Billionaire Blaze, page 13
Still, by late afternoon, the four of us were standing in the room, cups of tea in hand and a packet of chocolate chip cookies mostly decimated. The paint was already mostly dry, but I would leave it overnight to be sure. It was one part of the process where I couldn’t cut corners.
“Thank you, everyone,” I said, beaming at the good job they had done.
“Just don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous,” Matt replied, also smiling.
He had some of the darker paint we’d used on the accent wall in his hair, and Stacy had sort of rubbed it in, giving him this funky, highlighted look. It had also stuck up his hair all over the place, and the paint had dried it like that.
“I’m not going to be rich and famous.” I shook my head but laughed all the same.
“I dunno. I googled this Lukas fella. If you play your cards right, you could be rich and famous.” Emily chuckled, but again, I wasn’t convinced.
“He was confusing and probably not interested, remember?”
Emily didn’t give up, putting her empty cup down. “If he’s not interested, he’s a fool, and I don’t think he’s an idiot when he’s clearly made himself a billionaire.
“He’s a billionaire?” I almost dropped my cup, sloshing tea on myself as I steadied it again. I’d known he was rich, but not that rich.
“And famous. Well, sort of. If you’re in the rich world. He gets some stick for snubbing New York, but he’s made his money well enough that no one minds too much. Rich is rich.” Emily shrugged as if this was common knowledge.
I wasn’t sure that knowing how much money Lukas had helped me. Before, I had known he was wealthy, but that didn’t make him a billionaire. Juno wasn’t and still moved in those circles.
Pushing thoughts of him aside before they could turn to how good our night together had been, I turned back to the room and finished my design. Although we had made good progress today, there was still a lot to do, and I definitely needed to go shopping the next day. I wanted to make sure I had some new clothes before I left.
It was spending money before I’d earned it, but I couldn’t show up in Chicago with absolutely nothing. Of course, I still didn’t know when I would fit clothes shopping in. But if Lukas really was as wealthy as he sounded and I stood any chance of impressing him, I couldn’t turn up in the shabby clothes I was wearing now.
Especially with the tea and paint currently staining them.
The client was due home in an hour and would want me gone by then, so I quickly cleaned myself as best I could and figured out what else could be done while the paint dried. My friends tidied up all the painting equipment, washing out the rollers and brushes and removing the evidence they were even there.
By the time the client arrived, I was as ready to move the furniture back in and uncover the pieces too large to remove as I could be. The floor was also uncovered again. They came straight to me, as they usually did, and gasped.
“Oh my, you have made progress today…This is wonderful.” The woman turned in a circle in the center of the room and then came and gave me a hug. “Thank you.”
“I’ve still got a fair bit to do tomorrow to get the room sorted and everything in, and then I’ll need a few hours on Wednesday to make sure it’s all completed. The help I had today got us back on schedule.” I tried not to sound too bitter that it had been so difficult to get it all done and how much easier it would have been if the client had been flexible, but I knew this was their home, and at least they liked it.
It took me another twenty minutes to extricate myself from the house, the client wanting to know the details of what was left to finish it off and how the final payment worked. One upside of having my friends help me paint was that it was costing me less, even when I had tried to give my rescuers some of the money I budgeted for the painter. They refused to take any payment, so now it would at least help pay for the clothing before I went.
As I thought about the job again, I sighed. Was I a fool for being so excited about it and wanting to impress a man far richer than I was? Or did I have a chance at my own fairy tale?
All I knew for sure was that I had to get on the plane and do my best at the job. Nothing would work without me being professional about that.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
There was always something about landing, going through passport control, and then collecting my baggage that made me anxious. I didn’t think that was going to change, no matter how many times I flew, but I felt better when Sarai herself met me at the airport.
“I was going to get one of our drivers to come and get you, but I had some time, and I wanted to show you around myself. I find it so much fun. Everything is a few days behind, as these things often are, but I didn’t want to delay your journey. I hope that’s okay.”
I smiled and nodded, even though I didn’t really have time to get everything done before the flight. Another day would have helped a lot. In the end, I had been forced to try to grab a few clothes while going to buy some more cushions.
None of them were very flattering, but they weren’t splattered in paint, and they fitted better than some of my other stuff. Given how well Sarai was dressed in a blouse and form-hugging black trousers, heels, and sunglasses finishing off the look, I already felt underdressed in my jeans and T-shirt, but I wasn’t going to draw attention to it.
No matter how I looked, Sarai was kind to me, and I found a small care package in the car waiting for me. Water and snacks, as well as a cute little bottle of hand lotion. It all sat in an adorable little wicker basket with a ribbon on the handle.
“Richard thought of it. He’s so adorable sometimes. I get so lost in the excitement of a project that I forget to eat, drink, and take care of myself. Richard got me one of those last week, and we both thought you’d appreciate the same when you got here after such a long flight.”
“It’s perfect, thank you.” I grinned, feeling like I could get used to being taken care of like this. It was so thoughtful of them.
Although I had been feeling pretty drained from the flight, being in the car with Sarai as she drove helped me wake up a little. The welcome basket did the rest, getting me in the mood to see a few sights.
We didn’t have a lot of time before Sarai took us to a restaurant near the site we would be working on.
“About a week into the project, I discovered this great little bar that serves food, and now I must be eating here at least twice a week. I hope you love it, too.” Sarai was super enthusiastic again, and it made me wonder if she was ever anything but. Of course, I was also new to her, and she was probably trying to make me feel welcome.
To my surprise, there were already others from the project in the restaurant, and they greeted me and Sarai as soon as we walked in. Richard was the first to get up and hug me as if we were old friends. It was yet another factor making me feel right at home.
“Let’s get you a menu, a drink, and get you properly settled in here.” Richard was quick to do exactly as he said while I sat between two others working on the project. A woman named Grace was responsible for the project management of certain elements, and the head builder, Tom, was on the other side of me.
Both of them were friendly enough and began telling me about the project and where it was at. It sounded like it was more than a few days delayed, but I knew I could begin working either way. A lot of the early part of interior design was browsing stores to get an idea of what was possible.
In my area, where I normally worked, I already knew what was available, and occasionally I bought the odd small item of furniture or a few accessories, knowing that they were in fashion and could be used on a design at some point. Here, I had to start from scratch and decide where to go, who did the best deals, and how quickly I could get what I needed.
Once the pair had finished telling me where everything was at, food had arrived. I’d been sipping on one of the bar’s own cocktails for long enough that I felt totally at ease again. I didn’t drink often, which meant just a little helped calm the anxiety and get me on track.
I launched into questions of my own as soon as I thought I could get onto the topic, asking where the furniture stores were, all the markets, and even antique shops. I got the feeling that the budget I had for this would be way above what I was used to, but I didn’t ask about that directly.
Thankfully, Sarai leaned closer, having heard my questions. “I put together an information pack. It’s already waiting for you in your room. Has the budget we’ve got set aside, the contacts we have who do us bulk discounts, and a brief on what we want again, just in case you wanted it in writing. I know we’ve discussed a lot, and you had some brilliant ideas, but I wanted to make sure you could get started with any part when you were ready.”
I blinked, shocked that it was all so efficient. Was this what it was like to work for professionals?
With that side of business squared away, I had very few questions left to ask. Grace had a few recommendations for little markets and stores that Sarai hadn’t included, all of which I wrote down, but that satisfied me on every element I needed to begin.
After talking to them all, I was also extremely excited, but I knew I would have to temper that excitement a little. Sarai wanted to take me out to explore more of Chicago the following day, and it sounded like the rest of the evening was planned—if I had the energy for it.
As the project was talked about more and more, it became clear how much Lukas and his company were handling as well. He had brought in people to slot into the team Sarai already had, and they were handling everything else.
“They’re good people,” Tom said. “Mr. Whitby is held in high regard in the city. He’s done a lot for Chicago, and not just for the wealthy. He frequently takes on projects to rejuvenate poorer parts of the city. And rumors say he waives his fees and does those projects at cost.”
I almost stopped breathing as Tom and the rest of the large table of workers turned their conversation to the one man I was nervous about but desperately wanted to see all the same. No amount of time away from Lukas had changed my opinion of him. I had a crush on him. Big time.
But after the chemistry we had and how I’d felt with him, I knew it wasn’t surprising. With Lukas being discussed, I feared that Sarai or Richard would mention how much time I had spent with him while on Jack’s island, but they kept quiet about that part and instead talked about how pleased they were that he had agreed to work with them.
It was strange to hear a group of people talk about someone as if I didn’t really know him after everything that had transpired between us. It really had been subtle enough that we were spending time together that no one had picked up on anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t entirely know how I felt about that.
With what I’d felt between us, I would have hoped that more people than Juno had noticed. Either way, I knew I would see him again soon. Even if I didn’t know when, it sounded like he was still very much involved in this project and making sure it ran smoothly.
One way or another, I would find out if I meant anything to him or not.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Lukas
Although I had been enjoying the project with Sarai as much as I’d hoped, and it had made going to work each day a great experience again, I felt nervous this morning. My hands shook as I put on my tie, and I frowned when it still didn’t look right.
I had put it on twice today already, and every time I came to the bathroom, I took it off and redid it. I didn’t look my usual self, and I wasn’t satisfied. There was a really good chance that Kit would be on site today, and I needed to go over there.
The team had told me that she’d been in the US for a few days and already got to work, despite Sarai trying to show her around town and treat her like a tourist. I wanted Kit to like what she saw. Wanted to make a good impression, even if we were only likely to ever be friends.
While I was attempting to get my tie neat for the third time this bathroom visit, Henry walked in and stopped.
“You fussing with that again?” he asked, almost laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I almost growled my response, letting out some of the tension I felt. It was irritating me, and I knew I didn’t have much longer to get it right.
“You look great. Stop changing things and worrying about it. If this girl doesn’t like you with a practically imperceptibly imperfect tie, then there is something seriously wrong with her.” Henry folded his arms, standing in the middle of the restroom. I could see the look on his face in the mirror, but it didn’t stop me from undoing the tie again and starting over once more.
“I’m not doing this for her. I’m doing this for me.”
“Whatever you want to tell yourself, boss. I’ve never seen you bother this much with your appearance. You’re no slouch, but the client hasn’t had this level of pedantry out of you so far. And this woman is the only factor that’s changed.”
I let out an exasperated sigh and lowered my arms. Henry immediately came over and finished tidying up the tie for me, doing a surprisingly good job.
“There,” he said when he was done. “Now, if she doesn’t like it, you can blame me.”
“I’m not about to tell a woman that I let my PA do my tie for me.” I rolled my eyes at the suggestion, but Henry was grinning.
“So you do have some male pride after all.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I moved toward the door, pretty sure I was now late to leave. And Henry was supposed to be going with me. I was holding him up as well.
Henry only chuckled and walked away. I left the room to let him do what he needed in private, but I lingered outside, taking a deep breath and trying to get my head on straight. At the same time, I pulled out my phone and checked the latest email with the schedule of what we needed to do.
If I focused on work, surely I would be able to calm down. This was a job, right? But no matter how much I tried to tell myself that, I knew that I had deeper feelings for Kit than I wanted to admit.
While I had been on the island, I had been so wrapped up in not wanting to be taken for a fool that I hadn’t considered how much I had enjoyed her company and how the event would have been difficult for me otherwise.
“Relax, boss,” Henry said as he came out of the bathroom. “You really do need to just get on with this job and treat her like any other professional on the team. No matter what you feel.”
“Most women don’t want that from me.” I walked with him toward the elevator, grateful to finally be heading that way, if nothing else.
“She was recommended to Sarai, right?” Henry asked, pressing the down button for me.
I nodded. “I think Juno did, but she’s a friend.”
“True, but Juno is a decent person. And not likely to suffer fools. If Juno thinks she’s good, is she likely to be bad at her job?”
“Not likely, no.”
“And you saw Sarai talking to her about what she could do?”
Although I could already see where Henry was going with this, I humored him. “Yes. I’m pretty sure Kit showed Sarai photos of her past designs.”
“Then she got this job on her own merits. Because of her own professional work. No matter why else she might be here, she’s here because she earned it, and she’s going to be a professional. All you have to do is what you would do for any of us and treat her as one.” Henry shrugged as if it was simple, and on top of Daniel’s advice, I knew I was being an ass.
I couldn’t assume the worst of her. This was a job, and I had to treat her as the professional she was and deserved to be treated as. It was that simple.
Still, my stomach tied itself in knots, and I couldn’t think of anything but how she might react when she saw me again. I didn’t know if she knew we were on the same project, as Sarai had made it sound as if Kit had signed on before I had. Another factor in her favor if I was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ll drive,” Henry said as we got to the parking garage beneath the office building. I sighed but nodded.
Although I didn’t plan on admitting it, I was too distracted.
“We’re taking my car, though,” I replied, pulling my keys out of my pocket.
“I was hoping you would be vain enough to say that.” Henry grinned and took the keys from my hand.
“Why do I get the feeling that I’ve been manipulated into letting you drive a much more expensive car than you normally would on the pretense of you being kind?” I replied.
Henry chuckled and unlocked the sleek Aston Martin I’d had imported. “Because that’s exactly what just happened. See, you still know how to spot a fraud from a mile away. You like this woman, right?”
I nodded despite his new dig at me. He had a point, and I could laugh at myself.
“Then, unless she’s been so obvious, I reckon she’s probably safe. And if not… Be sensible with what you trust her with, take your time, and enjoy the rest of the ride. You’re a billionaire. Are you really going to care if it costs you a million to have fun and go on dates and do the sorts of things you can’t do easily while single?”
Of everything he’d said, he certainly made sense with this last one. I’d always preferred to spend money on experiences over material objects. I appreciated the beauty in art, but because of the emotions it created. The moments and the memories. And I felt the same about the buildings I designed. They were built for people to make memories inside, not to be stared at and not enjoyed.
If I spent some money on dating Kit, what did it matter as long as we enjoyed dating? If it didn’t work, I’d have memories of fun. Of good dinners and good conversation. I knew that I’d get that with her, no matter what.
There was just one problem with this new line of thought. What if she didn’t even want to date? After I had been so rude to her on the last night on the island and had barely spoken to her afterward, I didn’t deserve a date with her. If anything was going to work between the two of us, I would have to repair the damage first.
Everything else was work. I could do my job. I could respect her doing hers, and with any luck, she would be interested in me as well, and I could ask her on a date.
“Thank you, everyone,” I said, beaming at the good job they had done.
“Just don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous,” Matt replied, also smiling.
He had some of the darker paint we’d used on the accent wall in his hair, and Stacy had sort of rubbed it in, giving him this funky, highlighted look. It had also stuck up his hair all over the place, and the paint had dried it like that.
“I’m not going to be rich and famous.” I shook my head but laughed all the same.
“I dunno. I googled this Lukas fella. If you play your cards right, you could be rich and famous.” Emily chuckled, but again, I wasn’t convinced.
“He was confusing and probably not interested, remember?”
Emily didn’t give up, putting her empty cup down. “If he’s not interested, he’s a fool, and I don’t think he’s an idiot when he’s clearly made himself a billionaire.
“He’s a billionaire?” I almost dropped my cup, sloshing tea on myself as I steadied it again. I’d known he was rich, but not that rich.
“And famous. Well, sort of. If you’re in the rich world. He gets some stick for snubbing New York, but he’s made his money well enough that no one minds too much. Rich is rich.” Emily shrugged as if this was common knowledge.
I wasn’t sure that knowing how much money Lukas had helped me. Before, I had known he was wealthy, but that didn’t make him a billionaire. Juno wasn’t and still moved in those circles.
Pushing thoughts of him aside before they could turn to how good our night together had been, I turned back to the room and finished my design. Although we had made good progress today, there was still a lot to do, and I definitely needed to go shopping the next day. I wanted to make sure I had some new clothes before I left.
It was spending money before I’d earned it, but I couldn’t show up in Chicago with absolutely nothing. Of course, I still didn’t know when I would fit clothes shopping in. But if Lukas really was as wealthy as he sounded and I stood any chance of impressing him, I couldn’t turn up in the shabby clothes I was wearing now.
Especially with the tea and paint currently staining them.
The client was due home in an hour and would want me gone by then, so I quickly cleaned myself as best I could and figured out what else could be done while the paint dried. My friends tidied up all the painting equipment, washing out the rollers and brushes and removing the evidence they were even there.
By the time the client arrived, I was as ready to move the furniture back in and uncover the pieces too large to remove as I could be. The floor was also uncovered again. They came straight to me, as they usually did, and gasped.
“Oh my, you have made progress today…This is wonderful.” The woman turned in a circle in the center of the room and then came and gave me a hug. “Thank you.”
“I’ve still got a fair bit to do tomorrow to get the room sorted and everything in, and then I’ll need a few hours on Wednesday to make sure it’s all completed. The help I had today got us back on schedule.” I tried not to sound too bitter that it had been so difficult to get it all done and how much easier it would have been if the client had been flexible, but I knew this was their home, and at least they liked it.
It took me another twenty minutes to extricate myself from the house, the client wanting to know the details of what was left to finish it off and how the final payment worked. One upside of having my friends help me paint was that it was costing me less, even when I had tried to give my rescuers some of the money I budgeted for the painter. They refused to take any payment, so now it would at least help pay for the clothing before I went.
As I thought about the job again, I sighed. Was I a fool for being so excited about it and wanting to impress a man far richer than I was? Or did I have a chance at my own fairy tale?
All I knew for sure was that I had to get on the plane and do my best at the job. Nothing would work without me being professional about that.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
There was always something about landing, going through passport control, and then collecting my baggage that made me anxious. I didn’t think that was going to change, no matter how many times I flew, but I felt better when Sarai herself met me at the airport.
“I was going to get one of our drivers to come and get you, but I had some time, and I wanted to show you around myself. I find it so much fun. Everything is a few days behind, as these things often are, but I didn’t want to delay your journey. I hope that’s okay.”
I smiled and nodded, even though I didn’t really have time to get everything done before the flight. Another day would have helped a lot. In the end, I had been forced to try to grab a few clothes while going to buy some more cushions.
None of them were very flattering, but they weren’t splattered in paint, and they fitted better than some of my other stuff. Given how well Sarai was dressed in a blouse and form-hugging black trousers, heels, and sunglasses finishing off the look, I already felt underdressed in my jeans and T-shirt, but I wasn’t going to draw attention to it.
No matter how I looked, Sarai was kind to me, and I found a small care package in the car waiting for me. Water and snacks, as well as a cute little bottle of hand lotion. It all sat in an adorable little wicker basket with a ribbon on the handle.
“Richard thought of it. He’s so adorable sometimes. I get so lost in the excitement of a project that I forget to eat, drink, and take care of myself. Richard got me one of those last week, and we both thought you’d appreciate the same when you got here after such a long flight.”
“It’s perfect, thank you.” I grinned, feeling like I could get used to being taken care of like this. It was so thoughtful of them.
Although I had been feeling pretty drained from the flight, being in the car with Sarai as she drove helped me wake up a little. The welcome basket did the rest, getting me in the mood to see a few sights.
We didn’t have a lot of time before Sarai took us to a restaurant near the site we would be working on.
“About a week into the project, I discovered this great little bar that serves food, and now I must be eating here at least twice a week. I hope you love it, too.” Sarai was super enthusiastic again, and it made me wonder if she was ever anything but. Of course, I was also new to her, and she was probably trying to make me feel welcome.
To my surprise, there were already others from the project in the restaurant, and they greeted me and Sarai as soon as we walked in. Richard was the first to get up and hug me as if we were old friends. It was yet another factor making me feel right at home.
“Let’s get you a menu, a drink, and get you properly settled in here.” Richard was quick to do exactly as he said while I sat between two others working on the project. A woman named Grace was responsible for the project management of certain elements, and the head builder, Tom, was on the other side of me.
Both of them were friendly enough and began telling me about the project and where it was at. It sounded like it was more than a few days delayed, but I knew I could begin working either way. A lot of the early part of interior design was browsing stores to get an idea of what was possible.
In my area, where I normally worked, I already knew what was available, and occasionally I bought the odd small item of furniture or a few accessories, knowing that they were in fashion and could be used on a design at some point. Here, I had to start from scratch and decide where to go, who did the best deals, and how quickly I could get what I needed.
Once the pair had finished telling me where everything was at, food had arrived. I’d been sipping on one of the bar’s own cocktails for long enough that I felt totally at ease again. I didn’t drink often, which meant just a little helped calm the anxiety and get me on track.
I launched into questions of my own as soon as I thought I could get onto the topic, asking where the furniture stores were, all the markets, and even antique shops. I got the feeling that the budget I had for this would be way above what I was used to, but I didn’t ask about that directly.
Thankfully, Sarai leaned closer, having heard my questions. “I put together an information pack. It’s already waiting for you in your room. Has the budget we’ve got set aside, the contacts we have who do us bulk discounts, and a brief on what we want again, just in case you wanted it in writing. I know we’ve discussed a lot, and you had some brilliant ideas, but I wanted to make sure you could get started with any part when you were ready.”
I blinked, shocked that it was all so efficient. Was this what it was like to work for professionals?
With that side of business squared away, I had very few questions left to ask. Grace had a few recommendations for little markets and stores that Sarai hadn’t included, all of which I wrote down, but that satisfied me on every element I needed to begin.
After talking to them all, I was also extremely excited, but I knew I would have to temper that excitement a little. Sarai wanted to take me out to explore more of Chicago the following day, and it sounded like the rest of the evening was planned—if I had the energy for it.
As the project was talked about more and more, it became clear how much Lukas and his company were handling as well. He had brought in people to slot into the team Sarai already had, and they were handling everything else.
“They’re good people,” Tom said. “Mr. Whitby is held in high regard in the city. He’s done a lot for Chicago, and not just for the wealthy. He frequently takes on projects to rejuvenate poorer parts of the city. And rumors say he waives his fees and does those projects at cost.”
I almost stopped breathing as Tom and the rest of the large table of workers turned their conversation to the one man I was nervous about but desperately wanted to see all the same. No amount of time away from Lukas had changed my opinion of him. I had a crush on him. Big time.
But after the chemistry we had and how I’d felt with him, I knew it wasn’t surprising. With Lukas being discussed, I feared that Sarai or Richard would mention how much time I had spent with him while on Jack’s island, but they kept quiet about that part and instead talked about how pleased they were that he had agreed to work with them.
It was strange to hear a group of people talk about someone as if I didn’t really know him after everything that had transpired between us. It really had been subtle enough that we were spending time together that no one had picked up on anything out of the ordinary. I didn’t entirely know how I felt about that.
With what I’d felt between us, I would have hoped that more people than Juno had noticed. Either way, I knew I would see him again soon. Even if I didn’t know when, it sounded like he was still very much involved in this project and making sure it ran smoothly.
One way or another, I would find out if I meant anything to him or not.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Lukas
Although I had been enjoying the project with Sarai as much as I’d hoped, and it had made going to work each day a great experience again, I felt nervous this morning. My hands shook as I put on my tie, and I frowned when it still didn’t look right.
I had put it on twice today already, and every time I came to the bathroom, I took it off and redid it. I didn’t look my usual self, and I wasn’t satisfied. There was a really good chance that Kit would be on site today, and I needed to go over there.
The team had told me that she’d been in the US for a few days and already got to work, despite Sarai trying to show her around town and treat her like a tourist. I wanted Kit to like what she saw. Wanted to make a good impression, even if we were only likely to ever be friends.
While I was attempting to get my tie neat for the third time this bathroom visit, Henry walked in and stopped.
“You fussing with that again?” he asked, almost laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I almost growled my response, letting out some of the tension I felt. It was irritating me, and I knew I didn’t have much longer to get it right.
“You look great. Stop changing things and worrying about it. If this girl doesn’t like you with a practically imperceptibly imperfect tie, then there is something seriously wrong with her.” Henry folded his arms, standing in the middle of the restroom. I could see the look on his face in the mirror, but it didn’t stop me from undoing the tie again and starting over once more.
“I’m not doing this for her. I’m doing this for me.”
“Whatever you want to tell yourself, boss. I’ve never seen you bother this much with your appearance. You’re no slouch, but the client hasn’t had this level of pedantry out of you so far. And this woman is the only factor that’s changed.”
I let out an exasperated sigh and lowered my arms. Henry immediately came over and finished tidying up the tie for me, doing a surprisingly good job.
“There,” he said when he was done. “Now, if she doesn’t like it, you can blame me.”
“I’m not about to tell a woman that I let my PA do my tie for me.” I rolled my eyes at the suggestion, but Henry was grinning.
“So you do have some male pride after all.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I moved toward the door, pretty sure I was now late to leave. And Henry was supposed to be going with me. I was holding him up as well.
Henry only chuckled and walked away. I left the room to let him do what he needed in private, but I lingered outside, taking a deep breath and trying to get my head on straight. At the same time, I pulled out my phone and checked the latest email with the schedule of what we needed to do.
If I focused on work, surely I would be able to calm down. This was a job, right? But no matter how much I tried to tell myself that, I knew that I had deeper feelings for Kit than I wanted to admit.
While I had been on the island, I had been so wrapped up in not wanting to be taken for a fool that I hadn’t considered how much I had enjoyed her company and how the event would have been difficult for me otherwise.
“Relax, boss,” Henry said as he came out of the bathroom. “You really do need to just get on with this job and treat her like any other professional on the team. No matter what you feel.”
“Most women don’t want that from me.” I walked with him toward the elevator, grateful to finally be heading that way, if nothing else.
“She was recommended to Sarai, right?” Henry asked, pressing the down button for me.
I nodded. “I think Juno did, but she’s a friend.”
“True, but Juno is a decent person. And not likely to suffer fools. If Juno thinks she’s good, is she likely to be bad at her job?”
“Not likely, no.”
“And you saw Sarai talking to her about what she could do?”
Although I could already see where Henry was going with this, I humored him. “Yes. I’m pretty sure Kit showed Sarai photos of her past designs.”
“Then she got this job on her own merits. Because of her own professional work. No matter why else she might be here, she’s here because she earned it, and she’s going to be a professional. All you have to do is what you would do for any of us and treat her as one.” Henry shrugged as if it was simple, and on top of Daniel’s advice, I knew I was being an ass.
I couldn’t assume the worst of her. This was a job, and I had to treat her as the professional she was and deserved to be treated as. It was that simple.
Still, my stomach tied itself in knots, and I couldn’t think of anything but how she might react when she saw me again. I didn’t know if she knew we were on the same project, as Sarai had made it sound as if Kit had signed on before I had. Another factor in her favor if I was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“I’ll drive,” Henry said as we got to the parking garage beneath the office building. I sighed but nodded.
Although I didn’t plan on admitting it, I was too distracted.
“We’re taking my car, though,” I replied, pulling my keys out of my pocket.
“I was hoping you would be vain enough to say that.” Henry grinned and took the keys from my hand.
“Why do I get the feeling that I’ve been manipulated into letting you drive a much more expensive car than you normally would on the pretense of you being kind?” I replied.
Henry chuckled and unlocked the sleek Aston Martin I’d had imported. “Because that’s exactly what just happened. See, you still know how to spot a fraud from a mile away. You like this woman, right?”
I nodded despite his new dig at me. He had a point, and I could laugh at myself.
“Then, unless she’s been so obvious, I reckon she’s probably safe. And if not… Be sensible with what you trust her with, take your time, and enjoy the rest of the ride. You’re a billionaire. Are you really going to care if it costs you a million to have fun and go on dates and do the sorts of things you can’t do easily while single?”
Of everything he’d said, he certainly made sense with this last one. I’d always preferred to spend money on experiences over material objects. I appreciated the beauty in art, but because of the emotions it created. The moments and the memories. And I felt the same about the buildings I designed. They were built for people to make memories inside, not to be stared at and not enjoyed.
If I spent some money on dating Kit, what did it matter as long as we enjoyed dating? If it didn’t work, I’d have memories of fun. Of good dinners and good conversation. I knew that I’d get that with her, no matter what.
There was just one problem with this new line of thought. What if she didn’t even want to date? After I had been so rude to her on the last night on the island and had barely spoken to her afterward, I didn’t deserve a date with her. If anything was going to work between the two of us, I would have to repair the damage first.
Everything else was work. I could do my job. I could respect her doing hers, and with any luck, she would be interested in me as well, and I could ask her on a date.
