Chapter 11
Oh no, sweetheart, not in my presence
Kazimir
Harley is staring at me with such adoration.
That look is a two-sided razor blade. On one hand, I’m glad I got her the things she needed to help make her stay at my place more comfortable.
On the other, I can’t shake off the feeling this woman has been dating men who don’t treat her the way she deserves.
If she tends to gravitate towards men like Chett, it’s no surprise she’s looking at me like I could walk on water.
“While you were sleeping, I called Grazie Mille’s owner in Brazil.”
Harley drops the bag of Twizzlers she’s holding on the couch and meets my gaze.
“I promised I’d call him after I fired his disloyal manager, but I was so preoccupied to get to you to make sure you were okay, it slipped my mind—”
“Oh no, it sounds like I screwed up your day,” she says.
I frown. “What gave you that idea?”
“You had to drive out to Jamaica, Queens. I’m sure helping me move out of my apartment wasn’t on your list of things to do today.
Then, you drove all the way to Brooklyn to feed me.
And while I was passed out on your couch, you were running around town to buy me a ‘that time of the month care package’—which is the sweetest thing in the world, but I’m sure the time you wasted on me put a wrench in your day. Same for playing nurse.”
My frown deepens. “You say that like someone put a gun to my head and forced me to do those things. I did them because I wanted to. And for the record, I didn’t waste time on you—you’re not a waste of time.”
She blinks. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I’m not saying that to placate you, Harley. I mean it.”
She responds with a small nod.
Yup, this woman has been dating assholes. “As I was saying, I connected with the restaurant’s owner, and we had a long talk. He’s glad I took the trash out.”
She scoots to the edge of the couch. “Earlier, you said étienne was arrested? Why? For being a toxic boss?”
I shake my head.
I tell her all about my weeklong visit to Brazil.
“Who’s Max Keller? How is he connected to the owner?”
“He’s half Brazilian and his family in Rio de Janeiro knows the owner. Max is a buddy of mine from the VIP Den—a members’ only business networking club for elite businessmen and women.”
She nods. “It’s a good thing the owner had you in his corner.”
“I don’t take kindly to lowlifes,” I say. “étienne has committed a number of infractions, but the gravest one is the fact he was turning Grazie Mille into an illegal poker establishment after hours. The guy who groped you was his accomplice.”
Her head jerks back. “What?”
“That explains why étienne took his side over yours.”
“What an asshole.”
“They’re both assholes.”
“True that.” She taps a finger against her chin. “Who’s going to manage the restaurant?”
“After being interrogated by the police on the day I saw you at the restaurant, I had a briefing with the PI team I hired. There was no doubt étienne was crooked. Anticipating we’d be giving him the boot, I put the owner in touch with a placement agency that specializes in the restaurant business.
I told him he needed to get the ball rolling.
Right now, he’s in the process of hiring a new manager.
He’s also going to hire an assistant manager.
He wants the manager to be accountable to someone. ”
“Good idea.”
“He’s also going to replace the bartender.”
“He was involved in the illegal poker games?”
“No, he was using the restaurant’s inventory as his personal liquor store where he could go shopping for free. The private investigators I hire are nothing but thorough.”
“This poor owner. He’s on the other side of the planet, and his employees are screwing him over.”
“Speaking of employees who aren’t screwing him over, I relayed what transpired on the day you got fired. He feels terrible you had to go through that. He’s more than happy to reinstate your job.”
Harley twists her lips. “I’m not sure I can brave showing my face at Grazie Mille ever again.
I’d never be able to endure the embarrassment of being labeled clumsy, useless, and a disaster.
Every little mistake will be magnified and anyone who was there on that humiliating day will see me as incompetent. ”
I nod.
She’s right.
Most people will never know Tripp was caught on camera groping her, which is what caused the whole fiasco.
“So, working at a florist shop guarantees you’ll be making minimum wage,” I say. “And you don’t feel comfortable going back to your waitressing job.”
“I’ve been looking for work, but without references from the last job…”
“I’m sure the owner can remedy the situation.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh my God, that would be a game changer.”
“Consider it done.”
“You’re a lifesaver.” She stomps her feet on the floor and pumps the air. “Money, money, money, money. Money.”
“You could go back to your waitressing job, or you could explore something else.”
Her arms drop to her lap. “Like what?”
I hold her gaze for a long beat. “After we met in the Hamptons, I was curious, so I checked out your socials to find out more—”
“And you had the audacity of accusing me of stalking you? Mr. Lindstro?m I invite you to look in the mirror.”
I shake my head at her.
She grins wide.
“Like I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I wanted to know what you did as a corporate floral designer, so I checked out your social media. You had amassed a sizable following without ever showing your face. The focus was on the stunning bouquet design. You’re a gorgeous woman.
You could’ve used your looks to grow your presence online, but you didn’t use your assets. You used your talent.”
She blushes and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wanted the focus to be on With A Flourish Floral Design, not on my outfits or my makeup.”
“Smart. Did you go dark because of the debacle with the business partners?”
Her eyes widen.
“You were out for five hours. I was able to get a lot done during that time.”
She lets out an audible breath. “That was part of the reason.”
I tilt my head to the side. “What’s the other reason?”
Her eyes lift to the ceiling as if searching for the answer.
She meets my gaze. “Is it okay if we don’t talk about it?”
“Is it because vendors were coming after you?”
She shakes her head. “No. It has nothing to do with the business I had with Ellen and Qi… It’s…” She squirms in her seat. “I’d need half a dozen drinks to get into it.”
“That can be arranged. After all, it’s eight-thirty at night, so…”
“I can’t believe it’s that late.”
“That’s what happens when you spend too much time in dreamland.”
She gives me a look.
I veer the conversation back to the topic at hand. “You had millions of people following you on your socials—”
“Had, being the operative word.”
“Don’t diminish your accomplishments, Harley.”
She flinches.
“You were so proficient at what you did, With A Flourish Floral Design was featured on several top 25 Best Flower Instagram account lists. That’s nothing to sneeze at.”
“Kaz”—she rubs her face with both hands—“that’s a lifetime ago.”
“Because I’m no longer a professional hockey player, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to skate or score a goal.”
“That’s different. What you did requires skill.” She averts her gaze.
Oh no, sweetheart, I’m not going to allow you to put yourself down in my presence. “Look at me.”
I’m still staring at the side of her head.
“Harley.”
My harsh tone compels her to comply.
Big green, doe eyes fix onto me.
“That’s a bullshit answer, and you know it.”
She responds with a one shoulder shrug.
“I have an in-house social media manager slash public relations liaison position open.” I just pulled that one out of my ass. “I’d like to offer you the position.”