Chapter 39FRAN
CHAPTER 39
FRAN
I hate that I feel vulnerable walking off the elevator and into the Columbus Circle penthouse for the broker open. I shouldn’t feel vulnerable. This is my job. I have every right to be here. I should be excited, maybe a little nervous at the prospect of schmoozing with brokers representing such wealthy clients. But instead, I’m dreading tonight because, despite the party staff milling about, the thought of being caught alone with Tadd, even just for a few minutes, is giving me serious anxiety.
“You can do this,” I whisper to myself, plastering on a smile.
“Oh, hey, Fran!” Bri greets me from where she’s doing some last-minute cushion fluffing.
I must admit, the stagers did a fantastic job bringing the place to life. It’s all whites and creams, blacks and golds. Pure opulence at its finest.
“Hey, Bri,” I say, walking past her and straight for the bar set up in the corner because, frankly, if I’m expected to coexist with Tadd Jennings and not act like I want to shove my four-inch stiletto up his ass, there is no way I’m doing it sober.
“Nice of you to show up.”
I accept the glass of rosé from the bartender with a smile, trying not to grimace at the sound of Tadd’s voice behind me. With a fortifying sip, I turn and spear him with a don’t-mess-with-me glower.
“You were supposed to be here at six,” he says, making a point of checking his watch.
“Traffic,” is all I say with a shrug as I take another sip.
Tadd eyes the glass of wine that’s almost empty already. “Well, I hope you know you’re here to help me sell this place, not get sloppy drunk.”
“Tadd,” I say on a bored sigh, “if I have to be within fifty yards of you, I’ll get as drunk as I damn well choose.”
Looking me up and down, he sneers. “Just make sure you look pretty. It’s the only reason you’re here anyway.”
He turns and struts off with his chin held high in the air, as if he’s just had a real mic-drop moment. And all I can do is roll my eyes because he’s such a dick.
Finishing my wine with a big, unattractive gulp, I turn and hold it out to the bartender, smiling sweetly. Thankfully he knows what to do without me even having to ask, refilling the glass to the very brim.
I hold my drink up in cheers. “Keep ‘em coming.”
“The penthouse spans a total of five-thousand-four-hundred square feet, with jetliner views of the entire city. Central Park, The Chrysler Building, down to the Statue of Liberty, spanning west over the Hudson are all visible. These are some of the best views of the city available.” I smile at the group of brokers I’m showing around upstairs. This is my third run-through, and it’s getting a little robotic, but the three glasses of wine I’ve consumed have helped loosen me up a little.
I lead the group through the primary bedroom. “Fourteen-foot ceilings throughout, the primary suite includes h is and hers bathrooms as well as separate dressing areas. There are five bedrooms in total, all en suite, and if you follow me, I’ll show?—”
“How’s it going in here, sweetheart?”
I spin around, my jaw gaping at Tadd and his audacity not only to interrupt me mid-tour but to call me sweetheart . I swear, vitriol burns my tongue. And he doesn’t stop there. He actually comes up to me, snaking his arm around me like he has any business touching me.
“If anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to come see me or Fran. We’re tag-teaming, aren’t we, sweetie?” He looks down at me with a suggestive grin, winking, and I’d knee him in the balls if I wasn’t currently rendered all but frozen.
When his hand squeezes my waist, I can no longer control myself. Snapping to, I shrug out of his reach, taking a giant step away from him.
“Actually, Tadd…” I force a smile, but I know he can see the murderous look in my eyes because he bites back a grin. My palm itches to slap him as I continue through gritted teeth. “Would you be able to finish this tour? I need to go vomit.”
Without waiting for a response, I turn on my heel and storm out of the primary and down the huge architectural staircase to the great room that is overflowing with people and buzzing with energy. I make a beeline for the bar. My bartender friend reaches for the wine on my approach.
“Actually—” I hold a hand up, eyeing the bottle of 1942. “I’ll take a tequila. Double. Straight up.”
“My kinda gal.” He winks and goes about making my drink. I accept it from him with an appreciative smile before turning and disappearing into the crowd before Tadd spots me on his creep-radar.
But just as I’m sipping my tequila and trying to plan my escape, I feel an unexpected hand on my arm.“There you are.”
Spinning around, I loo k up to see Tadd seething, his gaze focused on the glass in my hand.
“There are still a few people to show around, you know,” he mutters.
I roll my eyes, but before I can tell him to fuck off, there’s a sudden shift in the energy throughout the great room, a commotion coming from the entry gallery.
Gasps and cheers drown out the sound of the music, and I try to crane my neck, standing on my tiptoes to see what’s going on, but I’m far too vertically challenged.
“Are you fucking serious right now,” Tadd spits.
His face is thunder, and he spears me with a warning look in his eyes. “What the hell is he doing here?” he hisses, eyes blazing.
My brows knit together because I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about, but then, as the crowd parts enough for me to see, I’m almost as shocked as he is when I see Robbie walking through the party. I had no idea he was coming here. He sure as hell didn’t tell me. But I’m not mad about it. In fact, his arrival has helped breathe some much needed life into the otherwise stuffy party.
Instinctively, I start toward Robbie, but I’m stopped by a tight and frankly painful hold on my wrist. Swinging around, I glare up at Tadd.
“He’s my boyfriend , Tadd,” I say, like it’s obvious, yanking free of his grip.
At that moment, I feel a pair of big hands land on my waist, feel warm breath skirt across the base of my neck. “Hey, baby.”
I conceal my body’s reactive shiver, turning to see not only Robbie but Andy too.
“Hi!” I beam up at Robbie, realizing just how relieved I am to see him. And man, does he look good. I never thought I’d be into a guy who wears baggy khakis, flannel shirts, and backward ball caps, but here we are.
“What’s up, Chad, ” Robbie says, lifting his chin at Tadd, who is still standing far too close behind me.
“This is a private party,” Tadd says coolly. “Brokers and their clients.”
I’m just about to tell Tadd to fuck right off but I’m stopped by the cocky grin that spreads across Robbie’s face, my gaze flitting to Andy as he steps forward, holding a business card in his hand.
“Andrew Hoffman,” he says, handing Tadd the card. “HMC Management.”
Tadd takes the card, looking down at it with a bored sigh.
“I work in sports management mostly, but I like to dabble in real estate.”
It’s then I catch a glimpse of Andy’s business card and see the small brokerage license number at the bottom. And I’m almost as flummoxed as Tadd. Meeting Andy’s eyes, I find a small smile in his gaze.
“I was hoping to have Fran show me around,” Andy says to Tadd, looking at me again. “If that’s okay?”
I’m forced to bite back my shit-eating grin because nothing feels better than putting a douchebag like Tadd Jennings in his place.
“Yeah, well—” Tadd leans in and lowers his voice as he says, “Don’t forget you’re working .”
I roll my eyes, watching him skulk off, which is when Robbie steps in front of me, his gaze fiery as his eyes search mine. “I saw him grab you.” He cups my cheek in a move so tender and uncharacteristically soft, my insides turn to goo. “Are you okay?” he asks, voice low.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I brush off his concern with a wave of my hand, realizing there are so many eyes focused on us right now.
Squaring my shoulders, I hold my chin a little higher, looking at Andy. “Okay. Let me show you around.”
I manage to avoid Tadd as I show Andy and Robbie through the penthouse. It’s a little unnerving because, firs t, I had no idea Andy even had his broker’s license, and second, Robbie has been so quiet, staying back and watching on, and any time I’ve caught a glimpse of him from the corner of my eyes, he’s had this weird smirk playing on his lips. It’s almost as if this is a real walk-through.
“Wow, this is a great view,” Andy says when we make it out on the patio that overlooks the park. There’s no one out here on account of the icy winds blowing in from the north, but it is the perfect end to the tour that really showcases the views.
“It is,” I agree. “And what I love most about it, especially at night, is that in every other direction you have the city, but if you stand right here and look straight ahead, and do this—” I look at Andy as I hold my hands up like blinkers on a horse before turning back to the view, “—you’re in one of the busiest cities in the world, and yet, looking down at the darkness of the park, it’s almost like you’re in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around.”
Andy looks at me, the hint of a smile on his lips. “You’re a great agent, Fran.”
My cheeks flush at his compliment, and I catch Robbie from the corner of my eye to see his smile lingering.
“So,” I start, nervously, because I have no idea what’s really going on here. “Do you have someone in mind for the penthouse, or…?”
Andy chuckles, shaking his head. “Honestly, no.”
“Okay.” My brows knit together. “Not that I mind, but… why are you here?”
Andy laughs again, eyes flitting to Robbie and then back at me. “I read your business plan.”
My eyebrows shoot up because I wasn’t expecting that. When Robbie asked me to send it to Andy, I wasn’t actually expecting him to read it. I thought he was just being polite. Plus, I wrote it well after midnight; it definitely wasn’t my greatest work.
“Fran, many of my clients are young, fresh out of college, some have only just finished high school,” Andy star ts. “With one signing bonus, they can become multi-millionaires overnight. Robbie did.”He points to Robbie and my eyes bulge at the thought.
“I’ve been considering putting together a real estate division at the agency for a while now,” Andy continues. “My clients are often relocating to new cities, some of them having only ever lived at home prior to being signed, and they need help finding places to live. I want to make sure they’re working with someone with their best interests in mind, not just some slimy used car salesman type of real estate agent.”
“Like Tadd,” scoffs Robbie, and I’d laugh if I wasn’t so shocked by what I think Andy is getting at.
I stare at Andy, blinking once. “I don’t understand. What exactly are you saying?”
Andy steps forward. “I’d love to bring you on at HMC Management, Fran. I want you to head up my real estate division. Exclusive access to my clients. You can start from scratch. Build on it the way you want. Full reign.”
Again, I stare at him, my mouth opening and closing because I’m literally speechless. I have no words. Nothing. I don’t even think I’m breathing right now.
“Breathe, Keller,” Robbie says quietly.
I snap out of my daze to see that he’s now right beside me, big hand on my shoulder, steadying me, and thank God, because I’m feeling a little lightheaded. “I-I can’t?—”
Andy holds a hand up, silencing me. “Just think about it. I’m not expecting an answer right now. We can chat about it more when you’re ready.”
I manage a smile, trying so hard not to show that I’m on the verge of tears. The feel of Robbie’s fingers deftly dragging up and down my arm is the only thing keeping me from losing my ever-loving shit.
“I’ve gotta go,” Andy announces after a moment. “Promised the wife I’d take her to dinner.”
Robbie says goodbye to Andy. I’m still practically catatonic.
“Keller?”
I come to, blinking hard, looking up at Robbie right in front of me, his hands smoothing up and down my arms as he looks at me closely. “You okay?”
I manage a nod. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
He smiles softly. “You should have heard him when he called me today. He said he couldn’t stop thinking about your business plan. He was so desperate to get time with you. I suggested this place.”
“I think I’m in shock.”
“I know I have no say in your life,” Robbie says with a teasing grin, because I’ve made it a point of telling him this more than a few times during the course of our fake relationship. “But I think you should consider it. Andy’s awesome at pretty much everything he does.”
“Thank you,” I say through my emotion.
Robbie gapes at me. His smile is incredulous. “Why are you thanking me for? It was your business plan. And I was watching Andy as you were showing him through this place. Keller, he was in fucking awe of you.”
I’m forced to duck my chin, cheeks flushed again.
“You’re good at what you do.” Robbie nudges me playfully, and when I meet his eyes, he cups my face, looking closer. “It kills me that you don’t see just how incredible you are.”
And there go those pesky tears again.
“And you look… really fucking good,” he says as he leans in even closer, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive skin at the base of my neck. “You smell good too.”
He presses a whisper kiss just below my ear, and I actually shiver, goosebumps flaring all over my skin.
“You’re being very boyfriend-y tonight, Robbie Mason,” I tease.
“Is that okay with you, Keller?” He steadies me with the kind of look in his eyes that takes my breath away. “Me b eing all boyfriend-y?”
I bite down on my bottom lip, considering his question. And, with a nod, I grab the front of his shirt and pull him down so I can press my lips to his despite it being just the two of us out here on the patio.