He laughs. "I guess those four months in the L.A. climate got rid of any of that."
My phone rings in my pocket. I know already it's Cole before I look at the caller ID.
"Hey, baby," I say, expecting a shitstorm.
"Hey," he says shortly.
"I guess you saw the photo? It wasn't intentional and I don't even know who took it," I defend myself right away.
"Not the point, Liv. You know it’s not them, but we talked about how it would look. I do not need a tabloid scandal right now."
"I know. I'm sorry. Look, I'm coming up early tomorrow morning. We can do damage control. And there is a pile of shit I need to talk to you about anyway."
"Fine," he huffs. "What shit?"
"Shit I can't discuss over the phone. I can't wait to see you, baby. I miss you."
Now completely mollified, he says, "I miss you too. How early?"
"As soon as we can get clearance. I'm waiting for Jim to call me back."
"Okay, let me know. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
I hang up and speak of the devil, Jim rings me.
"Liv. I'm setting off from LAX now but have been rerouted to LaGuardia. I logged the flight plan with them for tomorrow and they said 8 AM."
"That's fine. I'll be there. Thanks, Jim," I hang up and then we are at my offices.
Another day of hard work in front of me to crack on with. I leave Scott to set Lincoln up with the video conference facilities and head to my office.
I get lost in my work and only realize it is lunchtime when Scott knocks and asks if he can get me anything.
I shake my head. "No thanks."
He smiles and leaves me to it. I debate again with myself over whether to call Devon. Fuck it, I think, and pick up my phone. He doesn't answer. What a shock. Perhaps if I wait until tomorrow, I can call him from Cole's phone, and he might answer. Pleased with my devious scheme, I go back to work.
Scott again pulls me from it when it’s time to go home. I wonder if Cade didn't show this morning because of Lincoln's presence. He is quite large and would put most people off when approaching us if they didn't know him. But there again, Cade doesn’t strike me as the fearful type. Maybe he has given up on me.
No such luck, as there he is, waiting for me in the shadows as I exit the building with Scott in tow.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," I mumble and start walking, ignoring him.
"Now that's just plain rude," he says. "You don't greet a friend?"
"We are not friends."
"Oh, I think we are more than just acquaintances by now. I mean we have discussed your excellent fucking capabilities after all," he says slyly much to Scott's embarrassment.
I glare at him but ignore him. Of course, my phone goes off not two seconds later and I pull it out with a grimace. Not to answer would just be plain foolish.
"Yes, my dear?" I say sweetly.
"I am going to kill that man, I swear to you, Aefre, if he makes one wrong move, he is dead."
"Oh, calm yourself. I am ignoring him, hoping he will go away," I say with a pointed look at Cade.