Page 47 of His Turn

I pull into the valet and they rush to my car. “Keep it here for me,” I say. “I’ll only be a minute.”

“Yes, sir,” the young man replies.

But I barely hear him. I’m already on my way inside. I walk across the lobby towards the elevator, press the button, then step back in surprise as the doors open and Nadia and I almost collide.

“What are you doing here?” she asks me.

She’s dressed up. A long, black coat covers her clothes, but I can see the fuck-me shoes on her feet, the make-up on her face, and the careful attention she gave to her hair.

She’s going out. To have fun, I suppose.

“I…” I sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t call yesterday. Apparently, I was supposed to. Jordan is busy this weekend with a client. He says you changed your number so…”

“So he sent you to rein me in?”

“Something like that.”

“Well, apology accepted. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.”

“Where?” I ask her.

“None of your business.”

“Nadia, don’t play with me, OK?”

She places one hand firmly against my chest to push me back, and then skirts around my body acting like a blockade.

I follow her. Not because I’m intrigued. “Nadia,” I say, catching up to her and grabbing hold of her arm.

She spins, fake smile in place. “Let go of me,” she hisses under her breath.

“I’ll drive you.”

“No, thank you.”

“I’m driving you,” I say, leading her towards the lobby door.

She acquiesces, allowing me to take her outside. And even though I can feel the rage boiling up inside her, she stays quiet when I open the passenger door to my car and motion with my head for her to get in.

I close the door, hand the valet a ten, and get in my side.

“What do you want?” she asks, looking through her small purse for something.

“Where are you going?”

“Out.”

“A party?” I ask, pulling away from the curb.

“Does it matter?” she asks.

“Are you meeting a date there?” I ask, stopping at a light on Speer Boulevard.

“Several, actually.”

I look at her from the corner of my eye. “You’re not allowed to date.”

She simply shrugs. “Drop me off here.”