"No. He… can't. He doesn't want it getting out about me. What I've been doing for work." He hesitated. "He offered me a job, Lo. He said if I came to work for him and stay out of trouble, all would be forgiven. He wants me to work with the agency launching the new brand for his app."
"That's great!" Relief washed through me. Pierce Richards had never been my favorite person, but back when I'd known him, he'd at least been a caring father. He'd been preoccupied with my mother and let Kyle push him away, but Kyle had been tough back then. Still, I'd always felt that Pierce loved his son. Disinheriting him had just been the tough side of th
at love.
Kyle shook his head. "It's not great. He wants me to start tomorrow."
My heart sank a little. He's not coming back to LA with me. But I didn't let myself think about that. I quashed my disappointment and smiled. "That's okay. This is a great opportunity for you."
He looked at me then turned away. "I'm not ready to walk away just yet."
Hope and guilt mingled inside me. I wanted to hear what he was saying, but I knew he shouldn't say it. "Does Pierce want to you come work for him right now because he wants you away from me?"
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter. It's not gonna happen."
"Kyle—"
"Enough," he snapped. "I don't remember saying that I wanted committee approval."
I shut my mouth, hurt by his tone. If Pierce wanted Kyle to quit right now—and I was pretty sure that was exactly what he wanted—then Kyle had to do it. I had a feeling Pierce didn't offer second chances with much frequency; thirds were probably out of the question.
I had to convince Kyle to take the offer, and I only had a few hours to do it. Even if it meant a public relations disaster for me.
I could handle a public relations disaster.
Ruining Kyle's life? That was another matter altogether.
* * *
Evan brought us back to the hotel. I grabbed Kyle's hand when we got out of the car, and he looked at me, surprised.
"Just in case," I whispered in his ear. All of a sudden, I felt as if my time with him was running out.
"I like just in case." He smiled at me, and it seemed as if the black cloud went away, my sunny, good-natured Kyle returning.
I grinned back even though my heart was twisting. I looked up at the Stratum. "This is nice. I might not be that mad at you and Tori after all."
We entered the imposing lobby, which boasted marble floors, marble columns, and teak woodwork accents in unexpected places. It was beautiful and pristine. Our footsteps echoed across the lobby.
"You see a front desk anywhere?" I asked.
Kyle shook his head. "The new hotel lobbies don't have front desks. They think Millennials don't like them and want everything to be decentralized."
"Huh?" I asked. I was pretty sure I was a Millennial, and I had no idea what he was talking about.
"It's just the new thing—don't worry about it. I've spent a lot of time in hotels recently." His face went dark at the thought.
I squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Kyle."
He looked at me, his face bleak. "It's not okay."
"I think I see someone who works here," I said, trying to distract him for the moment. We headed toward a stunning young blonde, wearing a headset, in a simple black dress.
"Welcome," she said warmly. "You must be Mr. Jordan and Ms. Barton. We're honored to have you staying with us at the Stratum. I'm a huge fan of your work, Ms. Barton."
She smiled and motioned for us to follow her. "I'm Britta. I'll have your luggage brought up. You'll be staying on the fiftieth floor, in the penthouse suite. I hope that you enjoy your stay, and please let me know if you need anything while you're here."
We reached the fiftieth floor, and Britta gave us one final smile as Kyle and I got off the elevator. "You have the floor to yourselves." Her eyes glittered with good-hearted mischief. "Just call downstairs if you need anything."