Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Nicholas
My gaze runs over Sophia as soon as she enters through the revolving door. She sent me a text an hour ago asking me to meet her in the lobby of a luxury hotel that borders Central Park. I asked what it was about, but the only response she sent was an address to this place.
I'm not familiar with it. I don’t frequent hotels in the city since I established an office space that is separate from my apartment.
I admit that I once kept a room at a cut-rate hotel in Hell's Kitchen that I used exclusively as a place to fuck.
I outgrew it quickly though since it left me feeling as cheap and used as I'm sure the women I took there felt.
"Nicholas." She nods as she approaches, the buttons on her white coat flying open as she skims her fingers over them to reveal a dark navy skirt and light blue top underneath.
She slides the coat off with little effort before draping it over her left forearm.
"There's a bar across the lobby. It's easier to talk in there. "
To talk.
The words and her tone are both ominous. The look in her eye is the same.
I didn't like saying no to her two days ago when she texted me asking if I wanted to go to a fabric shop with her.
Her demeanor at this moment doesn't reflect that of a woman who was turned down in the middle of a weekend afternoon.
There's more brewing below the surface. Something's pissed Sophia off and I'm standing in the middle of that shit storm.
"Lead the way." I raise my hand in the air and complete the movement with a slight bow. "You're running this show."
She turns on her heel and starts to cross the lobby, only stopping briefly to wave at a man dressed in an impeccable black three-piece suit.
Envy rolls through me. He's my age, or younger and apparently, his mere presence deserves a cheerful, open smile from the woman I fucked not even three days ago.
"Who was that?" I ask as I fall into step beside her.
She doesn't break her pace as we near the entrance to the hotel bar. "A friend."
I don't press for more because I'm the one following her into a bar for a drink and the three-piece suit schmuck is still standing in the lobby with his mouth hanging open at the sight of her voluptuous ass in the too-tight skirt. "What are we going to talk about?"
"I called earlier," she ignores my question as she stops to talk to a woman with jaw length blonde hair standing near the entrance to the bar. "I'm Sophia Reese."
"You're Mr. Foster's assistant." The woman looks right past me. "Is Gabriel joining you? He hasn't been here in months."
"He considers himself a silent partner in the hotel." Sophia peers into the dimly lit bar. "I can tell him you said hello when I see him tomorrow."
"Would you?" She adjusts the nametag pinned to the front of her simple black dress. "It's Hannah. We met the night the hotel opened. I'll never forget how kind he was to the entire staff."
Sophia smiles a little. "He's a good man. I'm lucky that I get to work so closely with him."
Hannah gives her what looks like a knowing wink. It has to be an inside joke because I'm still standing right behind Sophia in silence since she didn't bother to introduce me.
"Your table is in the back." Hannah reaches for Sophia's coat. "I'll put this behind the bar. Come find me when you're ready to leave."
Sophia nods and then finally turns back to look at me. "This way."
I trail behind her like a dog looking for scraps as she darts past the people who've gathered in the bar. It's a small space and judging by the wall of bodies we have to maneuver around, it's popular too.
"He's already here," Sophia calls back over her shoulder.
"Who?" I yell over the hum of the voices that are all blending together in an uneven buzz.
She cocks her head at me and laughs like I should know what the ever loving fuck she's talking about. I feel like a lamb being led to its slaughter.
Resigned, I follow her to wherever the hell she's taking me knowing that at the end of this journey there's some nameless guy waiting for us. I thought it was going to be just the two of us sharing a drink but apparently Sophia's into threesomes. I'm not if they involve another dick.
I glance over her shoulder and that's when I spot him. He's standing near a table talking to a tall, attractive brunette. He may have shaved off his beard and traded his signature ripped T-shirt and jeans for a suit, but it's clear that Joe, my tech guy, is the man Sophia brought me here to see.
"Nick, my man, how the hell is it hanging?"
Sophia cringes at Joe's words. "Don't ask that. You should never ask that question to anyone again."
"Why the fuck not?" Joe looks down his nose at Sophia.
She gives him some serious side eye before she turns to look at him directly. "You're not a fourteen-year-old kid, Joe. You're the head of the tech department at Foster Enterprises now. Start acting like it."
"He's what?" I ask, my eyes darting from Sophia's face to Joe's almost unrecognizable one. "Since when do you work at Foster?"
"Since this beauty landed me a full-time job." He elbows Sophia. "I get a corner office, benefits and control over their entire tech department. I'm going to be making six figures a year, Nick. Can you fucking believe it?"
I can't. I seriously can't. "How did this happen?"
Sophia cants her head toward his hands. "Give it to him now, Joe."
"Do I have to?" He stiffens. "I thought you might reconsider."
"If you don't," Sophia begins as she takes a small step toward Joe. "If you don't give it to Nicholas now, I can call Mr. Foster and tell him I made a mistake."
"Jesus, you drive a hard bargain, Sophie."
"Sophia," she corrects him with a smile.
"I know." He studies her, the look in his eye raising my pulse. He's attracted to her. I can't blame him for that. "It's my nickname for you."
"Drop it." Her tone is neutral. "We had an agreement, Joe. If you back out, I'll make sure you never step foot in your new office again."
"I fucking believe you." His hand disappears into the left pocket of his jacket. When it reappears, there's a wad of bills in his palm. He pushes it at me. "Here's the money you gave me to fix her website. Our deal is off, Nick."
I look down at the cash. "I paid you to help Sophia. Nothing's changed."
Sophia snatches the money from Joe before she tucks it in the pocket of my coat. "Everything's changed, Nicholas."