Arguably, that went away with my name change. I was never this jumpy. I never knew my whole life was held together by a single thread. My father.
“You don’t like your job,” he points out. “Your boss is an asshole.”
He’s not wrong. I snort and tack on, “Creating spreadsheets and filing forms is as mind-numbing to me as a frontal lobotomy.”
“So find a new job. One that challenges you.”
The way he’s looking at me is making me nervous. He points to one of the Grand Marin buildings. “See that corner office with all the windows?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s gorgeous.” The sidewalk is freshly poured and slim-trunked trees stand at even intervals at the corner. Overlooking the street is a second-floor office. Its interior is dimly lit, but I can make out the shape of tall plants by the window and a large desk.
“I had it furnished by a state-of-the-art designer today. It’s where my property manager will have his or her office when I hire one. I need someone smart, timely. Someone who won’t screw me over.”
“Walt is smart, but I’m not sure about the other two,” I reply with a laugh. My brother would be a terrible fit for that position.
“I’m not talking about Walt. I mean you. How would you like to run Grand Marin?”
“Run it?”
“In addition to being the contracted builder, my company also oversees the property management. It’s my ass if I don’t put a superstar in that office.”
“I don’t know anything about managing a property.”
“I’ll teach you.” He shrugs. As if it’s that easy.
I look up at the corner office and picture myself in there. In a smart, black suit and heels, chatting on the phone or flipping through reports. Popping down to the sidewalk to buy a foamy cappuccino and then sitting on a park bench in the common area to drink it.
It’s terrifying.
I was once in charge of a lot of employees. I had an entire department reporting to me. I instructed men like Nate on a biweekly basis, all of them earning more money than I was. I don’t know if I can trust myself in a high-powered position again, and that’s not the only argument for why it’s a bad idea.
“What if…something happens?” I ask instead of sharing my worries about bombing spectacularly in a managerial position.
“Something like what?”
Like we break up and hate each other. Or worse, we break up and tolerate each other. But that’s presumptuous, isn’t it? He asked me to stay with him for the week because he knows my brother and his girlfriend are annoying me. Maybe he was being nice. And maybe this job offer is a simple solution to his problem and mine.
A long-dormant part of my soul surges forward at the idea of once again rising to meet new goals. I miss the feeling of purpose I had when I worked for my father’s company. I thought I was fostering a great legacy. Little did I know.
I send another wary gaze to the Grand Marin office and bite my lip.
“Life is short, Viv. Don’t waste another minute doing something you don’t want to do.” He thumbs my chin, his eyes broadcasting sincerity. “Those drab walls and worn carpet don’t suit you, anyway. And I won’t micromanage you. You’d have full autonomy.”
No, I wouldn’t miss the drab walls, worn carpet, or Daniel. Amber’s nice, but we could have lunch together after I quit CRBI. I imagine telling Daniel I’ll no longer be his lackey, and my chest expands with the fullest breath I’ve taken all day.
“Just a thought,” Nate says, as if he didn’t radically change my entire life by offering me the key to the prison cell. “Think it over, but I need to find someone soon. It would save me a lot of advertising and headhunting. I’m incredibly picky about who I put in charge.”
“No pressure,” I joke.
“None whatsoever.” He leans in and kisses me soundly. “When you come over tonight, bring a bag. You and I can talk about where Walt would fit working for me, and what it would look like if you work at Grand Marin. And then you can stay with me for a week and try it on for size.”
“Funny, this feels like pressure.”
His grin isn’t one of denial.
“Where would Walt work anyway?” I ask, happy to change the subject. “Grand Marin is almost complete. You won’t need more construction guys here.”
“True. But I have other sites.”
“Like the one in Chicago.” As much as Walt tends to chap my ass, I’m not ready for him to be far away.
“And elsewhere. He lived in Atlanta without you. What makes you think he can’t live somewhere else without you?”
“Maybe I don’t want him to go too far.”
“Maybe you hovering isn’t good for him.”
That spikes my blood pressure. “I’m not hovering.”
“Family is important. I know better than anyone. But you have to let people make their own choices. We can’t watch over them twenty-four/seven. He’s not your responsibility, and I don’t want you hurt if he does backslide.” Nate squeezes my forearm with gentle pressure, comforting me.
“But I worry.”
“Of course you do.”
“He was in a rehabilitation home most of the time he was in Atlanta. That’s a far cry from living on his own,” I continue arguing, hearing how resistant I am. Do I not trust him? Or do I need a project? Would Grand Marin be a better use of my micromanaging skills?
“You can’t take care of him the rest of your life. You’re going to have to trust him to be on his own at some point.”
Damn Nate and his valid observations.
“If I stay with you for the week,” I start, and his smile spreads his mouth in a slow, tantalizing way, “it doesn’t mean I’m not going back to my apartment at all. It’s still my place and if I want to make a big pot of mac and cheese for my guests, I will.” I thrust up my chin in defiance.
His smile is cocky, but it’s also sweet—his signature.
He kisses me one more time. “Fair enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nate
By the end of the week, I’m used to the way Vivian returns home from work.
Through the front door with a greeting to Odessa first, who’s here most nights prepping dinner. Then Viv greets me with a kiss when I come downstairs, usually from the direction of my home office.
Today I’m in the living room when she comes home, choosing a vinyl record. Nat King Cole, I decide.
Odessa is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for this evening. A bigger affair than usual since we’re expecting company.
At the mouth of the living room, Viv spots me and smiles. “Well, this is a surprise. I thought I knew your patterns.”
“After a few nights? Doubtful.”
“Dinner smells good.”
“As do you.” I place a kiss on her neck and then her mouth. When we part, her eyes flutter closed. “Ready for tonight?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” Her eyes are stunning sienna brown with flecks of gold. I’ve either noticed the more nuanced shade since she’s been living here or the overhead lighting makes them look different. “It was nice of you to invite them.”