The Man Who Has No Sight (Soulless 4)

“I like your mom. She’s got spunk. I enjoy that.”

I chuckled. “You two are a lot alike, now that I think about it.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I turned quiet, starting to miss her the more I talked to her.

“I thought it would be nice for Derek to see familiar faces while you’re gone. He seems fine, but you never know.”

“I think he’s pretty comfortable with you, baby.” When we’d stopped seeing each other, he didn’t just forget about her and move on. He kept asking about her, even called her himself. He never hoped his mother and I would get back together. He had mature instincts and good taste.

“We are coloring buddies, so that makes sense.” The smile was audible in her voice.

“Well, it’s pretty late here… I should go.”

“Alright,” she said with a sigh. “I’m glad you’re having a good time, mingling with your people.”

It was like that charity dinner I hosted, where it was easy for me to talk to people because I was familiar with everyone, and we all spoke the same weird language. We didn’t make much small talk, just talked about our research, and since that was far more interesting to us than the weather or gossip, it was just easy. “My people?”

“Yeah. You know, other brilliant people.”

“You’re my people too, Cleo.” In fact, she was my person, my only person.

She was quiet for a while, like she was letting those words sink in. “I love you…”

“I love you too.”

She hung up.

Fourteen

Cleo

I arranged a meeting with Mr. Kline for the next time he was in Manhattan. He lived in the Hamptons and it seemed inappropriate to visit him at his private residence to ask for more money, so I waited until it was the right time for him.

He was there for dinner with friends, so he stopped by before, meeting me in the office when Matt and Anna had already left for the day. His wife waited in the car outside.

I rose to my feet and greeted him when he approached the office. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Kline.” I extended my hand and shook his. It was the first time we’d seen each other in person since he’d fired me in the back seat of his car. I tried not to have any hard feelings about it, to just leave it in the past.

“You too, Cleo. How are things around here?”

“Once the holidays were over, they picked up right away.” I sat behind my desk.

He took a seat in the comfy chair facing me. “That’s good. So, what requires my attention that can’t be expressed in an email or phone call?” He was a no-nonsense guy. He just wanted his paycheck and to live his life. He was set in his ways, a little rough around the edges.

But I had clients just like that, so it wasn’t a big deal. “I thought it would be best to talk in person. Unfortunately, we don’t cross paths often, so I appreciate your stopping by to see me. And I’ll make this quick because I’m sure you’re hungry.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Alright.”

“Well…” I forced myself to be confident, to act like I deserved this raise instead of having to beg for it. I may not leave the condo for a long time, and not paying rent had saved me a lot of money. But I needed this raise, regardless…because I didn’t know what the future held. I might need that money like a life raft very soon. “I’ve been working here for eight years, and I absolutely love my job. I love all my clients, I love Matt and Anna, and I think that love is why my performance is so superb. I want to work here forever, until I’m too old to take care of the residences, so I’m very committed. But I haven’t been given a raise in over five years, and I’d like to discuss a higher salary.”

His eyes widened. “So, you sleep with two residents then ask for more money?”

I knew he would say that, so I was prepared. “And every resident in this building signed a petition stating they would leave if I weren’t reinstated. That’s pretty incredible, for these wealthy people to take time out of their lives to put their signatures on paper, to even have the time to care about the person serving them. But I’m their confidante, their friend, the person who keeps their life together. I’m essential to them, this building, and you.”

He sighed and looked away, like the evidence was undeniable. “Cleo, you are essential, and I want to keep you. I want to make you happy. But if this turns into a situation where you’re constantly asking me for raises and strong-arming me, then I will hire someone else they’ll eventually fall in love with, and then I’ll get rid of you when no one cares anymore.”