Page 31 of Filthy Rich Ex's Brothers

Standing in my cafe with her coffee like she was going to burst either into flames or into tears. I like her much better like this, sitting across from me, talking, covering her mouth with her hand when she thinks her laughs are getting too obnoxious. They’re not.

“Are you looking for more work?” I ask, nearly an hour later, after we’ve spent more time together, chatting. About my cafés and restaurants, her roommates, her love of photography. Time moves too quickly—she’s so easy to talk to.

Serena tilts her head. “Depends on the type of work.”

I try to keep from smiling at the implication. “I have a new bakery opening. Kind of a high-concept thing. I’d love to have you there to photograph opening day. We’re planning on having a bunch of NYCpersonnalitéspresent. Maybe it would be a good chance for you to network, too.”

Her eyebrows raise, “Oh, now you speak French?”

“And Italian,” I admit, leaning in closer. “Why? Does that intrigue you?”

Her grin is full-wattage, and I feel like I’ve earned it. “Something like that.”

Chapter 16

Serena

Serena:hey, sorry i missed your call. heading to a shoot for onyx

Serena:everything okay?? where have u been??

Serena:let's hang out this weekend, ok? i miss u

Bianca:I miss you, too. Sorry, things have been really busy. I can’t do this weekend, but I’ll check my calendar.

I frown and tuck my phone in my pocket as the large doors heading into the Onyx lobby slide open for me. The lobby is cool and fresh. Cucumbers and lemon peels float in the ice water at the coffee bar.

The receptionist nods to me. I wave and head for the elevators, shivering at the difference between the sunny warmth outside and the chill of the AC in here. It’s already mid-June, and the city is heating up. It doesn’t help being crammed between bodies on the subway, either.

My pulse thrums steadily as the elevator rises. It’s not like Ihaveto see Travis, but he’s usually around in the office, especially when I’m meeting with the creative director, like today. We’re gathering before the shoot for the next hotel, which is a little different conceptually. According to the email, this oneis a little softer, located closer to the river, with a slightly lower price point. My photography will need to reflect this.

The elevator doors open and I step out, fingers drumming on the strap of my camera bag. When I get to the conference room, Henry greets me.

“Serena! Early for once.”

“Ha,” I mutter, then something occurs to me. “Hey, just give me one second. I need to deliver these photos to Mr. Oakley.”

I’m pulling a thumb drive out of my bag when I catch Henry shaking his head from the corner of my eye. “You’ll have to email or wait. He’s out.”

My head snaps up. “Of the office?”

“Of thecountry,” Henry’s eyes sparkle and it occurs to me, for the first time, that he might be just as interested in Travis as I am. “Apparently, he had some important business in London, then Tokyo. Wish I could jet around like that.”

I bite my tongue to keep from saying, “Yeah, onMr. Oakley’sjet?” Henry might be cool, but he’s still technically my boss.

Yeah,an internal voice chides,like that’s stopped you before.

“Oh,” I drop the USB drive back into my bag. “Too bad.”

Henry shakes his head sadly, “All that travel, and the man doesn’t even have an Instagram.”

“Honey!” I call into the house when I open the door: “I’m home!”

“In here!”

Four different voices call back to me from four different parts of the house, and I shake my head, shrugging off my raincoat and hanging it by the front door. I unzip my camera bag from its rain cover and leave it on the table.

“Serena!” Lillie is the first to make it to the hallway, sliding in from the kitchen in her knee socks. There’s a smear of something brown over her cheek, and her hair is a darker purple than it was when I left. “You’re back! Tell us every—oh!”