Chapter 7
SEVEN
CORA
By the time I finally get around to visiting Arlo to give him the papers, it’s Monday. He’s at his office, and when I walk in, the receptionist smiles and asks if I have an appointment. I don’t.
“Could I just leave these with you? Arlo is expecting them. They’re regarding a property he’s just purchased.
” Her gaze flicks to the paperwork in confusion before she looks back at me.
Just as she goes to speak, Arlo’s office door swings open, and I hear a woman’s laugh.
Do women laugh with Arlo? He’s always so serious and intimidating.
My head turns in that direction, and that’s when I see Arlo nodding at something the woman says, which is followed by another one of her laughs.
And then his eyes find mine, and the smirk that was on his lips is gone.
“You’ll have to excuse me, Lilith. I have some matters to attend to.”
The lady, whose name is apparently Lilith, turns to me, tilting her head to the side as she gives me a slow smile before sauntering out the door.
Arlo waves toward his office. “You can bring the paperwork in here.”
“I was just dropping it off, as you requested.”
“You’re late in doing so. Are you usually late?” he asks, which irks me because late is one thing I never am.
“Your paperwork took longer than expected. As soon as it was ready, I brought it, as you requested.”
I told Matty I wasn’t going to be long, so I left all my things in the car, even my phone. So when Arlo shuts the door behind me, I feel trapped.
“Please, take a seat. I’ll review the papers and sign now.”
“I can come back for them. I have other—”
“Sit,” he commands, and my ass hits the couch before I can even think about it. He crosses over to me, and his hand briefly touches mine as he takes the paperwork before sitting in a chair across from me.
This doesn’t have the typical therapist-office feel to it, though I have only ever been to one as a reference, which was very white and clean.
This one has a large black bay window. The couch I’m sitting on is black velvet and long enough that I could lie down if I wanted to.
Behind me is a floor-to-ceiling bookcase taking up the whole back wall.
A cream-colored rug is below my feet, and only a coffee table separates us.
It’s sophisticated and immaculate. Elegant even.
“You like my office?” he asks, noticing me looking around.
“It’s stylish,” I say, placing my hands in my lap.
“I just had it redone. I try to change it at least every year. Change is good.” He doesn’t have a pen in his hand as he grips the file. When I don’t say anything else, he turns his attention back to the paperwork. “You didn’t include my additional offer… the one million extra.”
“No, I didn’t.”
He stands and holds the file out to me. “Have it adjusted.”
I stare up at him. He’s dressed in black slacks, and his black button-up shirt features interestingly colored brass buttons, with his belt buckle matching the shade.
Gripping the file, I go to pull it away, but he doesn’t let it go. My stomach starts to churn as he asks, “Have you considered my offer?”
“I told you. I’m seeing someone.” The pulse in my neck beats so loudly it rings through my ears.
“I can’t read a lot of things about you, but when you lie, you blink quickly.”
I try again to pull the paperwork from him, and he finally lets go.
“Now, have you considered my offer?” he repeats.
“It’s unprofessional.”
“I can wait until the deal is done.”
I bite my tongue to stop myself from saying something else.
“It was a pleasure to see you again, Miss Ashford,” he says, and I stand. “I look forward to our next visit. Let’s get this wrapped up sooner rather than later.” I nod and go to step forward, but he doesn’t move. “You smell incredible.”
“Th-Thank you,” I manage to say.
“Don’t get shy on me now.” He winks and steps back so I can pass.
I don’t say another word as I open the door, and I don’t look back, even though I can feel his gaze penetrating me.
His receptionist smiles at me as I pass, and I notice a patient sitting in the waiting room.
I have to look twice because even though they’re wearing a beanie and their head is lowered, I recognize that face.
Their latest movie just won a prestigious award.
It’s all anybody is talking about. He really does have a list of high-profile clientele.
* * *
“He really told you to adjust it?” Layla asks incredulously as I walk into the office an hour after my little run-in with Mr. Graves. She follows me with her coffee in hand, her heels clicking behind me.
“Yes. Who adds unnecessary amounts to an offer?” I mutter under my breath.
“He didn’t seem the least bit interested in me. In fact, the only time I really spoke to him was when he asked about you.”
I come to an immediate halt and then turn around to look at her. “What do you mean? I only met him once,” I say, confused.
“No idea. Maybe ask him next time you see him, which I’m guessing will be soon since you want the contract finalized sooner rather than later.” She smirks.
“I should send you.” I laugh.
She shakes her head. “Nope. He hurt my ego when he turned me down.” Her hand falls to her heart, and she mock pouts.
“Oh, I bet that doesn’t happen often.” And to be honest, why would it? She’s beautiful.
“It doesn’t, but that’s okay. I found some men who pulled that ego right back up to where it should be.” She winks as she walks off.
Smiling, I walk into my office and find Delaney sitting in one of my visitor’s chairs. Her dark hair is flowing in shiny, loose curls, and her wide brown eyes are beaming up at me.
“This is a nice surprise.” I lean down and kiss her cheek.
“You’ve forgotten. Can’t say I expected that from you,” she says.
I glance at her as I put the paperwork down, and that’s when it hits me.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry.”
She waves me off. “I forgive you, only for the fact that I know you never forget shit. Now tell me why you forgot my birthday.”
“Did you get your flowers?”
“That doesn’t count. You have me scheduled on the calendar every year with the florist, so it’s automatic.”
I smile at her. She knows me so well. Delaney was one of my first friends here in New York.
I’d moved out of the home where I lived with my mom and into a shared apartment, and Delaney was one of my roommates.
At that time, my mother was okay, so I took life into my own hands when she got married again, and I knew I no longer wanted to live with another man.
“The flowers were beautiful, as always. Thank you,” she gushes, then notices the pile of work on my desk. “You do look flustered though. Should we reschedule?”
“No, no. I’m sorry I missed your birthday lunch, but it’s almost dinner now.
So, should we pick up where we normally would?
” Every year, we spend our birthdays together.
We meet up for lunch and treat ourselves to dessert.
Then, for dinner, we have cocktails and the best food money can buy. “Do you need me to find somewhere?”
“No, there was a new place I wanted to try if you’re up for it.”
“Of course. Let me hand this to my assistant to fix, and then we can get going.” I touch her shoulder as I walk past her.
When I was with Arlo in his office, I should have been with Delaney.
Then, on the way back, I had to stop at a few properties, which took up most of my afternoon.
I had planned to get this contract fixed and sent over to him as soon as possible to get it done and dusted, but he can wait.
Even though I don’t think waiting is one of his strong suits.
I tell my assistant what I want her to do, then I walk back into my office, grab my bag, and say to Delaney, “Now, let’s go.”
* * *
I’ve been here before, but I don’t bother telling Delaney. The place looks different from how it did when I was here with Arlo. I didn’t even taste the food that night, but I plan to change that tonight.
“It’s hard getting a reservation here, but I got us one,” Delaney says excitedly.
We walk in, and the hostess greets us before directing us to our table. I glance around the restaurant, and my gaze falls on the table Arlo and I had sat at. Another couple is seated there, and they’re holding hands across the table.
Once we’re seated, Delaney grabs the menu, and I order a bottle of wine before the hostess leaves. She nods and walks away.
“So, I met someone.” Her words throw me, not because I’m upset that she met someone, but because she doesn’t normally start talking about a man like that.
Usually, she fills me in on who her current hookup is, and she isn’t shy about sharing all the details with me.
So when she says it like that, it kind of startles me because I haven’t heard of anything serious going on with her.
Granted, we’ve both been so busy with our jobs that we haven’t had a real chance to catch up for a while.
I place a napkin on my lap as I wait for her to tell me more.
I guess I can’t feel any type of way about what she is about to say because I haven’t even told her about Arlo.
Not that there’s much to tell because that man really confuses me.
And I haven’t told her I ended things with Luke.
Delaney knows Luke, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s already told her.
“Okay, I’m listening. How much do we like him?” I ask.
And she blushes.
Uh-huh, she likes him a lot.
“Wow, okay. You’ve got it bad.”
“How do you…” She touches her cheeks, and we both laugh because she always turns red when she drinks, gets nervous, or is crushing hard on someone. She pushes her dark-brown hair behind her ear and smiles. “Yes, I do. We’ve gone on three dates. It took him until the last one to kiss me.”
Ha. And here I am, getting asked to be fucked. How romantic. Not!
“Was it a good kiss?” I ask.
She nods and touches her lips as she whispers, “Mind-blowing.” I watch as she fans herself, trying to cool her flushed skin.
“I love that. You deserve the best, Delaney.” And I’m not lying when I say that.
Delaney has not only been an amazing friend for well over a decade, but she’s also beaten cancer twice and managed to build a career while doing everything on her own.
Her parents died before she moved to New York, so I never got to meet them, but she’s told me a lot about them.
We bonded over being alone in a big city.
I’ve held her hand through chemo. I’ve held her hand when her last boyfriend broke her heart, and she swore off dating.
She was afraid to get hurt again, and I don’t blame her.
It’s one of the reasons I’ve only had sexual relationships, and it’s worked well until now.
“He wants to go on a vacation with me and pay for everything—basically, take me away for my birthday. But he has work commitments, so we still have to work out a date.”
“Oh, wow, that’s a lot.”
“Should I say no? I haven’t given him an answer yet.”
“If you want to go, do it.” I smile at her as the server approaches with our wine. She pours us each a glass and sets the bottle on the table as we order. Delaney orders chicken, and I order steak, and we both order dessert, of course.
“So you think I should go?”
“I know so.” I pick up my glass and raise it up to her. “To your happiness.”
She smiles at me. “And yours. Don’t think I don’t know about Luke.” I smirk as I lift the glass to my lips and take a big sip. “I ran into him, and he told me you ended things.”
“Yep.” I take another sip.
“I’m waiting for the why.” Her head tilts to the side as she watches me.
“It wasn’t going anywhere.”
“You never wanted marriage before,” she states.
“No, I don’t think I do. Maybe. I just think I want a life partner.
Someone who waits up for me when I get home and asks how my day went.
” I smile softly at the thought. Watching my mother marry guy after guy made me realize what I didn’t want.
Maybe I’ve grown a little cynical when it comes to the kind of love that makes your heart beat rapidly, and you can’t imagine spending a day apart.
“Same.” Lifting her glass, I do the same, and I hate that the thought of Arlo flickers in my head. “Here’s to finally figuring out what we want in life.”
Both of us laugh. It feels good to laugh like this—real, unguarded laughter that makes my shoulders drop and my chest feel lighter.
For the first time in days, maybe weeks, I’m not bracing for something.
I’m just here, with my best friend, a glass of wine in hand, good food in front of us, with no pressure to be anything other than exactly who I am.
It’s a relief I didn’t realize I needed.
Tonight… tonight I get to just breathe. And that, in itself, feels like a small kind of freedom.