Chapter 31
Monica
I showed up at the coffee shop at my normal time of 8:15 a.m. to place my order with the regular barista. Connor, I think his name was. The line was its usual busy length, wrapping around the counter toward the door. That was why I always got here early. I had been working for Troy long enough to time everything perfectly in the mornings, so his coffee would be ready and I would be early.
I waited patiently in line, thinking about yesterday’s meeting with that old schlep who probably only gave me the time of day so his eyes could ogle where a sixty-year-old man’s eyes shouldn’t ogle. But I had to butt in. Troy was flailing in that meeting, and while I could have let him drown, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
The thing was, as I began to talk, I realized I knew more about numbers and figures than I had thought. Mr. Belleview actually found value in my thoughts, rather than just my looks. After Troy had abruptly excused himself, I ran the rest of the meeting under the watchful, but impressed, eyes of Kathy. I realized I was good at this job. This job that I took on a whim to pay the bills until I got back on my feet with writing. While I didn’t see a future in hedge funds, I was proud of myself. It gave me a little boost of confidence.
I still didn’t know what happened with Troy. He was so unlike his usual cool and confident self. It was like he had never run a meeting in his life. I knew Kathy would report back to his father, which would probably put him in one of his usual moods. At least I was prepared.
Part of me wanted to know what was going on with him, but I knew it wasn’t my business. It never really was. When something went wrong in his life, he simply shut me out rather than opened up. I guessed we both did that to each other. He knew nothing of my writing, or my struggles, or the stalker who had been haunting my dreams lately. I wondered if what they said was true, that if you dream of someone, it means they’re thinking of you. I really hoped they were wrong about that.
“Next,” called Connor from behind the counter.
“Good morning. I’ll take the usual for Mr. Gunner.”
“Ah, are you sure?”
“Iced Americano. Yes. Wait, why wouldn’t I be sure?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, he was in here yesterday. He let me surprise him with a new latte I have been working on. Seemed to really like it.” Proudness beamed from Connor’s face.
“Yesterday? When?”
“Oh, around one or so. Guess he needed some extra energy.”
Troy must have come here when he left the meeting. But why? He ditched one of our most important meetings to grab a latte? It didn’t make sense.
“Hmm. Okay, I’ll take the latte. Two, actually.”
“On it.”
I thought for a moment.
“Er… Connor…” I started.
“Yes?” he asked as he began pressing the ground espresso.
“How did Mr. Gunner seem yesterday?”
“Honestly, a little off. I hope everything’s okay. He was asking me a lot of questions about what I wanted to do after school. And then he left me a really generous tip. Which, by the way, can you please thank him for me?”
“Sure,” I replied with a nod.
I made my way to the other end of the counter to wait for the coffees and thought about what Connor said. I wondered what was going on with Troy. I hated that I still worried about him after everything.
Back in the office, I placed Troy’s new order on his desk and took my own coffee to my desk. I took a sip as I opened up my morning emails. It was delicious. A perfect blend of spice and sweetness, and a nice touch of warmth for this blustery day.
A few moments later, Troy arrived. I watched him as he settled in at his desk and looked at the insulated coffee cup in front of him, different from the clear cup with his usual iced Americano. I wondered if I should have just stuck with his usual order. He was so particular about it. He looked up and caught my gaze, then gave me a small smile before taking a sip and starting work on his computer.
Whew. Okay. Why the hell did I feel like I was walking on eggshells with him this morning? For weeks, I didn’t care if my attitude or distance affected him. I had been so hurt. Angry. Sad. Now, I suddenly cared about his stupid coffee order?
We spent the morning in the conference room on a few phone meetings. Kathy was there with us. She seemed to never leave us alone anymore, which had been somewhat of a comfort for me to have her as a buffer. But today, it was more of an annoyance. I wanted to ask him what was going on with him, as a professional. At least, that was what I told myself.
He did seem better today. Not as oblivious, but still not as into it as he usually was. I wondered if he was tiring of me being here. I understood. It was exhausting trying to pretend nothing had ever happened between us. It was like putting on a really good show as an actress, day in and day out. I hoped that eventually, it wouldn’t be an act anymore and I could just be his assistant.
Just before my lunch break, I reached under my desk for my lunch. I had been packing my own and eating in the breakroom ever since I had ended things with Troy. No one was ever in there, so I got to eat my lunch in peace and sit with my own thoughts. I did miss our lunches sometimes. Okay, all the time. I missed the champagne and brushing of the knees under the table, as we pretended to talk about business. It had been so exciting. Romantic even.
“Hey, girl,” said a woman’s voice.
I looked up and saw Erica standing at my desk. She looked casual chic in a pair of black skinny jeans and a crisp white blazer overtop a matching white tank top. Her hair was pulled back into a slick, low ponytail. I hadn’t seen her since our trip to the Bahamas.
“Oh! Hey, Erica,” I said.
“Whatcha doing?” she asked with a smile.
“Just grabbing my lunch.” I held up my lunchbox, and suddenly felt like a little kid in school.
She rolled her eyes. “ That is not lunch. Come on.”
I looked at her questioningly.
“I’m taking you out for lunch.”
I looked at her in surprise. Behind her, Troy stared at her with the same surprise and a somewhat annoyed look in his eyes. It almost made me laugh. I realized she hadn’t come here to see her brother. She was here to see me. And I wasn’t sure he liked that.
“Okay,” I replied hesitantly as I stood from my seat, tearing my eyes from Troy, whose lips were now pressed into a thin line.
Erica clapped her hands excitedly.
“Hello, Erica,” said Troy, standing up from his desk and walking to his doorway.
“Oh, hey, Troy. I didn’t see you there.”
“I work here,” he said.
“Oh, right.”
I stifled a laugh, but Troy’s gaze shot to me and I swallowed it down.
“Monica,” he said. There was not one trace of a smile on his face.
“Yes?” I asked.
“You know you only have an hour,” he said, looking from me to his sister.
Was he being serious? Our lunches together would sometimes last two hours.
“Yes, I’m aware,” I replied with a touch of annoyance.
“Well, don’t be late,” he said firmly, crossing his arms.
“You’re really letting that power get to your head, bro,” said Erica. “I think it’s growing right before my eyes.”
“Shut up,” he said.
“I’ll have her back in exactly an hour, boss. ” She gave him a little salute and then rolled her eyes. I let out the laugh I had been holding, which seemed to annoy Troy even more.
“Now, that that’s over. Let’s go.” She intertwined her arm in mine and started leading me toward the elevators. “I know this great little spot.”
Troy muttered something behind us, but I couldn’t make it out. I was sure it wasn’t pleasant, but it made me smile anyway.
Erica took me to a trendy little deli a few blocks away where lush plants hung from the ceiling and framed the windows. White marble high-top tables were sprinkled throughout the warm wood interior. It was packed with the lunch crowd. We ordered two pastrami sandwiches and a basket of fries to share before taking a seat at a window table.
It didn’t take long for Erica to start asking questions.
“So….” she started, looking at me with a raised brow.
“So…?”
I knew what she was about to ask.
“What’s going on with you and my brother?” she asked, popping a fry in her mouth.
“Oh, wow. Getting right to it.” I chuckled.
She laughed. “I’m just wondering. You two were so cozy in the Bahamas. What gives?”
I really didn’t want to get into this with her, but I should have known it would come up. He was her brother, after all. I knew I could probably get some insight from her on the complicated workings of Troy’s brain, but I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know. I also didn’t want to cry over my sandwich and soda.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s just been really busy at work.” I shrugged.
“Mhmm,” she said sarcastically.
She wasn’t buying it.
“Just so you know, I really liked you for him,” she said.
I swallowed hard. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
“Thanks,” I said softly.
“He can be a moron sometimes though,” she said, lightening the mood.
I laughed. Yes, he could.
“I didn’t really bring you to lunch to talk about my brother,” said Erica. “I actually brought you here because the paper I write for has an opening for a creative storyteller, and I thought of you.”
I looked at her wide-eyed. I had never written for a paper before. At least, not since high school. That didn’t count.
“Are you serious?” I asked, blinking a few times.
“Of course. Now, it doesn’t pay much. It’s no New York Times. And it’s only part-time…”
“But I haven’t written in a while,” I said warily, pushing the fries around on my plate.
“Oh, stop. You said you’ve written novels. That right there is enough for them to really consider you. I can put a word in, too. You’d be a shoo-in.”
“I don’t know…”
She sat back in her chair, leaning back and looking at me.
“I didn’t mean to overstep,” she said apologetically.
“No, no. You didn’t. I’m flattered, really. Writing hadn’t been so kind to me a little while back, so I stopped. I can’t seem to find my way back to it.” I sighed.
“Ahh,” she said knowingly. “I’ve had those days, too. An article going to press that I wasn’t confident in. A bad review on my writing. Comments online. Wondering if the paper is ever going to get up off the ground and get the traction it deserves. It’s defeating. But at the end of the day, I love what I do. I think you do, too. Maybe you’ll find your way back to it.”
“Maybe.” I nodded.
“Promise me you’ll think about it? Maybe this will be just what you need to dip your toe back in.”
“I promise,” I assured her with a smile.
It could be a good opportunity. If only I could find that same boost of confidence I had after yesterday’s meeting.