Parker: Peace?
I smile, because I wasn’t expecting him to wave a white flag. But months have passed since that incident, and we’re bound to see each other soon. I don’t want Dani to be uncomfortable.
Jess: Okay. Have fun with Dani. I’m going to go to sleep.
Parker: Sweet dreams, Jess.
Chapter Two
Jessica
"Here is the confirmation from the art gallery," my coworker Fiona says, dropping a file on my desk.
"Thanks."
I am ridiculously pleased that I understand every word she says. Fiona is from Scotland. Glasgow to be precise, and boy did her accent cause me headaches the first few weeks.
"You look distracted today. Are you all right?" Fiona scrutinizes me, the fine lines around her green eyes deepening. I straighten up in my chair.
"Just didn't sleep well, that's all. I'll call the gallery to finalize the details right away."
"Slow down, Jess. You work very hard. Too hard, I would say. It can take a toll on your sleep. You should take up yoga or something. Make sure you don't burn out."
This makes me smile. It's true I've been working hard since I started, on that hot July day two months ago, but that's not the reason for my poor sleep last night. Parker is the reason I tossed and turned in my bed for hours, waking up aroused. And while it was impossible for me not to think about him last night, the mountain of work I have to do before the day ends is a very good distraction.
"I know I said you work too hard, but do you think you could lend me a hand with some catalogs later?" Fiona asks apologetically, fiddling with the sleeves of her gray, knee-length, cotton dress.
"Sure, just let me finish with the gallery and I'll come by your office."
"Great."
Fiona is technically not my boss, but since my actual boss, Mr. Norton, has been away at our partner museum in Paris since I started working, she's been taking up his role.
"By the way, Mr. Norton is returning tomorrow."
"Tomorrow is Friday. I thought he wasn't returning until Tuesday."
She shrugs. "He didn't offer any explanation." The implication in her voice is clear. She doesn't give a damn why he did it. "I hope I didn't make you nervous by telling you about it. I figured it'd be better than arriving tomorrow and just seeing him here."
"I'm not nervous," I assure her. "Thanks for telling me."
She smiles and leaves my tiny office, her burgundy hair falling in waves down her back. I need a small break, so I grab my cigarettes from my bag and go outside to smoke. I wonder why Fiona thought I would be nervous about Mr. Norton’s return. I guess most people would be. But my boss was the one who hired me, and we clicked unbelievably well during the interview. He was polite and professional throughout it and did his best to put me at ease. Midway through it, I was convinced he wouldn't give me the job, because it was obvious they were looking for someone who had a bit more experience. I very nearly hugged him when he offered me the job and told me he had full confidence that I wouldn't disappoint him. He even allowed me to use one of the office phones to call my best friend to tell her my good news. Serena was cheering with me on the phone. I don't know what made me do it, but I called my parents afterward. I remember the shock in their voices. Mom was almost good at hiding it. Dad didn't even try.
"They offered you a job?" he asked.
"Yes, Dad. A job."
"As what?"
"Assistant for museum operations. You know, that is what I studied."
He grunted. For him, history and art were nothing more than poor excuses to call myself a student.
"How much are they paying you?" he barked. "That's nothing," he protested after I told him.
"No," I said with a trembling voice, "that is a starting salary."
"Well, it would've been much higher if you had studied economics like Serena, wouldn't it? She works in investment banking. How much is her starting salary?"