A slow grin spread across James' face. “You're amazing, but then again I already knew that. I heard you got Oliver to give you the full amount and then some for the NDA.”
I blinked, not quite following. What did James' driver have to do with Audrey and finding him a new secretary? “Um, yeah?”
“If I wasn't so worried about a sexual harassment suit from you, I'd hire you,” he replied, standing up and taking me in his arms. His confidence was coming back. “You've got this business thing down to an art.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Where the fuck are you?
My phone chimed with a new message. It was from Nicole. I wrote her back a text immediately.
Some place safe. I'll talk to you later.
Bing. Her text arrived just seconds after I sent mine.
Seriously, where are you? There's reporters all over the place. Wtf, Allie? You should have told me.
For a moment, I almost felt bad. I thought of all the sexual pictures she had sent my brother and how embarrassed she must feel right now knowing that he was boinking me the whole time.
I didn't feel that bad, though. She deserved it. She shouldn't have sent him those pictures. I sent her a message back.
I can't tell you. I'll explain everything later. Don't tell them anything.
I waited a moment and after a long minute, the phone finally chimed.
Fine.
I let out a long breath. That was going to be an awkward conversation later. Hopefully, she'd forgive me and we'd laugh about it later. Hopefully. I wasn't going to hold my breath, though. As long as she kept her mouth shut to the reporters, or at least had them focus on her, I wouldn't have to kill her later.
James was busy hailing us a cab to take us to Annie's Place where Audrey was meeting us. I had already called ahead and made sure we had reservations.
James wasn't taking any risks. He was paying cash for everything and not using any of his regular contacts. Even though he had a beautiful Camaro here in town, we were taking a taxi. The longer we could go without someone snapping our picture, the better.
Luckily, since James' flight had been so last minute, he had paid cash for his two tickets, so no one at his workplace knew where he was. I was incredibly glad I had decided to come home to Springfield instead of heading back to New York or staying in Boston. The flight had been a blessing in disguise, giving us a few more hours before having to deal with the press.
***
The ride over to the restaurant was smooth and uneventful. It had snowed the day before and everything outside was still pristine and white. It was a beautiful blanket hiding the ugly dead grass underneath.
The parking lot for Annie's Place was relatively quiet, which was a good thing for us. James paid the cabbie and we hurried inside.
“Welcome to Annie's Place,” a bored older woman recited as we walked in the doors. “Two for breakfast?”
“We're looking for Audrey,” James told her. He flashed his smile at her, but she didn't even blink.
“She's over there,” the woman said, motioning toward the far right side of the room. She picked up her phone and started playing a game.
“I think I'm losing my touch,” James remarked as we headed away from the woman. “I usually get better responses than that from women.”
“I wouldn't worry about it,” I told him. “She wasn't exactly your type.”
James managed a small chuckle, glancing back at the woman who was at least three times his age. “Fair enough. Hey, there's Audrey.”
The first thing I noticed was that Audrey was no longer pregnant. She was standing up next to the table, rocking a car seat sitting on the tabletop. I couldn't see the baby from this position, but I could see the happy glow all around Audrey. She looked exhausted, but incredibly happy.
A thrill bubbled up in my stomach and spread through my limbs. Just a few months and I'd look like that, too.
“Hi, Audrey,” James said. She startled slightly, looking up from her baby and then slowly smiling.