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After spending way too much time thinking about Easton, I rushed through the apartment I shared with four other women, grabbing a breakfast bar before I left. My Uber driver had been waiting for five minutes, and I hoped that they didn’t leave like the last time. I really needed this fucking job.
I hopped into the car muttering an apology when the girl took off quickly as I prayed that traffic wasn't horrible. It usually took fifteen minutes to get there, and I had eighteen. Taking my makeup bag out, I put on a quick face of makeup. We pulled up with one minute to spare. I thanked the Uber driver and ran into the building. The cool September morning made me shiver.
I walked into the swanky building, taking the elevator to the penthouse. Nerves hit me again because my boss was a drop-dead gorgeous man. Well, I reported to his personal assistant, but we both reported to Lincoln Valbuena. It was only my first week working as an assistant to his assistant, but it was good money and I desperately needed a job even if it was part-time.
Work with decent pay and decent hours had been hard to come by in Denver. I also needed something that worked well with my other job. I worked with a catering company as one of their servers and did some of their admin work. When I was desperate for a job, Cheryl, my boss, took a chance on me and honestly, I had no idea how busy catering companies were. She let me help her prep and serve the food, and do things in the office for her. It was decent money, but it wasn’t always consistent, which is why I needed a second job.
“Cutting it close, aren’t we?” Adrian asked, not looking up from his phone as I stepped off the elevator.
“I’m still on time,” I said, opening the coat closet and hanging up my stuff before walking into the living room towards the kitchen.
“Ok, so I have to hit the office to pull some paperwork, then I’m meeting with a real estate agent and I should be back before you have to leave,” he said, still on his phone. “I left files for you to organize, and I need you to pull some contracts that we need to renew. Mr. Valbuena will also have a client stopping by today for lunch. I’ve placed an order for food to be delivered. Ask them when they want to eat before you bring the food out. We should also get a head start on next week's family dinner they are having here, plan a menu and manage the entire experience, top to bottom.”
As he talked about some merger happening that felt more like he was just talking out loud to himself, I made us some coffee. Mr. Valbuena had a sick espresso machine, but it had never been used until I was hired. I used to be a barista for a local coffee shop, so I was very familiar with the machine.
“I think next week we might be at the office, but you might need to come back here a few days a week,” he said, finally looking at me when I handed him a cup of coffee.
“Ok, that sounds good,” I said, shaving a little Abuelita chocolate on Mr. Valbuena’s coffee and my own.
“This coffee is crack, what do you put in it?”
I chuckled. “It's just a little chocolate on top, but the trick is to have a little bit in the cup before you put in your espresso shots.”
“Well, I would take your coffee any day,” he said, watching me over the top of his cup.
I grabbed a tray, setting Mr. Valbuena’s coffee along with a concha from a local bakery that had amazing pan dulce on it.
“I might stop by for some syrups one day to really show you I can make a mean pumpkin spiced latte.” I smiled, grabbing the tray, getting ready to take it to Mr. Valbuena.
“He needs to look over this and sign, but make sure he does it before his client gets here.” He opened his bag and took out a folder setting it on the tray. “Call me if you need anything and thanks for the coffee.”
“Anytime,” I said, walking to Mr. Valbuena’s office.
I knocked, waiting for an answer. When I didn’t hear anything I knocked again before opening the door. As I walked in, I stopped abruptly when I saw Mr. Valbuena kissing a woman in front of his desk. They looked at me as I muttered an apology and turned around to leave.
“It’s ok, Noemi.” Mr. Valbuena’s voice did nothing for my embarrassment.
It was husky and sultry.
“I am so sorry,” I said again, not making eye contact.
“I heard the knock, but I was too caught up in my wife to have answered.”
I looked over to see them, eyeing each other like they hung the moon and stars for one another. This made me melt from the sweetness of it before I turned into a bitter woman hating my ex-fiancé once again.
“I can come back,” I said, stepping back.
“It’s fine, he’s just being needy,” the woman said, kissing him quickly before looking at me as her husband went behind the desk. She was absolutely stunning, with dark hair that accentuated her blue eyes and a hint of red peeking out from underneath her hair. “I’m Lola.”
“Noemi,” I said, walking towards them to set the tray down.
“Don’t let him intimidate you and don’t take shit from Adrian either. If they give you problems just come to me.” She smiled.
“Thanks,” I said, setting the coffee and pan dulce on the desk. “Adrian said you need to take a look at these and have them signed this morning.”
“Ok, I will. Thank you, Noemi,” he said, as Lola grabbed his concha and took a bite of it. “I’ve missed eating conchas.”
They were so damn cute together; I hated the emptiness I felt and how much I wanted to burn the world down because my ex was an asshole. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I literally have the worst taste in men, but this one took the cake. He took two years of my life and left me in so much debt that I was contemplating selling my grandparents’ home because I had trusted and loved him and now I was in over my head.
