34. Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Jemima
As I’m about to board the plane, a text from Harvey pops up.
Harvey: I’m sorry.
I don’t answer, just like all the other ones he’s sent me. My head and heart aren't ready to talk to him. I’m gutted beyond words. As much as the anger simmers in my blood, if he were close, I’m not sure I’d be strong enough to resist. He’s gotten under my skin and into my heart and I just need time to process Danny and his betrayal.
This overnight stay is exactly what I need; it’s a chance to get some much-needed space.
When I arrive at the Baird hotel, I check in and am informed the room’s ready. The client I’m meeting owns this hotel, but I was upgraded to the penthouse, which we hadn’t discussed. I enter the room, and my jaw drops. It’s as beautiful as Harvey's place. Why does everything remind me of him? He’s haunting me, even from afar.
Walking through the suite, I spot the bathtub in the middle of the bathroom. I know exactly where I’ll be spending my evening. There’s even a box of chocolates and a bottle of champagne waiting for me.
I worked on the plane, so I have an hour to kill before I need to meet Mr. Baird. Once I’ve ordered some room service, I curl up on the obnoxiously large cream sofa, and find a show I haven’t watched in forever. My food arrives, and I relax for a bit before heading down to the meeting rooms.
When I arrive, the conference room is empty. I wonder if I misread the email. He was adamant about me being here in person, insisting that the scale and importance of this high-profile gala demanded precision and a level of detail he felt couldn’t be addressed over Zoom.
I set my bag down and pull out my phone to double-check, but a familiar ache rises in my throat, catching me off guard.
Harvey: Please call me.
Inhaling deeply, I focus on my emails. Suddenly, Mr. Baird’s voice booms through the room. “Sorry, I’m late. I just got in from a flight.” I jump at the sudden noise, my heart racing, and quickly slip my phone into my purse.
“That’s okay. How was your flight?”
“Long,” he says, already moving toward the door to his office. He opens it and steps aside, gesturing for me to follow. “Come in here. I have about forty-five minutes to go through this.”
Straight to the point. I thought I knew what blunt was, but that was before I met Mr. Baird.
I take a seat, and he begins explaining what he wants. I share my concerns about suppliers, and he’s willing to use mine, covering the shipping and time costs. The availability of the high-end material means I need to secure it now before it becomes unavailable.
“How did you come across me?” I ask.
“I attended Oliver Lincoln's Gallery Party.”
“Oh, I'm sorry, we must have missed one another amidst the chaos of the night.”
But then again, I was also preoccupied with Harvey.
My heart aches at the memory of that night. It was magical… Nothing like I expected from him. Then again, nothing about Harvey is predictable. I get lost in a daydream of how handsome he looked that night until Mr. Baird speaks again.
“I wasn’t there long,” he says, his elbows resting on the table, hands loosely folded in front of him. His steady, intent gaze on me.
I hold my pen above my notebook, ready to take notes. “Could you share your ideas for the event?”
After outlining his vision and requesting a few last-minute changes, I nod. “I’ll prepare a draft of the design and email it to you for approval, along with the updated quote.”
He gathers his things. “If that’s all, I need to get going. Thanks for meeting with me.”
Before leaving, I pause. “Thank you for arranging the room upgrade,” I say, offering a polite smile.
He nods, a hint of warmth in his response. “Anything that a Lincoln asks, I will always try to make work.”
My lip’s part, and I’m about to correct him?that I’m not a Lincoln?but he quickly stands and says goodbye, already moving to answer his phone. I’m stunned by how much he wants to work with me, but also clear he holds the Lincolns in high regard. I did too, until recently.
Well, one in particular…
After scribbling a few more notes, I head back to my room and change into black leggings and a cream sweater, ready to explore the streets of D.C. The grand, tree-lined sidewalks are so beautiful that I end up walking longer than I planned. I stumble upon the Lincoln Memorial and wonder if this is a sign or just another way to torture me. It feels like I can’t escape him.
I grab a smoothie from a cute cafe and continue walking, passing by restaurants that look good.
There's so much art and so many murals here. It's nice to explore a new city, just me. Eventually, I start to feel tired and head back to the hotel. I video call Molly to check in. “How’s everything going?”
“Chad just finished his homework. Now they’re playing while I make spaghetti. How’s it there?”
I smile, thinking about the meeting. “It’s perfect. The meeting went well. He wants to move forward with all our suppliers.”
“He’s covering all the costs?” she splutters.
“Yes.” Giggling, I remember my own disbelief when he said the same thing. “I’m drafting a design and quote to send to him tonight. Once he approves, I’ll email our suppliers.”
“Don’t work all night,” Molly warns in her sweet, motherly voice.
“I just came back from a long walk. I haven't worked the whole time.”
“You promise?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes. I’m planning to grab dinner and then soak in the massive tub.”
“Send me pics!” she exclaims.
Another laugh escapes me. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She's seriously the bestest friend, taking care of Chad while I’m here. I’ll definitely buy her a thank you gift before I leave. My eyes scan the area looking for something special to bring back.
“Okay, okay. Put Chad on.”
“Mom?”
“Hi honey, how was your day?”
“Alright, but did you know Hugo has the new transformer Lego?”
His excitement makes my heart swell. The small slice of mom guilt I carry from working instead of being with him fades a bit when I hear his happy voice.
“No, I didn’t. But how was school?”
“Good. Can I get the Lego too?” Chad’s voice is hopeful.
I smile softly, shaking my head. “I’ll add it to your birthday list. Are you having fun at Molly’s?”
“She’s letting us have pizza,” he grins.
“Oh, that naughty Molly,” I reply, chuckling.
He giggles through the phone.
“I better go, but I love you. Behave for Molly, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, Mom. I love you.”
He hangs up, and I guess our conversation is over. I don’t bother calling back, as Molly will call me if she needs me. Now that work isn’t a distraction, I move to the windows overlooking the city. The view isn’t as nice as the one from Harvey’s penthouse, and the loneliness hits me harder because I don’t have Chad here. I’m alone with my thoughts. I snap a picture to show Chad when I get home, and I also send it to Mom.
Mom: Oh, darling, I hope you're out there soaking it all in! The city is your oyster! I'm on this noisy bus, otherwise I’d be calling you. Take lots of pictures and make the most of it!
Me: No worries. I’m about to head out for dinner anyway. I’ll call you later.
Reminding myself that I’m here for work, I head out to a restaurant with a plan to order a glass of champagne. Celebrating alone isn’t the same, but I want to acknowledge how far I’ve come. It would be nice to have Harvey here, but I can do this on my own.
After dinner, I return to the suite, soak in the spa, and then crawl into the king-sized bed. I’m almost asleep when I receive another text from Harvey.
Harvey: I hope the upgrades I requested made your stay a little more relaxing.