Chapter one
Kate
Iworked for the world’s biggest asshole.
Okay, that might’ve been a bit melodramatic. Tristan wasn’t the biggest asshole in the world, he was just the biggest asshole in New York.
A groan bubbled up my throat as I tightened my grip on the manila folder and hurried toward the high-rise. My clicking heels on the hard cement of the sidewalk almost matched the furious tapping inside my chest.
Chasing after my boss was as strenuous as my favorite Kayleigh Cohen spin class.
Huffing out a breath, I wiped a bead of sweat from my brow. The action illuminated the screen of my smartwatch... and a hard curse rolled off my tongue.
This freaking idiot of a man was going to make me miss my date.
Kind of a big damn deal when it took me over six years to enter the dating scene. And no, it didn’t matter my sister set up the dating app profile behind my back or that she even arranged this date…andthe previous one I didn’t show up for.
“Ugh,” I grumbled as the entrance to Blake Towers came into view. “Freaking finally.”
Increasing my brisk walk to a jog, my heels clicked faster, and my arms pumped harder. I only slowed to greet the doorman opening the door so I could dash into the lobby. I couldn’t thank him properly because I didn’t know his name—he was new, and I made a mental note to catch his name next time.
Stepping into the lobby, a shiver slid down my spine.
I never did like this place. It was pristine, sterile, and so damn pretentious. If I looked down, I’d probably see my scattered reflection staring at me.
Barely containing the defeated sound that wanted to puff past my lips, I made my way to Ezekiel sitting behind the front desk.
His perfectly straight teeth were extra white against his dark skin. The smile on his lips, the friendliest I’d seen all day.
“Is he up there?”
He gave me a knowing look. “Arrived about forty minutes ago.”
I waved the manila folder through the air. “Great.”
Ezekiel’s gaze darted to the folder then returned to me. The worry lines creasing his forehead gave my heart a little jolt. “You work too hard, Miss Kate.”
I’d been employed by Tristan for the better part of five years, more than half of which was spent chasing the man after hours, trying to get him to sign one document or another.
“Don’t I know it?” Puckering my lips, I blew at the few wayward strands dangling over my left eye. In my peripheral, I noticed the elevator doors open. “Wish me luck,” I said to Ezekiel and made a mad dash toward the shiny doors.
Of course, they slid shut the second I reached them.
“Oh, come on.” Groaning, I stabbed the button more times than necessary.
And since my irritation and anxiety was at an all-time high, I couldn’t keep still. Bending my knees slightly, I straightened them again and again, as if bouncing on the spot would make the damn car arrive faster.
Another flick of my wrist told me I had twenty-five minutes to get Tristan to sign the stupid papers and rush across town to meet Steve on time.
I can make it.Yeah… in my dreams, probably.
Another curse fell from my lips as the doors finally glided apart. Only the car wasn’t empty, and judging by the way the elderly couple stared at me, I had no doubt they’d heard what I’d said.
Fan-freaking-tastic.
I lifted my lips into an apologetic smile but received nothing but a scolding glare when they exited and shuffled past me.
Oh well.
