But then Matt chimes in, because of course he does. He can’t let a single conversation pass by without having the last word.
“I’ll be in the city. I figured it would be a good time to spend some time in the area.”
Fuck. He means me.
I force my face to remain unfazed, but it feels like someone’s thrown a bucket of ice water over me. Of course he’ll be in the city. Of course he’ll be here, watching every move I make. The idea of being stuck here while everyone else is gone makes me feel sick.
Alan nods. Matt looks over at me and smiles, like he’s enjoying fooling everyone. He leans forward, gesturing casually toward Jim like they’re old pals. “I’m sure coach is going to enjoy a few days’ rest with the schedule coming up.”
“It’s Gaffer, actually,” I deadpan.
Matt glances at me, his smile intact, but I see the flicker in his eyes. Hehatesbeing corrected, especially by me.
“Oh, right,” he says, with a grin that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Still getting used to all the lingo.”
Everyone laughs politely, but I sit there, sipping my coffee, smug and silent.
I enjoyed that. I enjoyed the way his jaw ticked, the way his knuckles flexed ever so slightly.
When the meeting ends, Matt follows me out the door like a shadow I can’t shake. I barely make it to the elevator when he grabs my arm.
“Addison, can we talk for a second?”
I spin around, sighing like he’s already wasting my time. “Fine. What?”
He gives me that rehearsed smile, the same one that’s won over countless people. “I just get the feeling that there’s tension between us,” he says in the most condescending tone possible. “And since we’re going to be working together, I think—”
“Iamworking with you,” I cut in. “I’ve been professional. I’ve smiled when I wanted to scream. I haven’t said a word. That is me working with you.”
He blinks. “But—”
“I said I will work with you,” I continue, my voice calm but sharp. “I never said I’d pretend to enjoy it.”
I turn and opt to head down the stairs, leaving the scene before he can turn this into another one of his games. I’d rather blister my feet than share the elevator with him.
I sink down onto the black couch in my office, put my feet up, and scroll for Mom’s name in my phone. I always have to pause before I call her and do some quick math to make sure I’m not calling her at an obscene hour, considering the time difference between New York and London.
FaceTime rings twice before her face fills the screen. She’s flushed from a workout, brown hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Behind her, I can see the Peloton in her home gym, with a pair of sneakers kicked haphazardly on the mat. She’s sitting on the floor, a water bottle clutched in one hand, the other adjusting her earbuds.
“Hey, kid,” she says, smiling like she hasn’t just finished a twelve-mile ride. “How’s your day going?”
I let out a sigh that feels like it comes from my bones. “Long. I had my normal weekly meeting with Alan, and…” My voice trails off, and I make a face like I’ve smelled curdled milk. “Matt was there.”
Her eyebrows lift, full mom-telepathy activated. “Ah. Matt Dicklock. The snake in a suit.”
“The very one.” I laugh, stretching out my legs. “It’s frustrating because other than him being here, I’m really enjoying the job. I love working with Luke, and seeing Pippa so often has been a lifesaver.”
“And everything else?”
“Well, the owner, Alan, is possibly the friendliest man I’ve ever met in my life. I’m not sure he even realizes he’s as rich as he is. He’s humble and kind. He says hello to every single person who works here, right down to custodial. And it’s all so genuine.”
“That’s good to have in a boss.”
“The team’s great, too. And Oliver is—” I stop myself, realizing too late that I’ve stepped on a conversational landmine. “—also great.”
Mom’s lips twitch like she’s trying not to smile. “Should I be reading into that?”
“Into what?”
