Torn(43)

After we left the studio, I explained on the subway ride back to my apartment that it wasn't written in stone yet. Eli understood, telling me that it didn't matter if the melody ever made it big. He was going to work on his own new material, which is what he did for most of the night, strumming away on his guitar in the living room while I tried to sleep.

"Asher's manager did say I could bring an assistant. They're paying me enough for that. It would be great to fly there together."

I hadn't bothered to mention the job to Remy. I got a text message late last night from my sister, Clara, telling me that Remy is considering a move west to take a job as a production assistant for a webcast. I know that she loves California so there's no way in hell I'm going to stand in her way. I've started putting out feelers for a new assistant since Maya already has a job she loves.

"We'd have a blast and besides, I'm the muscle in this operation." She flexes her arm, her bicep hidden under the sleeve of the yellow dress she's wearing. "I'll carry the lights. You'll take the pictures. I'll be the best assistant Philly's ever seen."

"You're the assistant?" A deep voice says from the open door of my studio. "You're not what I expected at all."

***

If I needed a lesson in how to flirt with a man, Maya Baker would be my go-to girl. She's putting every other woman on the planet to shame right now as she holds court with Julian Bishop in the middle of my overheated studio.

He didn't even glance in my direction when he walked in. He headed straight for her, reaching out his hand to not only shake hers, but to help her to her feet from the chair she was tucked into. She rose like a Queen even though he's one of the most intimidating men I've ever met. He was charmed instantly and as I watch the two of them talk, I realize that he's captivated by her.

"I'm not actually Falon's assistant." She leans back to pull her purse into her hands. "I work in real estate."

"Real estate?" he asks quietly. "In what capacity?"

The slight hesitation in Maya's arm as she reaches forward to hand him her business card may go unnoticed by him, but I spot it right away. "I'm an agent's assistant right now."

He nods before he looks down at the card. "You handle rentals, I see."

Maya's told me that her current position is only a stepping stone to where she wants to be within the next year. She wants to be a full-fledged broker, wheeling and dealing with Manhattan's real estate elite. Her dream is to sell an apartment on Park Avenue before she's thirty. I believe she'll do it. I know she will. She's like a hurricane, completely unstoppable.

"I do, for now." She studies him.

"I'll keep this in the event I'm in the market for a rental." He tucks the card into the pocket of his suit jacket.

Maya watches the movement carefully. "I assume you're here to see, Falon. You're giving her the job, aren't you, Julian?"

I cringe inwardly at the way she says his name. There are promises of lust attached to the lilt in her voice.

An easy smile floats over his lips before he turns to look at me. "I saw the pictures you sent to our team this morning, Falon. I was walking past your building on my way to a meeting so I thought I'd stop in to speak to you in person. As Maya said, the job is yours."

I want to jump up and down and maybe attempt a cartwheel but since I'm wearing a skirt, I instead handle the news with all the composure I can pull together. "I'm looking forward to working with your team, Mr. Bishop. I can't wait to get started."

"They'll be in touch soon to work out the logistics. You'll do our brand proud, Falon."

I shake his hand before he turns back to Maya. "Real estate in New York is cutthroat, but I sense you'll rise to the top, Maya."

She doesn't respond. Instead she nods her head before he turns and walks out of my studio.

"What the hell was that?" I reach for her forearm. "Did you feel that tension between the two of you?"

"Did you see the size of his hands?" She tilts her head slightly. "Too bad the man is spoken for."

"Spoken for?"

She sighs as she falls back into the chair she was sitting in before Julian arrived. "I Googled him after we were at the hotel. He's dating a lawyer. She's smart, hot and she works for him. That right there was my moment in time with Julian Bishop."

"You have Jason," I offer, as if the handsome surgeon she's dating is a consolation prize.

"I don't." She taps her knee. "We're done. We ended it last night."

I never would have known that by the way she walked in here brimming with happiness and confidence. "Why? What happened?"

She adjusts the front of her dress. "We had one thing in common, Fal. Sex. We realized it two nights ago when we went out for dinner. I was checking messages on my phone the entire night, he did the same. We barely said two words to one another."

I say it even though I'm not sure I need to. "I'm sorry, Maya."

"I'm good." She stands again. "I've got a great job, my wardrobe is killer and I'm going to Philadelphia next week with my best friend."

"We both have it good right now, don't we?" I whisper the words as I pull her into a tight hug. "The future is going to be even better."