Chapter 15
Cole
The mediation meeting with Gabriel Lyons was in the first week of April. Josie, Tess, and I were in the mediator’s office in Lower Manhattan, sitting across from Lyons and his lawyer.
I wasn’t anybody’s fool. I’d built a reputation as easygoing, and some people misinterpreted that, like the asshole sitting across from me.
His smug expression set my teeth on edge.
His lawyer was just as smug. I couldn’t believe their nerve.
The guy had first pressed Tess for publicity, and now he wanted to sue us for “information misrepresentation.” It was written in black and white in the agreement they signed for donating that they would not be listed in marketing materials.
It was not how the galas operated. The focus was on the causes, not the donors.
Since he had no way of winning that lawsuit, I assumed he was just doing this to force our hand.
The fuckers.
They thought we would cave. That we’d prefer to give in to his demands so they wouldn’t disparage us. Fuck, no. That wasn’t who I was. I didn’t cave, and I didn’t compromise. But I wasn’t alone in this. Josie asked for a brief recess in the meeting so we could consult with the rest of the family.
“Let’s take this fucker to court,” I exclaimed the second we were alone in the meeting room.
Josie held up a finger. “Let’s hear what everyone has to say.”
We’d told everyone to keep their phones close because we might call. Hunter answered first, Ryker and Skye a few seconds later.
I was glad Josie was the one talking. I admired her cool and calm demeanor. She was a professional through and through, even though this was a family matter. I was pacing around the table, unable to sit.
“Tess, Cole, what are you two saying?” Hunter asked.
“Let’s take him to court,” Tess said. My sister was always a force of nature, but when she was pissed off? She was downright dangerous. She’d been clenching her hands in her lap during the entire meeting—always a sign that she was barely holding back from speaking her mind.
“Fuck yes to that,” I exclaimed.
“I agree,” Hunter said, “Skye, Ryker?”
“Yes!” they said in unison.
“Perfect.” Josie ended the call, opening the door. “We’ve come to a conclusion.”
Gabriel, his lawyer, and the mediator stepped inside. We all sat down.
“Hope you three had some time to come to your senses,” Gabriel said. “Participation in the galas depends on the good name you’ve built.”
“We’re taking on your challenge. You said you’ll take us to court. Let’s do it,” Josie said simply. Gabriel’s face fell.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Gabriel, let me do the talking,” his lawyer said. “Look, you’ve got an impeccable reputation. A lawsuit would tarnish it.”
Josie shook her head. “No, it wouldn’t.” Turning to the mediator, she said, “This meeting is over. I will handle the paperwork required and keep in touch with all parties involved. There is no reason to prolong this.”
“I agree,” the mediator said. “Since you’ve decided to move this to a court, my involvement isn’t needed past today.”
Gabriel and his lawyer stormed out. Tess flipped the bird to their backs. The mediator feigned not seeing it. I was still pissed as fuck when we left the building. Gabriel was still in front us as we walked out.
“Cole, it’s best if you don’t engage,” Josie said.
I didn’t really give a fuck. Assholes grated on my nerves, especially those trying to get a free ride. I was used to encountering those in the real estate business, but this was the first time someone was being a prick about the charity events. It felt personal.
“You’re going to regret this. No one messes with my family.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes. “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?”
I opened my mouth just as Tess stepped next to me. Her fists were clenched.
“Cole! Tess!” Josie said forcefully. “Let’s just go.”
“I disagree,” Tess said.
“No, really. Come on, our Uber is here!”
Thank God for Josie, because otherwise I was liable to throttle the moron. She practically shoved both me and Tess in the car. We dropped my sister first in Soho, and then Josie at a client’s before the driver brought me to the office.
I headed straight to Hunter.
“You look like shit,” he said the second he saw me. He was sitting in his chair, looking relaxed, as if nothing had happened.
“Thanks.”
“Want to go out for a drink tonight?”
Usually, I managed to put work issues behind me without a problem.
I compartmentalized easily enough. Hunter was my opposite, which was why in the early days of the business, I’d often taken him out for drinks after hours, so he could relax and get out of his headspace.
Now he was offering to do the same to me? How the mighty had fallen.
“No, I’m going to go over the operational plan I drafted for Delimano.”
“Drowning sorrows in work? Not your usual MO.”
“This isn’t the usual type of jerk.”
“You know what would help?”
“What?”
“Take Laney out.”
I stared at him.
“What? Don’t take this so seriously.”
I cocked a brow. “This, coming from the guy who’s spent so much time brooding that he could teach classes about it?”
“Just saying!”
“I’m just gonna be in my office,” I said, in no mood to continue this conversation.
I wasn’t exactly productive either. When I’d read the same page for the third time, I glanced away from my computer screen, out the window.
I kept trying to get to the bottom of why it bothered me so much.
It was something I’d built with my family.
It was a source of pride and joy for everyone, and I didn’t want that tarnished.
Hunter’s suggestion flitted in my mind a few times.
Spending time with Laney would definitely lift my mood.
We’d only met a couple of times since we’d been intimate for the first time last week, and each of them had been insanely fun.
But I wanted to give her the best of me.
Today, I just wasn’t at my best, and when that happened, I preferred to be on my own.
Laney
Laney: How did it go?
I wasn’t on a break, but I snuck into an empty room after lunch to text Cole. He’d told me he had a mediation meeting today. It was supposed to be over about half an hour ago, and I wanted to know the outcome. He’d mentioned it a few times, and I knew it was important to him.
Cole: Not over yet. I’m pissed.
Laney: :-( I’m sorry. Can I help?
Cole: No. I’m gonna stay in the office until late today.
Wait a second… no joke or innuendo? Holy shit, that meant he was really pissed.
I leaned against the closed door, chewing on my lower lip, working on a plan.
Cole was always pampering me when I was tired, comforting me when I needed it.
I wanted to do the same for him, but I didn’t have a clue where to begin.
I mulled it over until I finished my shift, and I had an inkling of what I wanted to do, just not a clear picture.
I’d promised my parents I’d call them, so I sat on my favorite bench in the backyard of the hospital and called them with FaceTime.
They answered immediately, heads huddled together.
Mom pushed her huge, black-rimmed glasses up her nose, playfully pointing to Dad.
I immediately realized she was poking fun at his haircut. He’d gone for a short, military style.
“What do you think, honey?” he asked.
“Hey, I like it.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Tell him what you really think.”
“I mean it, Mom.”
“Ha! At least one of my two ladies is on my side. How are you, hon?”
“Just finished my shift.”
“Any plans for tonight?”
“Well, actually… yes. Remember Cole, from Rome?” I hadn’t told my parents about us until now because we’d only had short, hurried calls, but now I wanted to share this with them.
“Hell, yes,” Mom exclaimed. Dad nodded stoically.
“Well, we’ve been going out for a while.”
Mom clapped her hands, smiling brightly. “Oh, I’m so happy for you, Laney. I thought something was different about you when you emailed me all those links.”
I grinned, nodding. I’d been spamming Mom with links to several decor websites with things I liked, such as lamps and paintings, asking for her opinion.
When I’d first moved into my apartment, I hadn’t cared about making it feel like home.
Honestly, I couldn’t even imagine that any place would feel like home without Ryan in it.
It had been a place to sleep in between shifts, nothing more.
But now, I wanted it to be cozy and welcoming.
I wanted to love it there, and for Cole to feel welcome.
“Tell us about him,” Dad said.
“He’s very smart and caring and makes me laugh a lot. You’d like him.” They’d only seen him in that pic I sent from Rome, but I wanted to introduce him to them, maybe through FaceTime.
“I’m sure we would, hon,” Mom added. “I’m so happy you’re going out with him. Ryan would want you to be happy, you know.”
“I do.” We’d actually talked about this once before our wedding…
what we wanted for the other in case one of us died early, and we’d both made each other promise that we’d fall in love again.
But that had been infinitely harder than I’d anticipated, and I hadn’t actually thought I’d want any of that… until meeting Cole.
Being with Cole felt so natural like that. I knew in Rome that he was different. I was ready now to make him happy and just enjoy everything we had.
“I just didn’t think I’d want to until now,” I whispered.
“Good for you,” Mom said. I could see the relief in her eyes. “So where is he taking you tonight?”
“I’m taking him somewhere, just have to figure out where. He’s in a bit of a mood, and I want to cheer him up. Any suggestions?”
“Well, we don’t know New York, honey. Why don’t you ask Isabelle? I’m sure she’s explored every street in that city.”
My mom knew Isabelle only too well. We spoke for a few more minutes, in which Dad gave me a rundown of a small greenhouse he was building in the backyard.
After ending the call, I searched for the top ten most romantic places in New York on my phone.
I wanted to do something special for Cole.
I finally narrowed it down to two options I thought Cole might like.
I texted Isabelle for her opinion, because she’d been traipsing through the city in her spare time. I included the link in my message.
Laney: I want to surprise Cole with a romantic outing. Maybe a picnic? I’m thinking the High Bridge and the park, or the Brooklyn Garden. Unless you recommend something else from the list?
Isabelle: I’ve seen everything in that article. Go for the bridge. The Botanical Garden is beautiful in the beginning of April when the cherry trees are in bloom, but now that’s over.
Laney: I can’t believe you’ve seen so much already.
Isabelle: Well, you have a job. I only have a few clients and a ton of free time. I was actually thinking about working as a tour guide until I get more clients. #HUSTLE.
Laney: It’s going to get easier, trust me!
I needed to arrange something to cheer up Isabelle too.
She was a hardworking, positive person, but roadblocks chipped at everyone’s optimism.
One thing at a time, though. I had to take care of Cole tonight, and tomorrow as well.
I tapped my fingers on the phone as I made up my mind.
I wanted to get out of the voluntary shift I’d signed up for tomorrow morning, so I headed straight to the chief of staff.
This was an absolute first time for me.
“Okay… I’ll just ask one of your interns to come instead,” Celia said, eyes wide.
“Thanks. I just want some free time, you know?”
Since I started at the hospital, I’d gained the reputation of someone who was available for extra work all the time.
As an intern that had been expected anyway, but even as a resident, I’d spent more time in the hospital than necessary.
Throwing myself into work meant I didn’t have time to dwell on anything else.
Honestly, it had been such an easy excuse to not do things… like date.
She smiled, running a hand through her dark curly hair that was sticking out in every direction. “Look at that. Our girl’s finally getting her nose out of books and the hospital, exploring New York a bit. Good for you.”
I smiled back. Exploring Cole was a better explanation. My heartbeat accelerated; my smile widened. I didn’t want to just let life slide by me anymore, and I knew it was all because of Cole.
I’d signed up for these voluntary shifts right before I left for Rome, and canceling last minute like this wasn’t okay. I had to think ahead about which shifts I could pass on to my interns. Holy shit, I’d never even considered doing that before.
I hurried to change. My hands shook a little as I applied makeup in the staff bathroom.
Yeah… no eyeliner for me. God, I was jittery.
Grinning, I placed a hand on my stomach, drawing in a deep breath.
Then I knew exactly what I needed to calm down my racing pulse.
I played my favorite song on my phone and started swinging my hips to the rhythm almost instinctively.
After shaking off some of those jitters, I approached operation makeup with renewed focus.
Okay, Laney, you can do it . Come on. Show Cole the best you’ve got.
I ended up only applying mascara and a light blush. My hair was loose around my shoulders.
Okay, that was it. I was ready to surprise Cole.
Well… physically at least. My emotions were still a riot, and I couldn’t even make sense of all of them.
I felt this sliver of fear at the prospect of putting myself out there, but it was so easy to push it to the back of my mind.
All I had to do was to picture Cole in my mind.
My face literally stretched into a grin.
And those were definitely butterflies in my stomach.
Slinging my purse over my shoulder, I rushed out of the changing room, darting toward the back door.
I took a deep breath once I stepped outside the hospital.
The air was pleasantly cool. It was a great time for a picnic.
I’d made a plan for this evening. There was a Dumont Gourmet next to the hospital, and I loaded up on snacks: chips and a small pouch of marshmallows.
Twenty minutes later, I was in front of his office, knocking at the door.
“Come in.”
His tone was clipped, and he didn’t look up when I opened the door. His office was huge, with a triple window to the left. He was sitting behind a glass desk in a dark green velvet chair. There were two other identical chairs on the other side of the desk.
“Hey, Mr. Charmer.”