The Dealmaker (Sex & Bonds 1)

“Sexting,” Greer says. “How fun. Who is he?”

Taking a deep breath, I set down my glass. “Theo Morgan.”

The table emits a collective gasp so loud the people beside us look up from their eggs Benedict.

“You’re joking,” Keira says.

“I don’t think she is,” Elle replies, giving me the side eye.

Greer, however, is smiling ear to ear. “The guy who saved you from my muffin cart! I knew it! The way you two looked at each other . . . I couldn’t tell if you wanted to rip off his head or his shirt first.”

“Y’all, shh, please.” I glance around the restaurant. “We’ve kept our relationship under wraps for, um, obvious reasons. I’m ready to go public, but I don’t know how.”

Elle claps her hands, practically squeeing. “I’m so happy for you. Except isn’t he a dick?”

“That’s what you’ve been telling us,” Keira says.

“Brooks says he’s all bark and no bite,” Greer replies.

The three of us turn to look at her. “Since when do you talk to Brooks?”

“Since forever,” Greer replies a little too quickly. “We’re friends too, you know.”

“No, you’re not. Your brother makes sure of that,” I reply.

Greer rolls her eyes. “My brother needs to get a life. Who is he to judge? He screws everything with a pulse.”

“Wait, wait.” I put a hand on her arm. “Are you saying you’re sleeping with Brooks Huntley?”

It’s her turn to blush. “No.”

“Ooooh, but she wants to,” Elle says with a smile.

“She wants to real bad,” Keira says.

Greer waves her hand in front of her cappuccino. “We’re getting off topic here. Nora just confessed to fucking her nemesis, for crying out loud. Focus!”

“Right,” Elle says. “I want to know more about why you’re so thirsty for such a grump, Greer, but first things first.” She turns to me. “Theo Morgan. You humped him. Now what?”

My lips twitch. Ever since the sex Theo and I had yesterday morning, I can’t seem to stop smiling.

“Oh boy,” Keira says. “She didn’t just hump him. She fell in love with him.”

Greer’s eyebrows pop up. “That was fast.”

“It was,” I blurt. “It was stupid and awesome and it happened so quickly my head is still spinning. But it’s real, and I want to make it last. Which means I’m giving up the promotion.”

No gasp this time. My friends just stare at me, wide-eyed and speechless.

“Wow,” Elle says at last. “That is real.”

Keira nods. “Seems weird to be the one giving you advice, but that’s a big step, Nora.”

“Trust me, I know.” I grab my water and take a big swallow. “But I’ve thought a lot about it, and I know it’s the right move. I have good reasons for wanting MD, but Theo’s are better. I saw the impact a promotion would have on his life—his family—and I want him to get it.”

“Wow,” Elle repeats.

I scoff mirthlessly. “Does that make me a bad feminist?”

Keira shakes her head. “Not necessarily. Sometimes I wonder who it serves when we’re so focused on work. If dedicating so much of our lives to climbing the corporate ladder is a win for us or the patriarchy.”

“Right,” I say. “Is the ultimate win climbing higher and making more money than anyone else? Or is the win more about living a life that feels right? That’s manageable? Happy?”

“Great point,” Elle replies. “I think a lot about that these days since becoming a mom.”

“Work is great,” I say. “But spending time with Theo is better. I feel like I get so much more back from being present with him. Sometimes I feel guilty, rushing out of the office so we can grab dinner together. Like, have I earned the right? It’s not like me to be the first one to leave the desk at five o’clock. But then I want to smack myself, because I realize we’ve been brainwashed into believing more time at work equals more worth. More power. More is better. And that’s totally the patriarchy talking.”

Keira takes a thoughtful sip of her wine. “I know what you mean. I think we were sold a bill of goods back in college when we were told it’d be our careers that’d give us purpose. Give us meaning and a sense of fulfillment. The older I get, the more I realize that’s kind of bullshit. Look at us—we all have big jobs. But is working like a maniac everything you thought it’d be?”

I consider this for a minute. “I am proud of my work and how far I’ve come. I enjoy it for the most part. And making the kind of money we do doesn’t suck, that’s for sure. We’re lucky. But no, when I think about what I want to do more of now that I’m in my thirties, it’s definitely not more time spent in the office.” I pause. “That being said, I still think the culture needs to change at A&T. And if it changes at A&T, then maybe it will start changing elsewhere too.”