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She smirks. “What do you need? I recognize the Alister Black ‘I need a favor’ look when I see it.”
I make a face. “It’s a big one. You still heading to Chicago tomorrow?”
Taylor’s scheduled a meeting with some prospective new clients, and a few existing ones who live in the Windy City. She’s also going to scope out some office space, just to get a feel for things if we decide to go ahead with expanding out there.
Taylor nods. “Yes,” she grins. “You want me to bring back a deep dish or Cubs tickets?”
“More like I need you to take Eloise with you.”
Taylor’s brow arches. “I see.”
“It’s not what you?—”
“Alistair.”
“Yes?”
“For the sake of both our friendship and professional relationship, please don’t ever talk to me like I’m a fucking idiot ever again.”
My mouth twists. “Sure. Sorry about that.”
She nods. “Apology accepted. C’mon. It’s exactly what I think with you and Eloise, isn’t it.”
“Objection. Leading the witness.”
“Fuck off. Sustained. And guilty as fuck, while we’re at it.” She sighs. “I’m assuming Gabriel has already told you how terrible an idea this is?”
“Correct.”
“Then I’ll save my breath.” She eyes me dubiously. “Fine, but only because I like you, and might like her even more. She can come.”
I smile. “Yeah, well… That’s the thing.”
“What?”
“I need you to ‘bring her’,” I air-quote. “But not actually bring her.”
Taylor, who’s the opposite of an idiot, eyes me coolly.
“Okay,” she finally says, nodding. “But do you know what you’re doing?”
“Mostly?”
“Let’s fucking hope so, Alistair.”
26
ELOISE
I spend most of the morning lying in Alistair’s bed, just breathing.
Not in a weird way. In an “I haven’t been able to breathe without the crushing weight of anxiety or anger in far too long” kind of way.
That’s what life under Massimo’s thumb has felt like: a crushing weight pressing down on me. Even before him, there were all those years where I was incredibly lost and angry. Now, for the first time in forever, it feels like my head is actually above the water.
Whatever last bricks of the walls between Alistair and I came crashing down last night. And God, does that feel good.
I grin, blushing.
