I shrugged. ‘I’m not sure there is one. He wants to work with us, for us to create and sell a new way of dating to the American people. We will get paid the day the app launches.’ But truthfully, I didn’t know what to think. I felt overwhelmed. I was so absurdly grateful for the opportunity, but at the same time, something inside me felt like maybe pushing The Dicktionary Club out to another country was morally wrong. Maybe I was still full of trauma from the last stint with Philip. I had to try to think beyond that. I mean, they were offering us aninsaneamount of money. It could cover a significant portion of my mortgage and allow us to invest in our company and really grow it.
‘And what if we can’t?’ Katy asked.
‘Can’t?’ Zola questioned. ‘Can’t what?’
‘What if we can’t sell a new way of dating to the Americans? I mean, we aren’t American. We don’t know anyone here. What if the app flops?’
I ran my eyes down the contract again.
‘Then we go home.’ I shrugged. ‘With our hundred grandeach, and they own the rights to The Dicktionary Club for eighteen months. As long as the app launches, then we’re paid.’
Zola snatched the contract from my hands and started to read it over herself. Katy and I waited anxiously for her take. Eventually, she looked up.
‘It has to be ready to launch for the night before Thanksgiving. That’s tight, but we have a team of really good people in that company.’ She paused, letting it all sink in. ‘I guess we have nothing to lose.’
But an ache pressed on my stomach, knowing I’d probably already lost Philip because of this deal. Even if I could go home now and try to fix it, maybe there would be a slight chance we would be salvageable, but I’d be in New York for eight weeks! That’s a long ass time to be away from my boyfriend. As I glanced at Zola, quietly taking it all in, I wondered if she felt the same way about Curtis.
*
That night, after washing and drying my hair, I settled into the king-sized bed in my room, my head bouncing with ideas. How would the Americans take to an app criticising their dates? It was the land of the free, but if you so much as farted in the direction of the wrong person in this country, they could file a lawsuit. How would the legal side work? Who could I ask about that? And what would I wear going into the office? What was Philip doing? Was he missing me or was he glad of the peace?
Then, just as my head was going into overdrive, my phone pinged from the bedside table.
Hey, Ella, I brought over the contracts today, but you gals were out. Hope everything is satisfactory. I will be available tomorrow morning if you need to review anything. I have arranged a car to pick you up at 9:40 a.m. to take you all to the office. Sleep tight, J
J? It must be Jimmy. I suddenly felt a surge of warmth flood over me, causing me to kick the covers off. Should I reply?Sleep tightseemed very informal, intimate even. Was he flirting? Was this just how Americans were? I felt knots gather in my stomach. I clicked off WhatsApp and googled Jimmy Link. Before I knew it, I’d read three articles on his wealth and how he’d risen from poverty to riches. Then I searched for images – most seemed to be of him strutting on the red carpet at award shows, along with some media photos from charity events. I was halfway through the Getty haul when I spotted photos of him sunning himself on a yacht in Cannes and gasped. Katy was right. Those shoulders. His chiselled chest looked like he’d been PTed by Terry Crews.
I was suddenly aware of a throbbing pulse between my legs. I put my phone down, reached over and turned off the night light, then slid deep beneath the covers to sleep. That was enough for one night. I couldn’t start looking at ourinvestorlike that. I tossed and turned, trying hard to get the image of those wet, shiny abs out of my head. But it was no use. I sat back up, glancing at my phone screen again, then slipped my fingers down inside my PJ shorts. I kept my eyes glued to my phone, to Jimmy. Then I slowly began circling my clit, feeling every sensitive touch and panting gently into the night air. I stopped.What was I doing?I felt shame and guilt creep up on me, then took my phone and shuffled through pictures of Philip. Eventually, I relaxed back into bed, a soft smile on my face, focusing on his eyes, his lips, remembering what it was like to have them kiss me. He was perfect, gorgeous. I wanted his hand to be touching me, Philip’s, to be squeezing my breasts and strumming my clit. I fantasised about him coming to me in my new office when no one was around, stripping me slowly, bending me over the desk, telling me how sorry he was about our fight, until I climaxed, hard and wet. My legs were shaking as I pulled my hand out.
Immediately, I locked my phone and placed it down. What the hell was that? I turned over in bed, squeezing my eyes tightly shut. Fucking hell. I was so incredibly horny, I must be ovulating; or maybe I was just spending too much time with Katy?
I took a long, deep breath, feeling sleepy now that I’d come. OK, I thought. Jimmy Link and Philip Khan’s abs, shoulders, dicks were now well and truly out of my system.Let’s refocus on work, Ella, I told myself. After all, I had a nation to conquer.
Chapter Fifteen
Ella
The next day, I got up and went for an early morning run along the Hudson. It was a gorgeous, sunny New York day, with light bouncing off the water and other runners out in their own sweat-drenched, heart-pumping worlds. I felt full of optimism, eager for our first day in the office. I returned to our apartment building just after eight, did some stretches outside, reluctant for this magical part of the day to end, then, as I walked to the elevator, I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned to see Travis Mason standing there in his suit, looking almost as stunned as me.
‘Good morning,’ he said, slightly lowering his head.
‘Morning,’ I returned. ‘Are you OK? Do you live here too?’
Travis held up his hands. ‘No, no, don’t worry. I um .?.?. I was hoping to catch up with your friend Katy, before .?.?. uh .?.?.’
‘Got it,’ I replied, stepping into the lift.
‘Should I .?.?.’ Travis hovered, clearly not knowing what to do. God, he was not smooth at all, I thought. How was this man managing to run his very own fuck boy empire?
‘Yeah, well, I think you’re probably best catching up with Katy inside the apartment rather than in the lobby for everyone to hear, don’t you?’
‘Yeah, absolutely.’ Travis stepped in beside me, and the doors closed.
We remained silent as the lift propelled us to the thirty-first floor. I wondered what he would say. I hoped Katy had at least started to get ready. I didn’t want her all bed head and barking breath as he turned up doing a passable impression of Christian ‘Fifty Shades’ Grey.
When the lift stopped, Travis allowed me to step out first.
‘You should wait here,’ I said, forcing half a smile towards him while practically skipping to Katy’s bedroom.
