“No, if I were bullshitting you, I’d have told you that you could have the job,” I said, drumming my fingers on the table, impatient for this to end.
“Okay, fine,” she nodded as she made a note next to the term and then put a small check mark next to it. She looked up at me with
a satisfied grin as she asked, “Is there anything else that you want or need from this negotiation?”
“Now that you ask, yes, there is something else,” I said suddenly realizing that held a card that hadn’t yet been played.
“And that is?”
“If we’re going to announce our engagement, then I want you to move into my penthouse,” I said bracing myself for her objection.
“Okay,” she shrugged as she flipped to the second page and made a note.
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, why? Did you want me to object?” she asked making me suddenly feel very exposed as if she were reading my mind.
“No, I just didn’t expect you to be so accommodating,” I said.
“I can be very pleasant when I want to be,” she smiled. “When do you want me to move in?”
“As soon as possible,” I said adding, “I’ll send movers over to get your things.”
“That would be very kind of you, Mr. Connor,” she smiled brightly. “I’ll go home and pack and be ready for the movers tomorrow.”
“You can pack that quickly?” I asked, surprised by her agreeable attitude, but also suspicious.
“I travel light,” she said as her smile faded a little.
“Very well, I’ll have my secretary schedule the movers to arrive tomorrow afternoon,” I said. “I’d like to have dinner with you tomorrow evening.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she nodded as she folded the sheets of paper and leaned down to grab her bag. “I’ll type this up and have a copy ready for you to sign tomorrow at dinner.”
“Okay, good,” I said gruffly.
“It’s going to be nice doing business with you, Connor,” she said standing up and offering her hand. I took it and shook, feeling vaguely uncomfortable with the entire plan and uncertain about how this would all play out. She slung her bag over her shoulder and grinned as she said, “I’m assuming that you’ll take care of the check?”
“Oh, right,” I nodded, pulling out my wallet and looking around for the server.
I was startled when Payton leaned down, kissed my cheek, and said, “See you tomorrow night, babe,” before turning and striding towards the door.
As I watched her leaving, I cursed myself for turning down her first offer.
#
When I arrived back at the office, I found Finn waiting for me. I hadn’t planned to talk with him about the deal I’d brokered with Payton until she’d moved in, but this forced my hand.
“So, how’s it going with the Halas chick?” Finn asked after I’d closed the door.
“You’re going to have to start referring to her by her first name, Finn,” I said as I moved toward my desk trying to maintain a neutral tone.
“Okay, fine,” he shrugged. “How’d it go with Payton?”
“We negotiated a deal,” I said without further explanation.
“And that deal entails?” Finn prompted digging for details.
“She’s moving in with me tomorrow,” I said keeping my answers brief. I had known Finn long enough and well enough to know that the more information I gave him, the more likely it was to be used in ways that I hadn’t anticipated. Sometimes that was a good thing, but often it was not.