My memories flit from the sensation of Imani’s soft lips slanting against mine to a new, and entirely fabricated, fantasy. I’m imagining waking up beside her in the morning –everymorning – the sun barely peeking through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. I imagine the warmth of her skin against mine, the way her breath would slow as she slowly wakes up next to me. She’d stretch, maybe mumble something semi-incoherent as she starts to wake, and I’d get to smile at the simple pleasure of her being there. I’d never tire of it.
‘Not again.’
Andreas’ tired sigh snaps me out of my reverie. His gaze is locked on me, and it’s like he can see the way my mind is wandering, despite my best efforts to hide it.
I blink, suddenly aware of the room again. ‘What?’ I mumble, pretending like I didn’t just let my thoughts, once again, wander into extremely dangerous territory.
‘Cut him some slack,’ Teddy says, shooting me a knowinglook that immediately has me apprehensive. Nothing good ever comes from Teddy looking at you like that. ‘He had a big night last night.’
Ah.
It’s suddenly clear to me that Teddy has seen the photo of me and Imani leaving the premiere last night circulating on social media. From the slightly bemused look on Andreas’ face, he’s seen it too.
‘That’s right,’ Andreas says thoughtfully. ‘I’m glad you two are getting along better. I know Father was…’ He trails off, brows pinching slightly in the middle. ‘…concernedabout how things were progressing.’
Teddy snorts and I can’t help but echo the sentiment.Concernedis an understatement.
‘And howarethings progressing?’ Teddy asks. ‘Will we get to meet our future sister-in-law anytime soon?’
The idea of Imani becoming Teddy and Andreas’ sister-in-law and therefore my wife absolutely shouldn’t sound appealing to me in the slightest.
And yet…
I shake my head, ridding my mind of more delusional visions of Imani by my side. She’d be so disappointed if she knew I was entertaining thoughts like these when we’re supposed to be on the same page.
‘I’m doing my best,’ I grumble. ‘But she can’t stand me. Not much more I can do there.’
‘You sure about that?’ Andreas asks, one brow raised.
‘Extremely,’ I grit out. No part of me mistakes his questionas brotherly concern; I know the only thing he’s concerned about is the company. Just like our father.
‘Can we get back to business?’ I ask, gesturing lamely at Andreas’ laptop. ‘Don’t you have a hotel to launch?’
Andreas looks like he wants to say something else about the Imani matter, but then he seems to remember that we’re technically in crunch time for this launch and there are still too many loose ends. He clears his throat, turns back to his laptop, and immediately starts reeling off a list of things for Teddy and me to do.
I nod as Andreas tasks me with triple checking the marketing assets before we officially go live with the website, forcing myself to stay grounded in the present. No more daydreaming. No more fantasising. No more replaying the events of last night over and over and over—
My phone vibrates aggressively on the table and my heart stutters as I catch sight of the notification that pops up.
Imani
Guess who’s coming to France?
I’ve never been prone to dramatics, preferring to leave the theatrics to Teddy, but having to see out the workday before I can properly speak to Imani might actually kill me.
It doesn’t help that Andreas is getting more and more antsy as the day progresses. Every time my attention ever so slightly starts to drift back to Imani and the bombshell of a message she left me, Andreas is suddenly standing infront of me with more additions to my already bulging to-do list.
I barely have enough time to scarf down a sandwich for lunch, let alone dedicate a spare moment to figuring out what the hell she means by ‘Guess who’s coming to France?’ She didn’t respond to the quick ‘???’ I managed to fire off before Andreas descended on me again, and I haven’t had the chance to follow up since. By the time the end of day rolls around, I’m more tightly wound than I’ve ever been in my life.
‘Ash?’
I jump as Andreas appears, yet again, seemingly from nowhere, at my door.
‘Do you have a minute?’
I glance at the time and start to shake my head. ‘I’ve really got to—’
Andreas enters my office and closes the door behind him without waiting for my response. He slides into the empty seat opposite my desk, crosses his arms over his chest, and lets out a deep sigh.
