Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Adalyn
We pulled up to the curb of 26 East 73rd Street and climbed out. After opening the scrolled black wrought-iron gate, Athena stuck the key into the lock and opened the door.
“Oh my,” I said as we stepped into the foyer, where the colors of baby blue walls and red carpeting surrounded us.
“Right? I told you it was hideous. Follow me, and I’ll give you a tour.”
We walked throughout all eight thousand square feet of space. This townhouse was a disastrous mess as far as the decorating went. But I thrived and did my best work on challenges, and this would be the biggest challenge I’d ever tackled.
“If you accept the job, you will receive a check for one hundred thousand dollars for your services. Half now and the other half when you finish.
My jaw dropped.
“What? Did the owner agree to such a fee?”
“Don’t worry about him. He’s desperate and needs to find someone ASAP. He’ll pay any price to make sure the job gets done.” She smiled.
“Who is the owner?”
“You’ll meet him soon enough if you agree to take the job. He can be quite a handful, but I know you can handle him. Think about it, Adalyn, and look around. Wouldn’t you love to add this to your portfolio?”
“I would.” I grinned. “This place will be like a palace once I’m finished with it.”
“So, then you’ll take the job?”
“Yes. I’ll take the job.”
“Yay!” She spoke with excitement as she hugged me.
“What is going on here?” I heard that low authoritative voice I’d grown to despise.
“Harrison, I’d like you to meet your new interior designer for this dreadful place.” She grinned.
“What?!” I whipped my head and looked at her.
“What?!” Harrison exclaimed.
“It just so happens that Adalyn is an interior designer. She was top notch at the company she worked for back in Seattle.”
“Didn’t they fire you?” He glared at me.
“Well—”
“Them firing her had nothing to do with her. It was the ring’s fault.” Athena smiled. “Now, I’ll leave the two of you alone to discuss whatever you need to discuss.” She kissed my cheeks and then did the same to Harrison before walking out the door.
He stood there like a brut, glaring at me while his head was spinning with ways to undo what his sister had done.
“I’m a very difficult man to work for. I’ve already had four designers quit on me. Miss Banks, you do not understand what you just got yourself into.”
“I like difficult, Mr. Grant, and I thrive under pressure. Let me ask you this. If you already went through four designers, why does it look like nothing’s done?”
“Because they never worked for me longer than three days.” His brow arched.
“Oh. I see.”
“You can still back out. I’ll tell Athena you changed your mind and went back to Seattle.”
He wanted me gone and didn’t want me working for him. But he couldn’t fire me, or his sister's wrath would come down on him. The love those two shared was strong as their twin bond should be. I felt that whatever his sister said or did, he had no choice but to go along. Harrison Grant was a man used to getting everything he wanted. Unlucky for him, I was a woman who never backed down.
“I’m not backing out, Harrison. I’m staying in New York, and I’m fixing up this place for you, no matter what the price is that comes with it.” I raised my brow.
“Fine. I expect you at my penthouse tonight at six thirty to discuss some plans. I’ll text you the address. What’s your number?” he asked as he pulled his phone from his pocket.
I rattled it off, and within seconds a text message came through from him.
“425 West 50th Street, PHB.”
“Since Athena left, and she was your ride, I’ll take you to my office, where my assistant, Jeremy, will give you a list with the names and numbers of the contractors you are to use. They’re already on alert for when I need them.”
“Okay,” I spoke confidently as I walked past him and out the door.
On the car ride to the office, he was on his phone. It was one call after another. Once we arrived at his building, we took the elevator up to his office, and sitting at the desk in front of it, was a young man whom I assumed was the infamous Jeremy.
“Jeremy, this is Adalyn Banks. She’s my new interior designer. I need you to give her the list of contractors I’ll be using for the townhouse.”
“Yes, Mr. Grant. Right away. It’s nice to meet you, Adalyn.” He smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Jeremy.”
“I need to get back to work now. I’ll see you tonight at six-thirty sharp. Don’t be late,” he spoke in a smug tone.
“You got it, boss.” I smiled as I saluted him.
He shot me a look and stepped inside his office, shutting the door behind him.
“Here’s the list of contractors,” Jeremy said as he handed me the white piece of paper. “Listen, Adalyn; I feel it’s my duty as a Christian and a good Samaritan to warn you about Mr. Grant.”
“No need to warn me, Jeremy. I already know.” I laughed. “Why do you think I took the job? If Mr. Grant thinks he’ll break me, he’s mistaken.”
“Girl, I love you already!” He grinned. “If you need anything, call me. I wrote my number down on the paper.”
“Thanks, Jeremy. I appreciate it.”