The Blind Date

I told him my plan, the one that’s been rushing through my mind at breakneck speed all morning since I left Riley’s living room mattress to go home and get ready for work. I trust River. He’s been my partner in crime for years and sees things differently than I do, so I appreciate his counsel. Even if I don’t always take it.

“I’m sure. I won’t hurt Riley again,” I tell him. “She’s more important.”

“And if things blow up?” River asks. “What are you going to do?”

“I thought about that,” I answer him honestly, “and the truth is . . . I don’t know. Part of me thinks that maybe I’ve grown enough to take another run at entrepreneurship. But I’ll deal with that if it happens.”

River looks shocked. “You don’t have a plan, with options B, C, and D, and subset one, two, and three?” When I glare at him, he whistles. “Shit, she’s really got you by the balls, doesn’t she?”

“That’s your sister you’re talking about, and my balls,” I remind him.

He clears his throat, looking a little ill at the very idea.

The truth is, I like working in a corporate environment. I like having a hierarchy and a system in place. I like wearing a suit and tie to work, riding the elevator to my private office, and looking out over Briar Rose from the large windows. I might not have my own window like Elisa yet, but one day, I will.

More importantly, I like Life Corp. But Life Corp is a job.

Riley is my heart.

“Whatever happens, I’ve got your back,” River says, leaning forward to bump fists with me. “But if things go bad, I call dibs on your chair and your coffee warmer. I think I’ll go put my name on them now, just in case.” He picks up a stack of sticky notes and starts writing his name on them.

I flip him off as I march out of his office. The elevator ride to the top floor is both too long and too short, giving me time to panic but not time to practice my speech.

In Lady Elisa’s office, Tina and Gina are in their normal positions, half assistant, half royal guard.

“I need to see Lady Elisa,” I tell Tina, smiling easily. Inside, my guts are churning, but this is why I talked with River. Tina doesn’t deserve to be put on blast for what I have to say.

“She’s not taking visitors today,” Tina says professionally. “But if you’d like, I can put you on her schedule for a chat. Say, next Tuesday at—”

“Tina, I don’t want to be an asshole,” I interrupt her, putting my hands on her desk and staring at her as I admit to knowing my reputation, “but I need to talk to her today. Now. I understand that she doesn’t like to be disturbed unexpectedly, but this is important.”

“Important enough to risk your job?” Gina says gravely. “That’s what you’re doing.”

I turn to look at her and nod. “I’m positive.”

“Your funeral. It’s been nice knowing you, Noah.” Tina smiles politely and gets up from her desk, disappearing into Elisa’s office.

Gina is fighting to hide her smirk. “Tina’s being kind. It most definitely has not been nice knowing you.”

I frown, my brows slashing down over my eyes in surprise. I thought I was okay with Gina and Tina. We’re not buddies who go get Friday night drinks at happy hour, but I wouldn’t have thought they’d take glee in my misery.

“Until recently,” Gina finishes. “You’re like a whole different person these days. Got a little sunshine in your life, huh?”

Ah, I have been an asshole. I know that, and it seems that Gina is a Riley Sunshine fan too. Hell, maybe she’s the one who told Elisa about the photo reveal? But it doesn’t matter.

I was who I was, and I am who I am.

But I’m not all watered down. I pass by Gina, prepared to open Elisa’s door and let myself in because Tina’s taking too long. It’s been at least sixty seconds and I’m ready to say what I need to.

Just as I’m reaching for the knob, the door opens, and Tina waves me in before slipping by like she’s running from a zombie horde. I give her a small nod and walk in, closing the door behind me.

Never has Lady Elisa’s office looked so damn big. The room seems to stretch out in front of me, longer than a football field, and at the apex of it is Lady Elisa, looking none too pleased that I’m here.

“Mr. Daniels . . . I’ve had a busy morning, full of interruptions, oddly.” She glares at me accusingly. “And I have work to do.” She keeps reading her screen, a red pen in her hand marking things on the paper in front of her, and I wonder how she’s multitasking. I mean, she’s dealing with thousands of dollars, or sometimes hundreds of thousands, with every signature she signs.