The VIP Room(54)

I changed the subject, tucking my legs underneath me. “So, how’s Kane?”

Another sigh, although this one was heavier. “Kane is Kane.”

“Maybe we’re both just unlucky when it comes to men,” I commented lightly. I had nothing against Kane as a person—he was charming and fun to be around—but the way he jerked Larene around bothered me.

“No, that’s not it,” she responded. “I like to think I’m quite lucky to have found him. If only Kane could see it that way though. I love him, but when do I draw the line? I don’t know if I can keep doing this over and over again.”

“I’m sorry,” I said softly, reaching over to touch her back. “Maybe one day you’ll just wake up and know.”

“Yeah,” she murmured, looking at the blank TV screen. “I hope so. I hope it comes sooner than later.”

I didn’t know what else to do. I’d always been terribly lacking when it came to comforting people, even when it came to my own best friend. Words were just words. And when it came to other people’s relationship, how could I say I knew what was best? I couldn’t.

So I didn’t speak. I stroked my best friend’s back until she regained some of her cheerfulness. And then we settled down for a night of chocolate, wine, and movies.

A perfect Monday night, in my opinion. Who needed men anyways?





Chapter 9





The rest of the week hurried past. On Thursday, the contracts for Blackwell Financial were settled, signed, and filed away.

So, on Friday morning, I stood outside the imposing building with a couple of Annie’s interns, ready to begin the next month of my life. Today, we were just doing some preliminary work photographing all the spaces we were in charge of—including the bathrooms because Annie’s a cunning goddess—and taking measurements.

The lobby was the first priority. I’d probably be working the weekend coming up with various designs that I could present to Annie on Monday. But I was fine with that. I would put everything I had into this place. My effort would come across through my work and if that meant not having a day off over the next thirty days then so be it.

I entered the lobby with my heart in my throat. After the humiliation of seeing myself online, the last thing I wanted to do was run into Tristan. It couldn’t be helped and I knew that I would be in close proximity with him over the next month or so. Still, a girl could hope. Discreetly, I scanned the lobby for him, breathing a sigh of relief when he was nowhere to be seen.

I relaxed and then turned to Annie’s interns, Kelsey and Vivian. “Okay, let’s get started.”





* * *



My luck only lasted so long, however.

By noon, we’d moved onto the upper floors of the building, including the executives’ offices, which Annie ordered me to handle personally. All the executives’ offices were different sizes, primarily because they were the offices on the outer flanks of the building with the most windows.

Slowly, I moved from office to office, always wondering when I’d eventually reach his. At the same time, I was hoping he was away traveling on business, because isn’t that what all these rich business men did?

Eventually, however, I reached Tristan’s office. I knew because of the receptionist posted at her own desk only a few strides away from an imposing steel door.

Clearing my throat, I approached her. She was a beautiful blonde, dressed in a tight, knee-length navy blue dress. Her blazer hugged the chair she sat in. Not a hair was out of place and the tight ponytail only emphasized her sharp features. She smiled, but it wasn’t warm. It was professional.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m Noelle Travis, from Irving Designs,” I responded, giving her a professional smile of my own. “I’ll need to take some measurements of this office. Is someone in?”

“Mr. Blackwell is just finishing up with a conference call at the moment. You’ll have to wait.”

I strained my ears, listening for the baritone rhythm of his voice, but I heard nothing. Either the door was sound-proof or she was lying. I went with the latter.

“Do you know how much longer he will be?”

A shrug of her thin shoulders. “He has a meeting in fifteen minutes, so I’d assume then.”

“I’d like to get in there before the meeting, if at all possible. This is one of the last offices I need to measure and I have a meeting myself in an hour.” A lie, but a small one.

She studied me for a brief moment, but I kept my face politely blank. When it came to my professional life, I could hold my own, even if I was a coward in my personal life.

She caved. “I’ll have to ask Mr. Blackwell. If you’ll please wait a moment.” She gestured over to a couple plush armchairs in the corner. I frowned. Those would be one of the first things to go when I reached this floor.

“I’ll stand, thank you,” I told her. The sooner I got this over with, the better. And I knew that receptionists hated people wandering around their space.

I listened as she placed an immediate call. “Mr. Blackwell, there is a Noelle Travis from Irving Designs here. She says she needs to measure your office…yes…alright.”

I inwardly smiled and gave her a sense of privacy by turning to inspect the sole art piece in the reception area. It was a beautiful painting, full of abstract colors. I looked at the bottom, where I could make out the initials: A.B.