He was so sweet too, remembering I preferred blueberry syrup instead of the regular stuff and passing it to me without even asking. I wasn’t even sure how he’d remembered, the last time we’d eaten breakfast together probably when I was still in college.
But later in the day, when he came back, Leighton didn’t immediately disappear. He kissed me slow, his lips gently pressing against my skin as he told me again how much he liked me and how special I was to him.
I’d assumed we’d have sex, but we didn’t, laying on my bed fully clothed as we watched stupid daytime television and cuddled. And then when it was time for me to go to work, we left together. I went and did another night like I always did, and Jared sat at a table lazily drinking a beer and making me crazy.
It had been just over a week and Jared and I had fallen into a comfortable rhythm. And other than Raelle and Bennett, we hadn’t told anyone we were dating. Staff at Diablo had their suspicions, wondering why he was hanging around without his sidekick that was my brother. But they were too smart to say anything outright, choosing to keep their mouths shut and their heads down. It was the way it worked between those walls, we did our job and left the commentary to everyone else. Except for Raelle of course, who had plenty to say.
“Girl, just out this relationship already. The pressure to keep the secret is too great.” She groaned, tucking into one of the bagels she’d brought over for brunch.
Jared was working, having left early in the morning which meant Raelle had come over. I’d finally caved, telling her about my plans for Diablo after she found a property flier on my desk. I’d been careless, too blissed out from my personal life and warned her that it was one thing she could not gossip about.
She’d been hurt for a second, and then got over it, wanting to know everything she could. She’d even argued her current visit was to “help me” pick an outfit for my meeting with David. But what she really wanted was to talk about Jared and was unable to do it freely at work where other people might hear.
“How is my relationship affecting you? And you know, don’t think I haven’t noticed your lingering hugs with Bennett. Something you want to tell me?” I held my black shift dress against me before alternating to a white one.
“I wish I could say it was more than hugs, but it’s not.” She sighed, brushing bagel crumbs off her hands before coming to stand beside me. “I really want to do more, but we work together. Soooooo risky. Besides, our boss is a hard ass and could totally fire us.” The last bit said with a smile.
“Rae, your lives outside the club are your business. I would never begrudge anyone happiness. I trust you both to keep it professional, if it was my blessing you were looking for, you have it.”
Maybe it was because I was feeling good, confident my meeting with David was going to be a success. Or maybe it was because Lewis hadn’t been seen since that drive by near the club and I’d assumed he’d found some other sucker to con. Or maybe it was that I had a guy who was amazing, who I literally couldn’t believe I was dating. And other than us keeping it to ourselves, it really was the perfect relationship.
He was kind and considerate, and so goddamn sweet. He always made sure I had lunch or dinner, looking after me for a change. He even cleaned up after himself, never leaving towels in the bathroom or dirty socks on the floor. And the sex . . .well the sex was off the charts. His body was incredible, every inch of him toned to perfection with a determination to drive me crazy. He knew exactly what to do with it, able to get me off in seconds if he wanted. Or draw it out for hours, just to see me squirm. And if all of that wasn’t enough to prove I’d won the boyfriend lottery, he never once complained about my hours or the fact I worked almost every single night of the week.
Rae shrugged, lost in her deliberations while I celebrated my good fortune. “I don’t know, Pres. Maybe. I think you should go with the white, it does amazing things for your skin.”
Ordinarily, I’d agree with her because the white dress did look better. But I also knew white was a color frequently worn to Asian funerals, and I hoped I wouldn’t be walking into mine. I tossed both dresses aside and settled for a red pencil skirt with a matching thin twill sweater. It was both conservative as well as being a “lucky” color, and I was willing to take all the help I could get.
“I’ll change into the white one later and wear it to the club. Make sure you save me a bagel.” I called over my shoulder and went to change in my bathroom.
I wasn’t nervous for the meeting, more excited, butterflies fluttering in my belly as I slipped into my skirt and sweater and looked at my reflection. I’d wanted to tell Jared all about my meeting but was worried about jinxing it, keeping my plans and the two o’clock appointment a secret in the hopes I could surprise him with good news later.
When I emerged from the bathroom, I was feeling pretty confident. Raelle had saved me a bagel, helping herself to some orange juice while I took tentative bites not to mess up my makeup. “You sure you don’t want me to drive you? It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
“It’s fine.” I chewed, the need for someone to play babysitter surely over. “No one has seen Lewis in days, and there’s no way he’d know about this meeting. Besides, instead of driving me to the Plaza, you could go see Bennett. Strategize which parts of the team should stay in Midtown and who should go across to the Meatpacking district. Maybe it’s time for you to step up and be my bar manager at the new site? I know you’re more than capable, and poor Hank doesn’t do well with change.”
I knew I was getting ahead of myself, but it was exciting to think about the future. Everything was going so right, the idea that David would be anything other than supportive, just didn’t enter my mind.
“You’d let me be the bar manager at the Meatpacking district?” Raelle’s eyes lit up, her usual cool exterior sidelined with excitement.
“Who else am I going to trust. Annnnnnd if you and Bennett are at two different sites, there really isn’t a conflict anymore is there?” I tossed out casually, pretending it wouldn’t be one hell of a sweetener.
Raelle stilled, lowering her juice and grabbing me by the shoulders. “You go into the Plaza and you fucking wow the shit out of David Cheng. You hear me. Use that big brain of yours and hypnotize him with your profit margins.”
“But no pressure, right?” I joked. “Just remember, out of all of us, I have the most to lose. He could think I’m insane for wanting another site so close, giving me my walking papers at the end of my contract.”
There was a slight possibility he wouldn’t love it, thinking I was greedy instead of ambitious, something Lorena had warned me about. And while I was confident, I also knew that nothing came with an iron clad guarantee.
“Yeah, he could totally do that. And a big fucking asteroid could come out of the sky and obliterate the planet and we all die. I’d say your chances are about the same.” She blinked, like she was actually being serious.
I hugged her, willing to take my ego boost however I could get it. “Thanks. Make sure if you see that asteroid, you give me a head’s up. I want to be naked in bed with Jared when it happens.” I winked, pulling back and giving her a smile.