Chapter 7
chapter seven
Him
Tiffany
“And you’re sure he’s okay? He’s not running a fever?”
After hiring Ms. Rose, I spent another week at home getting her and Noah acclimated to each other. Honestly, it was a waste of time. The first day my baby boy met his nanny, you would’ve thought they’d known each other in a past life. He connected with her instantly.
Her laughter cuts through the phone. “Sweet Pea, you are going to run yourself ragged. This boy is just fine. Greedy as all get out, but he is fine. Take a deep breath, Mama.”
I obey her command, closing my eyes. I take a deep gulp of air before letting it out.
“Better?”
I chuckle. “Yes. Sorry.”
Ms. Rose laughs. “You don’t have to apologize for calling and checking on chunky man.”
I swear this woman was a godsend. She has made the process and decision of going back to work easy for me.
If only everything else in my life were that easy.
My husband has been a problem lately. Ever since that day in his office when he kissed me, my body has been burning for him.
If he is in the room with me, I have to damn near run out in fear of jumping his bones.
I’m realizing that being angry with him does not stop my desire to have him.
I haven’t gotten over Nico lying to me. Despite what he said that day in his office about never lying, he did lie. A lie by omission is a lie to me. And it’s going to take time for me to forgive him. Now if only my body would get the memo.
“Thanks, Ms. Rose.”
“You’re welcome. Now, go and enjoy your first day back.”
The line goes dead. I replace the phone in my laptop bag feeling relieved. Not that I thought she couldn’t handle Noah, it was more so I thought I was somehow scarring him for wanting to go back to work.
Jake pulls me up to the front of the Morgan and Prescott Interior Design building.
“Have a great first day back, Mrs. B,” Jake says, looking over the console into the back seat at me.
Letting out a deep breath, I reply. “Thanks, Jake.”
I still don’t understand why I need to be chauffeured or have a bodyguard. It’s pointless since we both know Nico is Saint. I tried to bring this up with him again this morning before I left, but he wasn’t hearing it. He literally just stared at me like I was crazy.
Climbing out the back seat, I head into the building. The place is bustling this morning.
“Welcome back, Tiffany,” a few people say in greeting.
I head toward my cubicle in the back only to find someone sitting there.
“Hi.” The one word comes out hesitantly.
“Hello,” the bubbly brunette says in greeting.
Before I can ask her why she’s in my seat, Mira calls out to me. My best friend rushes over to me, hugging me tightly.
“Girl, I’m so glad to have you back in the building. How is my baby doing?”
I roll my eyes. This woman has been to my house a thousand times since I’ve been back.
“He’s doing just as well as he was when you saw him yesterday.” We both laugh. Sobering, I look back at the young girl at my desk. “Am I missing something?” I lean forward and ask Mira lowly.
She chuckles. “Oh, I didn’t tell you. Come on.” Grabbing my hand, she pulls me toward the left of the building where all the senior designers’ offices are. She stops in front of the door that has the words Lead Designer, Tiffany Basille written on it.
I clutch a hand over my mouth. Never did I think that I’d get promoted to lead designer.
I mean I’ve been with the company for a while, but Basille Hotel was my first and largest client.
Granted, after him, I’ve had a few more requests, got a write-up in a popular magazine, and I just recently found out I was nominated for an award.
I still didn’t think I’d get moved up so soon.
“I guess it pays when your husband has money.” I turn at the high-pitched sound of Tess’ voice.
The once well put together senior designer looks a little disheveled.
Her blonde hair is in a messy bun at the back of her head.
Her signature low-cut tops are no more. Now she’s wearing a turtleneck sweater that covers her completely.
Her face is bare, and her skirt is non-formfitting. She looks completely unlike herself.
“Hello, Tess.” Despite her rude-ass comment, I greet her with a smile. “I won’t waste my time or energy arguing with you about my title. I actually have clients to tend to.”
Mira snorts beside me. “You know, the thing you used to have.”
Tess’ nostrils flare before she storms away from my door. Mira and I laugh as I enter my new office. The moment I open the door, I’m met with the scent of fresh flowers. All across my plain desk are vases filled with roses. Walking over to the desk, I pull the card from one of the vases.
Congratulations, Angel. Your promotion is well deserved.—Love N. Basille.
My face is hot from me blushing. I quickly place the card back into the little envelope and place it down on my desk.
“Okay, Hubby. I see he’s putting in that work.”
“He’s just trying to apologize. I’m not folding.” Placing my bag into my rolling chair. I start to remove the flowers from my desk and place them on the file cabinet to my left.
“And what exactly is he apologizing for?”
When I turn back to Mira, she’s seated in the chair in front of my desk. Her brow lifted as she stares back at me, waiting expectantly.
Shaking my head, I take the seat behind my new desk. “Nothing.” I wave her off. “So what’s up with Tess? Why is she dressed like a kindergarten teacher?”
Mira laughs, leaning up in her seat. “She had a pitch with a client. Some old money bought a bed-and-breakfast and was looking to do some updates. Well, Tess had been trying to impress Jeremy—”
“Who is Jeremy?”
I’ve been away from the job for six months, and it feels like years.
Mira tosses her long locs over her shoulder. “The new civil engineer they hired to replace Russ.”
My heart stutters in my chest. Russ never recovered from the beating he took when his house was broken into. Now that I know the truth about my husband, I wouldn’t put the attack past him.
“Anyway,” Mira goes on to say. “Well, halfway through the pitch that Jeremy is also attending, the wife stops the meeting and says, ‘Sorry, I can’t take your designer seriously with half her cleavage nearly falling out of her top’.”
I clutch a hand over my mouth in shock. “No way.”
“Girl, yes. Tess turned bright red. Now, usually I’m a girl’s girl and would have told that woman to go kick rocks, but let’s be honest, Tess deserved that. She’s been a bitch to everyone here except the men.”
“Wait, so because she got called out by a snobby wife, she’s now turned into turtleneck Tess?” It’s not the first time someone has made a reference to the way Tess dresses. What made this time so different?
“That and the fact that Mr. Johnson and Mr. Paulson both called a meeting with her and HR afterwards. No one knows what was said in the meeting, but ever since that day, she’s been dressed like a Presbyterian pastor’s wife.”
Okay. Now that makes sense. Nobody wanted a meeting with the bosses and HR. I can only imagine what all was said if Tess is now walking around here like she’s joined a cult.
“I see you took the meeting with that guy?”
The moment I notified the bosses I was returning, Mr. Johnson told me about Ezra.
Apparently, Ezra has been calling the office randomly to see if I’d returned to work.
He’d just bought a $2.8 million mansion down by the river.
Prime real estate. I’d honestly love to work on the job.
I did a little research on the place last night preparing for my meeting.
The last owner of this home was some kind of head at a pharmaceutical company. The place hadn’t been updated since the 80s. It looks like it came straight from the set of Miami Vice.
“Yeah, he’s supposed to be here sometime this morning.”
Mira and I chatted for a little while longer before we both went our separate ways. I spend most of my morning preparing for the meeting with Ezra and answering emails. As I head into the meeting room for my consultation with Ezra, my phone chimes in my hand.
I place my design books down on the table before checking my phone.
Husband: How’s your first day back?
I can’t help but smile. Of course, I immediately wipe it away when I remember I’m still very pissed at him.
Me: Not bad. I have my first client walking in soon.
Husband: Good luck. I know you will do well. I love you, Tiff.
Pausing, I read the text a few more times.
Every time Nico tells me he loves me, I get this sinking feeling in my stomach.
I’m so torn. Part of me knows this man has to love me.
Look at all the crazy stuff he did to get me.
However, there is another part of me that questions if the love is real?
I don’t exactly know if how I feel about him is real.
I mean, how can I love someone that I truly didn’t even know?
Me: Okay.
After sending the text, I place my phone face down on the table in front of me.
A soft knock draws my attention to the meeting room door.
I look up just as Kim, the receptionist, escorts an attractive man inside.
This guy was maybe 6 feet even and had one of those typical pretty-boy faces.
Model bone structure, golden blond hair, and a straight nose.
He was young and looked to be no older than thirty.
He looked relaxed in his white button-up under a black blazer and dark-wash jeans.
I step toward him with my hand out. “Hi, I’m Tiff—”
“I know who you are, Ms. Best.” He grabs my hand with both of his and shakes. The smile on his face is flirtatious yet friendly.
“It’s Basille, actually,” I say. “Mrs. Basille.”
The man never wavers. He dips his head. “My apologies. I have been following you since I read the article in Modern Structure. The work you did on Basille North River is incredible.”