Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Keats
I stand just out of reach of Patrika Newman’s grabby hands. Maren is taking one for the team, and I’m grateful.
I wave a hand in greeting to Earl and his son even though they are thirty minutes early. I suspect that was planned. Earl strikes me as the type of man who does a hell of a lot of testing on those around him.
From where I’m standing, this unexpected early arrival couldn’t have gone any better. I doubt Maren would agree since she’s getting the life hugged out of her.
“Your office is cool, Keats,” Fletcher says, looking around. “You can see the Empire State Building from here.”
I glance toward the window. “It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it?”
“You’re a beautiful sight,” Patrika Newman practically screams at me. “I knew you were hot as a griddle, but wow.”
That’s a compliment, so I smile. “It’s good to meet you.”
I wait for her to take a run at me, but she hangs onto Maren. “Earl told me that you all had the best time last night. I’m sorry I missed it.”
Maren takes a step back, and by some miracle, Patrika loosens the death grip she has on her.
Earl finally steps into my office. “We’re early, but we knew you wouldn’t mind.”
I flash a grin. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
Maren skims her hands down her sides to straighten her blouse. “Can I get anyone a beverage? We have coffee, green tea, an assortment of juices, and sodas.”
Like hell we do.
The break room is stocked with coffee and some brand of tea that my first assistant loved. If anyone wants something else, there’s water out of the tap and a bodega is a block from here.
“I’d love a green tea.” Patrika grins from ear-to-ear. “You wouldn’t happen to have honey, would you, honey?”
Maren laughs along at her joke. “We have honey.”
Since when and where the fuck did it come from?
“If there’s a bottle of orange juice, I’ll take that,” Earl says. “Fletcher, do you want a soda?”
“I’ve been craving one.” He takes another look at the window.
“I’ll grab those for you,” Maren says before she shoots me a glance over her shoulder. “Anything for you, Keats?”
I shake my head because I’m too stunned to say anything.
She has to be the one who is responsible for this. Who knew assorted beverages could make people this happy?
I rarely meet clients here, so the extent of my offerings is slim. I’m glad she thought far enough ahead to anticipate this.
“I do have to leave shortly.” Maren sighs, and goddammit, even I believe her disappointment is legitimate. “I’m glad I had the chance to meet you, Patrika.”
Patrika’s lips fall into a frown. “Why are you leaving?”
“It’s a work matter,” I interject. “Maren is needed elsewhere.”
“We need her here.” Patrika tugs at Maren’s arm. “I thought we’d have more time to get to know each other.”
This isn’t a goddamn blind date.
“Maybe another time,” Maren says politely as she inches toward my office door.
Patrika glares at Earl. I know that look. I saw my mother direct it my father’s way enough times when I was a kid. Patrika has an idea she thinks is brilliant, and she wants her husband on board.
Earl locks eyes with his wife and silently mouths something to her. I read every word that leaves his lips.
Do you want them at our anniversary party? Go ahead. Invite them.
I plaster on my best poker face because I’m about to land an invite to a family function.
This isn’t the first time this has happened.
It’s the third. I was invited to the wedding of the sister of a basketball player.
He signed on with me a week later, and the tennis player who offered an invite to a birthday party agreed that I’d represent him before the night was over.
I fucking hope Finn Remsen won’t be at this party.
“I’ll be right back.” Maren shares a smile with the room.
“Hurry back,” Patrika calls after her. “I have a surprise waiting for you and your sweetheart.”
Maren stops mid-step but then continues without a glance back.
This wasn’t how I envisioned getting Fletcher Newman on my client list, but I do what needs to be done. If that means Maren and I have to play sweethearts in public, I’ll do it.
I hope to hell, my assistant is up for it too.
Maren comes back to my office, carrying a tray with two tall glasses. One is filled with orange juice, and the other with a dark-colored soda. Next to them is a mug with a teabag string hanging over the rim. A small glass container marked honey sits beside that.
I don’t recognize any of it. She put some serious effort into this, and I’m impressed.
Placing the tray down on the table that sits in the corner of my office, she turns to face all four of us. With a forced grin, she eyes me. “I should be going. I don’t want to be late.”
If she thinks she’s getting out of here that easily, she’s wrong. There’s no way Patrika is going to let Maren exit my office without announcing her surprise.
“Give me just a moment.” Patrika’s index finger springs into the air. “I have an invitation I think you’re going to like.”
Maren’s gaze lands on my face before she forces it back to Patrika. “An invitation?”
Patrika nods, causing a strand of her hair to fall from the bun on the top of her head. “We’d love it if you and Keats would join us to celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary a week from Saturday. It’s going to be on the terrace at Howerton House.”
Maren knots her hands together behind her back. I watch as she kneads her fingers. Not a sound comes out of her mouth.
I step in by clearing my throat. “We’ll be there.”
Maren’s head drops. I know I should have told the Newmans that we needed time to check our schedules, or we had plans but want a rain check. Both of those would open the door for Finn Remsen to steal Fletcher away from me.
“Earl will text you all the details.” Patrika claps her hands together. “You’re going to be the best looking couple next to us, of course.”
“We can’t wait,” I say with a wide ass grin.
Maren taps a finger on the face of her watch. “I better run, so I’m not late.”
Patrika goes in for another hug. This one is just as aggressive as the first. Earl looks like he’s about to join in, so I take a step closer to the women. “I’ll walk you out, Maren.”
“What a fine man you are.” Patrika wiggles her eyebrows. “We’re going to have a mess of fun at the party.”
Maren sighs. “It was lovely to see you all.”
I’m on her heel the second she starts toward the door. I follow her silently to her desk as she opens the bottom drawer to grab her purse and phone.
By the time we’re at the elevator, I’m wondering if I’ll ever see her again, so I board it after her once the doors open on our floor.
As soon as they glide shut, she turns to me. “What are you doing? You can’t just leave the Newmans like that.”
I press the button to take us to the lobby. “They’ll be fine.”
She locks her gaze on the elevator doors. “Are we going to their anniversary party?”
Shoving both hands in the front pockets of my pants, I nod. “We are.”
Still staring straight ahead, she whispers. “They think we’re a couple, Keats. They’re celebrating something very special, and we’re deceiving them. It feels wrong.”
“It’s one evening. This could put me on the fast track to representing Fletcher.”
“Once you sign him, we’ll tell the Newmans we…”
I finish the sentence for her. “Broke up. I’ll tell them you dumped me.”
I watch as she cracks a smile. “We’ll think of something to tell them.”
“This isn’t ideal, Maren.” I lower my voice. “I know that. I fucking hate lying.”
She turns to face me, just as the elevator reaches its destination. “That’s a hundred dollars to the fund, Keats. They seem like nice people. I hope we’re doing the right thing.”
I motion for her to exit first as the doors open. “That party is another chance for me to show them that I’m the agent who will fight tooth and nail to get their son what he deserves.”
She stays in place. “I know what it feels like to want something very badly. I know you want Fletcher as a client.”
I want to know what she wants very badly. I’ll get it for her. I’ll get her ten of them if it makes her smile.
“I can help him build his career,” I state without reservation. “He’ll be in the right hands with me.”
She reaches to press the button to hold the doors open. “Go back to the office, Keats. Don’t keep them waiting.”
I glance at the lobby to see Pace on the approach. “What the hell?”
“You swore, so that’s a hundred dollars. I asked Pace to drop by to meet Fletcher face-to-face.”
Jesus. This woman is incredible. I asked Pace to join us too, but he claimed he had plans he couldn’t break. Fletcher is going to be over the moon when he sees his idol walk into my office.
“Maren!” Pace calls as he nears us. “I’m here just for you.”
She motions for him to step into the elevator. “I can’t thank you enough, but I need to leave.”
The smile on his lips disappears. “Seriously? You’re leaving me with this guy?”
“You two will be just fine.” She steps off the lift. “Have fun.”
We both stare after her as she walks away while the doors slide shut.