Sophie sighed. “I should have done more for your aunt. We weren’t close, but I could have reached out to her. It happened a long time ago and during a period of my life when I was struggling with my own demons. That’s not an excuse—just a fact. I’m sorry I didn’t attend her funeral. So much time had passed—”
There was a pause in their conversation. The few times Angelina had imagined what it would be like to meet the powerful woman, she’d never imagined the conversation would be as heartfelt and personal. “My aunt always spoke highly of you. Not every friendship is meant to last a lifetime, but she had only good to say about you and your family.”
Sophie sniffed before saying, “I’m sorry. This was not the reason I called at all.” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you about Connor Sutton.”
That snapped Angelina back to sitting up straight. “Okay.”
“I heard you declined a job offer from him.”
The whole call felt surreal. Sophie Barrington wanted to talk to her about Connor Sutton? What in the world was going on? “I did. It was nothing personal. I’m looking for something closer to where my son will attend school.”
“You have to do what’s best for your family, of course. I probably shouldn’t get involved, but I adore Connor. He is truly the sweetest soul.”
Sweet? That wasn’t the first word Angelina would have used to describe him. “I’m sorry. I’m confused. Is this about the job?”
“Yes and no. I couldn’t stand back silently and simply hope this works out. The days of me doing that are over. If it’s not too much, I have one request. I understand you don’t know me or owe me anything, but I would forever be grateful if you made me one promise.”
Angelina took a moment before answering. “If it’s one I’m comfortable with—sure.”
“Whatever happens between you and Connor—be kind to him. He’ll act like nothing bothers him, but he is all heart. If you’re looking for a good man who will do just about anything to make sure you have what you need . . . that’s Connor. He’ll make you laugh and be your biggest cheerleader. You can be yourself with a man like him. He needs someone who will love him—all the wonderful sides of him.”
Wow, that was a lot to take in. “Mrs. Barrington—”
“Sophie, please.”
“Sophie, I’m afraid you may have confused me with someone else. I’ve only met Connor one time, and it was to give him a tour of a school. He did offer me a job, but we’re not—we’ve never . . .”
“Then take the position with the Landon Foundation. See where it goes. If nothing else, you’ll have a good addition to your résumé if you decide not to stay. A recommendation from Clay Landon will open many doors for you.”
It would. Still, the whole thing felt disingenuous. “I’m not clear on the expectations of this employment opportunity. Is it reliant on me agreeing to ‘see’ Connor? I feel uncomfortable with the whole idea. I believe I should stay with my initial instinct and respectfully decline the opportunity.”
“Oh, dear. Have I made things worse?”
Angelina didn’t like to lie. “A little.”
“He’s such a sweetheart. I do hope you change your mind. He really likes you. I probably shouldn’t have said that, either. I’m hanging up now. Good luck. And now that you have my number, regardless of how things turn out with Connor, don’t hesitate to call if you ever need anything.”
“Thank you,” Angelina said and continued to feel a bit dazed by the conversation after Sophie hung up. She sat there, phone on lap, going over everything Sophie had said . . . then every interaction she’d had with Connor.
He likes me.
I kinda got that from his offer to take me to dinner in Venice.
I can’t work for him.
She called Aly, who thankfully picked up right away, then added Joanna to the call. This story was too incredible to tell twice. After she brought them both up to speed, she asked them for their advice.
“You have to take the job. How can you even think about not?” Joanna exclaimed.
“I’m in agreement. This is next level romantic,” Aly said.
“Is it? He offered me a job because he hopes I’ll sleep with him. There are laws against that, aren’t there?”
Joanna said, “Hear that sound? That’s me slapping myself in the forehead because I can’t believe you are considering turning down an opportunity I would kill for. Sophie Barrington told you what this is about. He likes you. You turned down his dinner offer. You have a gorgeous, rich man, trying to figure out how to spend more time with you and you’re putting a bad spin on it? Please, give him my number.”
Am I putting a negative spin on it?
Aunt Rudi wouldn’t have approved of any part of this, because it’s wrong. Or because some man hurt her so badly she never gave another man a chance to?
I know what it’s like to be used and tossed aside.
Is that the only lens I see men through now?
The only way I’ll ever be able to?
Aly piped in. “The situation is unusual, I agree, but sometimes life tosses us life-changing opportunities. Most people aren’t brave enough to take the leap of faith and go for it. Evaluate this as I would. Best case. Worst case. Is the possibility of the first worth the potential of the second?”
“Best case? You mean with the job? Or with Connor?”
“Both,” Aly said. “Either.”
“I guess the best case would be I love the job . . . and marry a movie star? Does this even sound realistic?”
Ignoring the question, Aly asked, “Worst case?”
That was a harder one to answer. “The job doesn’t work out and I discover Connor Sutton is a pervert with connections.”
“Wow, you really are a pessimist,” Joanna said.
“Aly asked for worst case,” Angelina defended.
Aly added, “I don’t think Sophie Barrington would call to convince you to take a job for a pervert. Is that really the impression you have of Connor Sutton? It didn’t sound that way when you described him to us the other day.”
“No,” Angelina conceded. “No, he didn’t come across that way at all. I can’t picture him doing anything inappropriate.”
“Then I’d take the job,” Aly said with conviction.
“Seriously?” Angelina asked, and her heart started to pound at the possibility. “Mrs. Tellier started working there already because she wanted to. How bad could it be?”
“That’s my almost optimistic friend,” Joanna joked. “Good for you. Don’t forget to call me daily with updates. I’m going to live vicariously through you on this one.”
“Me too,” Aly said with a laugh.
Angelina twirled a hand through her loose curls. “If I say yes to this job, what would I do with Whitney during the day?”
“What job?” Whitney asked as he hopped over the back of the couch and took a seat beside her.
“Talk to you two later,” Angelina said, ending her call with her two friends who both wished her luck. She turned to her son. “I was offered a position at an office for the Landon Foundation in New York City. Interestingly enough, Mrs. Tellier was hired there first.”