The Grand Pact (The Grand Men #1)(25)

“Oh, no.” I cringe, taking a hasty sip of the sweet champagne the flight attendant places in front of me.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“Yes, we will have two more of those.” He nods to my glass and closes his laptop, and then he looks back at me. “Tell me, where is it you’re going to be working?”

I smile on the inside, knowing he will have heard of the brand. I’ve waited my whole life for this moment. “Almendo. I’m going to be in their Soho headquarters.”

He grins wide. “I work on Prince Street.” He leans over the arm of his seat, getting closer as he whispers, “Are you stalking me?”

“Is that close by?”

“It’s in Soho.”

“What? You’re kidding me.” My smile is instant, and I can’t help my blush from his closeness. “And, no! I am not stalking you.” I laugh.

“It’s nice to meet you…” He looks at me, waiting for a name.

“Lucy! Although my friends call me Luce.”

“Luce.” He slips his hand in mine and gives it a soft squeeze. “Maxwell.”

I feel the knot in my stomach ease a little. “It’s great to meet you, Maxwell.”

I place my boarding pass, Xanax and the envelope on the empty seat. I might have just made a friend, one that will be a stone’s throw away in New York, but I’m not silly enough to take tablets from a complete stranger.

“I’d be more than happy to be your tour guide when we land.” He gives me a wink, and I take another sip of champagne.

“Yeah? I tried using Google Earth to find everything I’ll need, but I’m undoubtedly going to get lost.”

“Well, then it’s a good job you met me.”

I smile into my champagne flute and settle in for the flight, feeling ten times better than when I boarded.

I can do this.





8





Lucy





We touch down in New York in the late evening, and I’m completely drained by the time my feet hit the tarmac. It’s like every worry I ever had about being here was wiped from the depths of me, and I’m running on some kind of wild adrenaline rush. I know I should make the most of it because it won’t last.

I pull up Maps on my phone and find the information I saved this morning. My taxi should be waiting for me outside the airport, and then it’s taking me directly to my hotel, but still, I want to have my Maps on so I know they are driving me to the hotel and not down some back road where they will kill me.

Maybe I’m still a little wired in.

“You know, I’m going right by your hotel.” I turn and find Maxwell standing behind me on the curb. His coat is thrown over his arm, and his shirt looks fresh and crisp. He must have changed. He cocks his head back towards what I presume is a car park. “I can give you a lift.”

“Oh, that’s okay. I have a taxi booked.”

I look up at the row of waiting cars and try to figure out which are taxis and which could be mine.

“People aren’t so bothered here.” He smiles, and it makes me feel warm. “We blow off our taxis all the time.”

I frown at that. “People do that at home too, but I’d call that type of person an asshole. I couldn’t and wouldn’t let them down. That’s someone’s wages. Someone’s child who won’t eat tonight because I couldn’t follow through with a simple plan.” I shake my head as I get caught up.

He stands on the spot smiling at me. “Does that make me an asshole?”

Shit. I shrug, my eyes widening and looking anywhere but at him.

“You want a lift or not, lady? Last chance.”

I dip my chin slightly and smile. “No, I’m going to get the taxi. But thank you.” I swallow and meet his stare. He seems like a really nice guy, and he kept me talking the entire flight. I like him. “I would love it if you could show me New York, though? Maybe we could grab a coffee?”

He starts to back away from me with a cheeky smile on his face. Is he going to just walk away?

“I’ll call you,” he tells me.

“Call me?” I utter, but he doesn’t hear. “Okay!” I shout, looking around at the quietening area and wishing he’d waited for me to find my taxi. Or I could have got a lift. Why didn’t I just say yes and be on my way already?

Silly bitch.

I make my way down the row of cars and start checking each one by knocking on the window.

Fifteen minutes later, and freezing my tits off, I find my guy.

Twenty minutes later, I arrive at the hotel.

One hour later, I realise Maxwell never took my number.





“It’s good, Mum! I’m starting on Monday, so I’ve got a couple of days to get settled. And I plan to start looking for an apartment as soon as possible.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, darling. I was so worried you’d waste money at the hotel.”

I drop back onto the bed with my trainers in hand. Slipping the phone between my ear and shoulder, I put them on. “I’m pretty sure Scarlet knew someone or did something because it’s definitely not as expensive as I expected it to be. I should be okay here for a couple of weeks, if not longer. I’m so excited, Mum. I actually feel really good.”