Obviously." A pause, and her voice drops a little. "If he had, he wouldn't have hired Viridian."
She pulls in a breath and squares her shoulders.
"I totally understand if you don't want to work with me now. Given the circumstances."
I exhale the breath I’ve been holding and open my mouth to reply.
