The Personal Shopper

The elevator finally dings, and the doors open to my dad’s floor. Parker motions for me to go ahead, so I walk over to my dad’s office with a little more swing to my hips than normal. Hey, what can I say? I still want him to want me. See what he gave up and all that.

My dad welcomes Parker much friendlier than I did. They shake hands and say plentitries about how it’s good to see each other. I just roll my eyes. “Can we just get to it already?”

My dad just shakes his head at me. “Now Ava, you can’t already be off on a bad foot with Parker? You know you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” I roll my eyes again, and Parker just laughs.

My dad goes to reach for something in his desk drawer. “Oh that reminds me. Here is the key for the guest apartment.” He hands Parker a key.

I just stare at them confused for a moment. “Guest apartment?”

My dad smiles back at me. “Ahh yes. I told Parker you like to work on your projects at all hours of the day, so it’s best he is close by in case you need to make any late night purchases. I told him he could stay in the guest apartment across the hall from yours since he hadn’t signed a lease anywhere else yet.”

My mouth drops open. I blink a couple of times trying to make sense of what he just said. “I’m sorry. You did what?”

I look over to Parker and then back to my dad. When neither one of them tells me they are joking, I continue. “Where are guests supposed to stay?”

My dad laughs sarcastically. “Oh please Ava. You have a three bedroom apartment. You’re guests can stay with you.”

I go to protest again when my dad adds on. “Besides from what I’ve seen in the magazines, the only people that ever stay over are men of the single variety.” He raises an eyebrow at me.

My eyes widen in shock that my dad called me out on that. Not that it isn’t true. I just didn’t think he would say that. I glance over to Parker, and he looks just as surprised as me.

There’s something else in his eyes though too. I can’t quite tell what it is, but he almost seems angry about me having guys stay over, so I decide to push the conversation further.

“That’s not true. Cassie and Emily stay over all the time. The paparazzi just doesn’t care to take pictures of that.”

I don’t end up in the magazines often, but being the daughter of a rich business man sometimes ends you up in the society pages, especially after I went out with Carter Ericson, the next big thing in Hollywood. We only went out on two dates, but ever since then, the paparazzi has been more interested in my dating life than they were before.

My dad just laughs again. “Well perfect. One room for Cassie, one for Emily, and your various mystery men can just stay in your room where I am assuming they do already.”

I still continue to protest. I can’t possibly have Parker across the hall from me. How am I ever going to escape this man?

“I still don’t think that’s necessary. Trust me. I won’t be contacting Parker outside of business hours.” Then I add on to push the knife as far as it will go. “I’m planning on avoiding him at all cost even during business hours.” I cross my arms over my chest and my legs at the same time.

Parker just lets out a small laugh, but I don’t look over to him. I am trying to act like I don’t even notice he is here even though I can feel every time his eyes are pointed at me. I can feel my skin tingle everywhere every time he is looking at me. I don’t want to like it. I try to roll my shoulders to shake off the feeling.

My dad just narrows his eyes at me. “Now Ava. Can’t we all just try to get along here. You and Parker used to be so close.” He motions his hand between us, but I still refuse to look over to Parker. Then my dad smiles and continues. “In fact, I used to think you had a little crush on our boy here.” His smile grows even bigger.

My eyes bug out of my head, and I am forced to look over to Parker. He just has a satisfied smirk on his face. I narrow my eyes at him.

“Don’t flatter yourself. This was the same timeframe my dad thought I was madly in love with Jeff.” I stare harder at Parker. “And we both know how I felt about him.”

The smirk dropped from his face when I compared him to Jeff. He would always tease me about Jeff because he knew I couldn't stand to be around him.

My dad just laughs again and adds. “Pretty sure Jeff is one of those men who are always sneaking into your apartment, so I don’t think I was that far off.”

Yeah, so me and Jeff have slept together a few times. Not that big o

f a deal. I mean we’ve known each other since we were five years old. We are each other’s dates when we don’t have anyone else to bring to events. Sometimes when we get back from those events a little drunk, we hook up. Doesn’t mean I am interested in him.

I just don’t bother giving my dad a response. “Are we done here? I have things to get done.”

I turn to Parker. “My assistant will get your contact info. If I need anything, she will be in touch.”

I turn back to my dad, and he just nods his head, so I walk out of the office as fast as I can. I am almost down the hall to the elevator when I hear Parker’s footsteps behind me.

Suddenly, he is right next to me walking at the same pace I am. “You slept with Jeff?”

I glare over at him. “That’s none of your business.” I reach for the elevator button and press it a few times like that will somehow make it come up faster.