She looks decidedly uncomfortable. “Well, yes.”
This whole conversation is uncomfortable as hell. “I haven’t decided whether I’ll go.”
“I thought that might be the case,” she says, bringing the envelope up and hugging it to her chest. “This is awkward.”
It is, but I’m not going to show her how embarrassed I am at the idea of her knowing things about my personal life. Other than buying gifts for family birthdays and Christmas, I’ve kept my PA away from anything non–business related. I’m sure she’s discreet, and she’s signed an NDA, but I don’t like the idea of being anything but professional with her.
“It’s okay, Sandrine. It’s your job to read my emails. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“It’s not that,” she says, taking a step forward but still looking as though she is holding something in her hands that might explode if she lets it go.
“Well, what is it then?” I say impatiently. Sandrine is usually efficient and forthright, and I find her new hesitancy annoying.
“I think I may have overstepped my role, and I’m hoping you’re not going to be angry about it. I had Security run a risk assessment on…Whiskey Rose.” She tenses, bracing herself for my anger, holding out the envelope, and stepping backward when I have taken hold of it.
“You did what?”
“When I read the email, I put two and two together. I expected you to tell me to adjust your schedule immediately, but when you didn’t, I was curious. You haven’t been yourself this last week. You’ve been distracted. And I knew you didn’t have it in you to look into someone so invasively, so I did it for you.”
“You ran a risk assessment on Nicole?” I say incredulously, now intrigued as to the content of the report I am holding.
“Security traced her IP address and linked it all. You don’t have to look at the report if you don’t want to. Maybe you shouldn’t.” I raise an eyebrow, starting to open the flap, convinced it contains bad news, but Sandrine continued hurriedly. “Not because there’s anything bad in there because there isn’t. They reviewed her family, work, social media, financials, and telephone records. I can tell you that she checked out perfectly, nothing untoward. If that’s enough, for you to hear it from me, then I can take that report and shred it so you won’t feel awkward about knowing things that she hasn’t told you about yet.”
I look down at the envelope and back at Sandrine, whose grave face makes me wonder if she fears for her job. I’m not angry with her because she’s right. I would never have felt right about getting my security team to look into someone in such detail but having someone else decide for me makes me realize how much I need the reassurance. Knowing Nicole has checked out doesn’t allay all my fears, but I know I’m running out of time. If I don’t get my travel plans confirmed, I’ll be going nowhere. I stand and hand Sandrine the envelope.
“Thank you, Sandrine. You can go ahead and book my travel arrangements, please,” I say as my heart starts to beat faster at the thought. Can I really go? Can I take the step?
“For tomorrow?”
“Yes. And I’ll be going to New York on Sunday as well.”
“Do you need accommodation in either place?”
“Can you book me a suite at a hotel near the Providence Marquis? Not at the Marquis, just somewhere close.”
She looks confused but nods her head, and then she frowns at me as though she wants to say something more.
“What is it, Sandrine?” I ask.
“It’s just…I wanted to say that I think this could be a good thing for you. You need someone in your life, Aaron. I’ll book you the room, but I hope you don’t use it. Take the chance. It might be worth it, but if you don’t, you’ll never know.”
As Sandrine turns and leaves my office to carry out my instructions, I sit and put my hands behind my head, wondering what the hell I’m going to do when I get there.27
NICOLEEverything is done. My meeting has gone well, and the contracts are signed. I've called my boss, who sounded ecstatic, and I'm hoping for a good bonus in my next pay packet.
Back at the hotel, I leave instructions at the desk so that if Aaron arrives, they will give him a key card for the room. I've had a long bath in some expensive bubble bath that I brought with me as a treat to prepare for Aaron's arrival. I preen myself until I'm satisfied that every bit of skin that needs to be smooth has been dealt with, thinking about the things he will do to my body if he comes. I paint my toenails with a nude-pink varnish and apply light make-up to add color to my features. Soft music plays in the background on my phone.