“She technically doesn’t, but she came in to meet us and she said she wants to start right away.”
“Wow. Okay. I need a moment to wrap my head around this. Did she suggest me for the position?”
Mrs. Sanchez made a frustrated sound. “I am a horrible liar, so I’m going to stick to the truth—no, but as I said she does believe you’d be perfect for it.”
“So, Mr. Sutton was the one who requested you call me.”
“Sort of. I’m his secretary, and I can attest that Mr. Sutton is an incredible man. Think of this as an adventure. You seem like a woman who isn’t afraid of one. Take a leap of faith, come in, see the office. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”
And this is his next move? I guess I should be flattered that he’s willing to go this far to get into my pants. But, no. “Adventure? You apparently don’t know me. I’m the opposite of adventurous. Tell Mr. Sutton I appreciate the job offer, but I’m hoping to find employment closer to where my son attends school.”
“There are good schools in the city.”
Is she trying so hard out of loyalty to Connor or because he’s holding her job over her head like Mr. Svete did with me? “I’m sorry, but it doesn’t sound like the position for me. Tell Mr. Sutton I said thank you, but no thank you.” With that, she followed her gut instinct and hung up.
Telling herself she’d made the only sensible choice, Angelina showered and changed into slacks and a blouse. She made herself a coffee then went to check on Whitney. He was still sleeping soundly. She stood in his doorway, sipping coffee and reassuring herself that she had the situation under control.
She couldn’t have said yes to Connor Sutton.
Dinner in Venice? I have too many responsibilities to run off like that.
Work in his office? I’m not naïve. He didn’t offer me a position because of my fundraising skills.
Saying yes would only have led to hot sex on his office desk.
Lots and lots of really yummy, name-screaming, sweaty, orgasmic pounding.
I don’t need that.
Oh, my God, especially not with Mrs. Tellier in the next room.
No, no, no.
I don’t need a man in my life. Sex would just complicate everything.
I need all the clarity I can get right now.
Impulsive? Irresponsible? Been there, done that.
Whitney needs to find a school. I need to find a job—a real one.
She closed the door to Whitney’s room then grabbed her laptop and sat on the couch without opening it. Images of Connor kept muddling her thoughts, frustrating her, exciting her. Was Connor really out there somewhere wishing he could see her again?
Imagining the two of them together?
Involving his secretary in his plans out of desperation?
How could she concentrate after imagining that?
Saying no was the right choice.
It didn’t feel right.
It felt disappointing.
Empty.
Like her sex life.
She opened her laptop and forced herself to sift through emails. Each time her thoughts wandered back to Connor, she gave herself a firm inner shake. She’d read her share of romances. Sure, she had fantasies of being swept off her feet by some rich alpha hero. She enjoyed escaping into those stories, but that didn’t mean she wanted that man in her life.
In reality, that man was a controlling asshole.
He swept in, had his fun, and moved on.
In books those men were fantastic in bed. In Angelina’s experience, the bigger the man’s ego, the less effort he put into his partner’s pleasure. He considered showing up enough of a gift.
No man had ever gone as far as offering her a job, though, in an effort to see her again. What would that have led to had I said yes? Chasing me around his office? Banging by the water cooler? On the copy machine? Angelina sighed. Probably quickly followed by me either being fired or watching him chase the next skirt.
Fantasy vs. reality.
Her phone rang with another number she didn’t recognize. She almost didn’t answer it, but ended up giving into curiosity. “Hello?”
“Good morning, Miss Kroll, my name is Sophie Barrington.”
Angelina stood up in surprise, catching her laptop just before it hit the floor. She looked around the room quickly, regretting the slight disorder of the room, despite the fact that the woman on the phone couldn’t see it. “Good morning,” she said in a strangled voice.
Aunt Rudi had admired the matriarch of the Barrington family. Stories of her charity work had inspired Angelina to go into fundraising. Angelina normally didn’t fangirl the rich and famous, but Sophie was an icon. Classic. Refined. Known for championing many causes, but also elusive and protected. No one Angelina knew had ever spoken to her in person.
“I hope it’s okay that I’m calling out of the blue. I remember your aunt and she was a remarkable woman. When your name came up in a conversation the other day I didn’t make the connection at first, but once I did I knew you would be the perfect person for . . . the position at the Landon Foundation.”
On shaky legs, Angelina sank back down onto the couch. “You knew my aunt?”
“When we were younger we attended many of the same social events. She was always pleasant and positive. I understood why she withdrew from our circle, but I’ve thought of her often over the years. I wish I’d done more to remain in contact.”
Hold on, Aunt Rudi had known Sophie Barrington? No. She would have told me that.
Wouldn’t she?
As Angelina thought about it, she realized there were chunks of her aunt’s life they’d never discussed. Sure, Angelina knew her aunt had once been part of New York’s high society, but—wow.
“Why did she withdraw?” Angelina voiced the question that took hold of her.
Sophie didn’t answer immediately, quiet long enough that Angelina regretted asking. She couldn’t imagine her aunt doing anything illegal or immoral, but if she had, perhaps that was an indiscretion best laid to rest with her. When Sophie did speak, her voice was gentle. “I wasn’t privy to her reasoning, but it followed her divorce. These things happen. She pulled away. No one thought she wouldn’t return.”
“She was married?” Angelina had gone through her aunt’s papers after her death. There’d been no mention of a marriage in any of them. “She never told me.”
“Oh, dear. I’m sure she had her reasons. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
There was such concern in Sophie’s voice, Angelina felt compelled to reassure her. “No, it’s okay. My aunt was one of the finest human beings I’ve ever known. I still miss her every single day. I guess I’m like a child realizing my parents had a life before me, that’s all. Was it an ugly divorce?”
“Very. Despite their breakup being clearly his fault, he didn’t handle her departure well, and because of that, unlike her, he became a persona non grata.”
“That must have been so difficult for her.” Aunt Rudi was the epitome of a soft-spoken, well-educated woman. For her to withdraw from her friends and essentially hide in New Jersey, it really must have been an ugly situation. Not much had ever seemed to intimidate Aunt Rudi. This explained so much, though. Aunt Rudi’s compassion for Angelina’s broken heart. Her insistence that Angelina didn’t need a man.