“Yeah, about that.” Maisy came all the way into the room and sat gingerly on the edge of the chair beside Javier’s desk. It seemed notable that she didn’t choose the client chair on the other side of the desk, but rather one close enough for her to reach out and lay a hand on his arm.
“I know,” he said before Maisy could so much as hint at what she knew he was going to say. “After Elaina, we’ve only got five models still contracted with us.”
“And how many clients do we have?” Maisy asked.
She already knew the answer. Javier just looked at her instead of admitting they had none left. Not ones that really mattered, at least.
“I’m not going to tell you to ask your fancy boyfriend for money again,” Maisy said, essentially asking the question anyhow.
“I’m not a hundred percent certain he’s my boyfriend anymore,” Javier said gloomily.
Ouch. Saying that hurt so much more than he expected it to. But it wasn’t really true. At least, he didn’t think so.
“Did you two have a fight over the weekend or something?” Maisy asked with all her motherly concern. She seemed more concerned about Desmond than the end of Rivera Talent.
Then again, Javier was more concerned about Desmond than the end of Rivera Talent, too.
“I’m not even sure anymore,” Javier said, closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. “I think we’re just giving each other some space.”
“I don’t understand,” Maisy said, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her knees like a therapist. “If you didn’t have a fight, why are you giving each other space?”
Javier opened one eye to look at her, then decided he really could use someone older and wiser to bounce the whole thing off of.
He drew in a breath and started with, “Desmond was supposed to receive a big award for ethics in the financial world at a fancy supper on Friday night.”
“Yes, you told me,” Maisy said, all serious and concerned, which was disconcerting, considering she was dressed in an odd combination of royal blue slacks, pink, floral print shirt, and chartreuse cardigan.
“He declined the award,” Javier told the story. “On the stage, after he’d been introduced and everything.”
“Oh, wow! Why?”
“He said he doesn’t deserve it.”
Maisy pulled back quickly, like she’d suddenly smelled something off. “That doesn’t make sense. You’ve always said Desmond is a lovely man.”
“He is! He definitely is. But that rotten ex of his has done a number on his mental health.”
Maisy snorted. “Isn’t that always the way of things.”
“Well, that ex was there at the awards ceremony,” Javier went on. “He thought he’d spill a little tea all over the place by telling me that Desmond was guilty of insider trading last year.”
“That’s illegal, isn’t it?” Maisy asked with a frown.
“It is, but after Desmond told me the story, I’m not sure he’s as guilty as he thinks he is. I think abusive ex Matthew and unscrupulous financial competitor Angus wheedled it out of him somehow.”
“That’s awful,” Maisy said, as into the conversation as if they were talking about two people on a cutthroat reality show. “And is that why you two quarreled and split?”
“No, we quarreled and decided to give each other space because Desmond ran off the stage and out of the building, heading home and leaving me behind.”
“Oh,” Maisy said slowly as understanding dawned. “He ditched you in his darkest hour.”
“He was scared,” Javier said, slumping back again. “I know that’s what it was. He thought I wouldn’t want anything to do with him anymore. That’s where Matthew damaged him, by the way. That bastard sliced my man’s self-esteem to shreds and left him feeling like he isn’t worthy of love. Or something ridiculous like that.”
“Men aren’t very good at handling their emotions,” Maisy said, shaking her head.
“I beg your pardon?” Javier stiffened his back. “Not all of us are Neanderthals. Some of us are very good at managing our mental and emotional health.”
Maisy stared flatly at him. “Tell me again why you’re sitting here telling me all this instead of knocking on your man’s door to try to talk sense into him?”
