Gabriel will do what he can for anyone who asks.
“I’m his type,” I quip. “Gabriel’s a friend.”
“You’re shitting me.” Rufus pats me on the chest. “Do all you suits know each other?”
“Us suits?” I repeat back.
“You’re a nine-to-fiver. You spend your life in an office, right? Gabriel does the same. I figure you all must meet up somewhere after work to blow off steam and kick back with a beer or two.”
I don’t bother correcting him. My life isn’t bound to a time clock. My clients make life-changing decisions day and night. They expect me to be a phone call away. For the most part, I am.
“I’ll talk to Gabriel for you,” I say it to impress Piper but it’s not going to cause me an ounce of pain if Rufus is clear across the Atlantic.
Piper may not see him as anything other than a friend, but his eyes are glued to her tits right now. He’s clearly on the friends-to-lovers path with her, so I’m going to get him that gig in London.
It benefits everyone.
Rufus adds a new line to his resume. Piper
thinks I’m the hero and I don’t have to look at his dick anymore.
Win. Win. And win.
“You would do that for Rufus?” Piper’s gaze slides over me. “That’s an incredibly generous thing to do.”
It’s not. It’s a blatantly selfish thing to do, but I have no shame where this woman is concerned.
“She’s right.” Rufus wraps his arm around Piper’s shoulder. “You’re a better guy than I thought you were.”
Considering the fact that I want to snap his arm in two, I’m not going to win any awards for goodwill. The sooner Rufus is out of town, the better.
“I’ll talk to Gabriel tomorrow.” I gesture toward the studio door and the clear path that I want Rufus to take. “If I need to talk to you, I’ll get your number from Piper.”
Right before I delete it from her phone forever.
“You’ll make it happen, right?” His thick blond brows lift. “You’re my ticket to London.”
I’ll be whatever I need to be to get Piper alone. “I’m taking Piper home now. Keep your phone close, Rufus.”
He pats the back pocket of his jeans. “I’ll keep it with me twenty-four seven. You’ll get by without me, Piper? You’ll find another model?”
Brushing her hair back from her shoulder she moves away from him and comes closer to me. Her eyes scan my face before she looks over at Rufus. “I’m good, Rufus. If Griffin can make this happen, this is the chance of a lifetime.”
If I can make it happen?
It’ll happen. By this time tomorrow, Rufus will be packing a bag for his trip across the pond.
Chapter 29
Piper
I’ve been debating whether to invite Griffin up to my apartment since we got in the Uber outside the studio. He called for it while I locked up and said goodnight to one of the students who was waiting outside for her ride.
Once we were in the car, the driver started talking about his favorite New York City landmarks. I sat quietly, but Griffin jumped right into a conversation with him. He tossed me a wink when the driver told him that he could recommend some of the best restaurants in Manhattan. It was obvious that he labeled both of us as tourists even though Griffin kept telling him which route to take to get to my apartment the quickest way possible.
I slide out of the car once Griffin exits on the sidewalk. I look up at my building, wishing I had taken a few minutes before I left for work to tidy up. I wasn’t expecting any company since the only person who has seen the interior of my place since I moved in is Jo and she doesn’t care if it’s not in immaculate condition.
“Do you want me to come up?” Griffin straightens his coat.