Chapter 17
Sadie
Igreeted the doorman in the large lobby as I passed through the large glass doors, the evening’s sunset warm against my back as its sherbet colors bounced across the polished white tile floors.
I still couldn’t believe I managed to get out of the office right at five today.
Maybe Jeremiah was feeling generous since he sprung this last-minute trip to Dallas on me.
Demanded, really. Nothing he ever ordered me to do felt like I had a choice in the matter.
I rolled my eyes at the thought of him pushing his way inside the women’s bathroom today.
I had been gone from my desk for maybe ten minutes.
It was like he couldn’t survive without me being at his beck and call for even that short amount of time.
He had no right to barge in on me. I should have known it was him at the door by the sound of his fist insistently pounding.
I was just glad no one saw him come in, or at least they didn’t say anything. He was insufferable.
Even so, my stomach did a slight flip when I saw him in the bathroom, standing there in his light gray suit that brought out the gold in his skin.
My breath caught as I wondered if he was coming back for more.
It had been a week since we had sex in his office, and despite my better judgment, I kept wondering when it would happen again.
Wanting it to happen again. I knew it was reckless and stupid, but I couldn’t help it.
Every late night I had stayed at the office, I wondered if he would make another move, but he hadn’t.
“Hello,” I said as I approached the front desk of the apartment building.
The receptionist gave me a warm smile. I recognized her from my previous visits.
“I’m here to see Erica Vallejo.”
“Ah. Sadie, right?” she asked, studying my face in recognition.
“Mhmm.”
She nodded and rummaged through the top drawer of her desk until she plucked a key card from inside.
“Here you go. You know the way. I’ll let her know you’re on your way up.” She nodded toward the elevators.
I thanked her and took the keycard from her, walking toward the wall of elevators to the right.
Inside, I pressed the keycard to the security pad and stabbed the button for the top floor.
If only it had been this easy when my package had been wrongly delivered to Jeremiah’s door.
My life would be a hell of a lot easier.
I laughed at myself, thinking about how desperate I had been to get my hands on that box of sex toys.
I ended up getting way more than I bargained for.
The elevator doors opened to the large entryway that poured into the large living room. The floor was covered in colorful toys and piles of books. I smiled, knowing Erica’s daughter, Josie, was nearby.
“Hello,” I called out.
“Sadie! Hi! I’m coming!” Erica called out from somewhere in the expansive penthouse.
As she rounded the corner, she was pulling her dark hair in a low ponytail, while Josie clung to her leg. Erica looked effortlessly chic in a pair of jeans, a tank, and ballet flats. I laughed as she struggled to balance as she walked toward me with her daughter holding on for dear life.
“Hi, Josie girl!” I said, kneeling on the ground to greet the wide-eyed toddler.
“Auntie Sadie!” she exclaimed, releasing her mom and throwing her arms around me.
I squeezed her tightly before pulling away and looking her up and down in her pink and white striped pajamas. Her hair was every which way, tangles of curls that she probably refused to let Erica brush out.
“Did you get bigger since I last saw you?” I asked, raising a brow.
“Yup! ’Cause I eat broccoli!” she said with a proud nod as she stood a little taller with the help of her tiptoes.
I laughed. She looked so much like her father, who, speaking of, rounded the corner just as he was ending a call.
“Hey, Sadie,” said Marco with a wave, still in his suit from work. “Thanks for getting this one out for a girls’ night.” He wrapped his arms around Erica’s waist and gave me a grin as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
“You trying to get rid of me?” asked Erica, twisting to give him an incredulous look.
“Never.” He laughed.
She leaned into him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They were nauseatingly in love, but I was happy for them. For Josie.
“It’s just been a while. Plus, I could use some one-on-one time with our girl.” He nodded toward Josie, who now clung to my leg. “What’s the plan, anyway?”
“Shopping. Dinner. Who knows?” I shrugged.
“Well, don’t rush! I can hold down the fort.
” He gave Erica’s hips a little squeeze before giving her a gentle nudge.
She threw him a grateful look before peeling Josie’s little hands from my leg.
She gave her a kiss and picked her up, handing her to Marcos.
I gave them both a little wave before following Erica toward the open elevator doors.
“I really did need this,” said Erica, as the elevator descended slowly to the lobby.
“Me too.” I smiled.
“Where to first?”
“Barney’s.”
“Ooh la la!” She gave me a wink.
An hour later, we were in the fitting room as I did a small twirl in front of the mirror. Erica held my phone in her hand and Gabriella’s face lit up the screen. She was clapping giddily.
“This is a winner!” she exclaimed.
I laughed as I smoothed the front of the white fitted blazer that fit me like a glove.
So far, I had tried on several sharp suits and skirt sets, all of which had been crowd pleasers among Erica and Gabriella, who had insisted we FaceTime her.
She loved clothes and fashion, and knew way more than I did about the current styles.
“This one is my favorite so far!” said Erica with an enthusiastic nod.
As I did another turn in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile.
I hadn’t gone shopping in so long and had never stepped foot in a department store like this.
Thanks to Jeremiah’s bonus, and insistence to get a new wardrobe, I was able to afford these new work clothes and have some fun with my friends.
I would thank him if he hadn’t been such an asshole to me about my “hideous clothes.” He wouldn’t be saying that now.
My stomach did a little flutter thinking about the next time he would see me.
I would finally look the part of his personal assistant.
“Try the black dress next!” said Gabriella excitedly.
Erica reached for the hanger and slipped the dress from it, as I slid out of the white blazer and matching skirt.
“This one is going to look banging on you,” she said, handing me the fitted sheath dress that had looked so good on the mannequin.
I slid it on, and she zipped up the back as Gabriella watched from my phone that Erica had propped up on the bench nearby.
“Okay! This is my new favorite!” exclaimed Gabriella.
I turned in the mirror, inspecting every angle of the dress. It was a perfect dress. I would pack it for tomorrow’s trip, hoping it would stop Jeremiah in his tracks.
“And bosshole is paying for all this?” asked Erica, raising a brow.
“It’s a work expense,” I said, slipping the black dress down off my shoulders.
“Mhmm. And this trip? Is that paid for, too?” asked Gabriella. Her smile had faded slightly.
“I think so. It is a work trip.” I shrugged, wondering why they were suddenly asking all these questions.
I hung the dress back on the hanger before placing it on the growing “yes” rack. I gave Erica a curious look, but she just shook her head. She reached for my phone and told Gabriella we had to go before hanging up. I was taken aback by her shortness.
“What is up with you?” I asked. “We still have a few more things to try on.”
Erica hesitated, her eyes wary as she sat down on the bench in the large fitting room.
“Look…I know you’re having money problems…”
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“I’ve been waiting for you to tell me about it, but you never brought it up,” she continued, her fingers running nervously over a linen skirt that lay beside her.
“I’m fine,” I said dismissively.
“Are you sure?” she asked, looking up at me. “Gabriella and I are worried about you. After everything with Nick. We know you helped him more than you let on. And now he’s still in your old apartment that you’re paying for.”
“Not for much longer. The lease is up at the end of the month.” I shrugged sheepishly.
“Why didn’t you come to me?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“Because you’re my friend.”
“And I have money.”
“Yeah, but I would never ask that of you.”
“You could, you know…” she offered.
I felt embarrassment wash over me. My friends had been talking about me, expressing their worries over my mess of a life. I didn’t want to lie to them anymore. We never lied to each other, no matter how messy our lives got.
“I appreciate the offer, but no. I do have debt to deal with. A lot of it. But I’m figuring it out.”
I felt even more vulnerable standing in front of her in my bra and underwear, so I grabbed a white linen sundress from the hanger and slid it over my head.
“I’m trying to find a new place, too. One that doesn’t cost as much,” I said assuredly as I tied the back of the dress.
“And what about this whole thing with your boss?” she asked sharply.
I did my best to avoid her eyes she narrowed at me in the mirror.
“He’s an asshole, yes. Impossible to please, yes. Except for maybe in the sheets.” I laughed softly, trying to lighten the mood. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I got my raise, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but after you slept with him…” said Erica cautiously.
“What are you trying to say?” I asked, turning to face her. I didn’t like where she was going with this. I earned that raise, and not by sleeping with Jeremiah. Didn’t I?
She nervously tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear before clearing her throat.
“I’m just saying that sleeping with your boss is…complicated. And now he’s paying you more money after having sex with you? I just want you to be careful.”
“I will be,” I said. I turned back toward the mirror and looked at myself in the dress.
I didn’t feel as confident as I did before, like this shopping trip was tainted by Erica’s worried look in her eyes.
It wasn’t her fault. She had every right to be concerned.
That was what best friends did. They looked out for each other.
I had been in her shoes not that long ago.
“I think I’m shopped out,” I said, slipping off the dress and hanging it on the “no” rack.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yeah. Let’s go.”
She nodded before opening the door and calling for the attendant to come roll out the rack of clothes I had decided on.
After I paid, we stopped by a nearby diner to grab a bite to eat, my large white shopping bags in tow.
We ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and strawberry milkshakes.
As we indulged in our greasy meal, we didn’t talk about Jeremiah again.
Even so, Erica’s warning was flickering in my mind like a neon sign.