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"Later," he said when I kissed his cheek and gave him a final embrace.
"Call or text me any time," I said, my voice choked at having to leave.
"I will. Give your girl a hug for me. I can't wait to meet her when I come out there."
"I will," I said and waved at Christian. "Come out as soon as you're able."
Then I drove my rental to LAX and waited for my plane.
Once our plane landed at JFK, I stood waiting for my limo service and checked my cell to see if Ella had texted me. She hadn't, but that was to be expected. It was the middle of the workday and I had only told her I'd be back in the afternoon.
There was yet another email from Penny, asking for more money, since she'd needed to pay rent.
Sure, Penny. Rent in the middle of the month...
I had to realize that addicts would say and do anything to get their hit. They couldn’t help it.
I sent her another hundred dollars and knew that at some point, I'd have to do something to get her on the right track or she'd just kill herself with an overdose.
As I stood reading about the rehab place in California, a man walked by me in the terminal wearing a black fedora. Something about the man made me take notice. Then I remembered the man at Ella's building. I shrugged it off, thinking maybe he was just waiting for someone, but still. I was sure it was the same man.
Once back at the office building in Manhattan, I went up to the apartment to unload my bags and have a quick shower. When I was dressed, I removed a condom from the box I kept in my washroom and slipped it into my jacket pocket, just in case Ella and I were able to find a moment together. I headed down to the MBS offices to check on my inbox and once I went through my emails, the first item on my agenda was to pop into the office of Macintyre Publishing and take a much-needed grope and kiss with my girlfriend.
I sent her a text first, so she could be ready.
JOSH: The photocopier room. 5 Minutes. Be there or be square.
Of course, Ella responded right away.
ELLA: Why, Mr. Macintyre, I do believe that's against the company's fraternization policy.
JOSH: You mean the company's *old* policy that I conveniently ripped up, because I'm the CEO and I can do that kind of thing...
ELLA: You should take care not to take advantage of your power over me to elicit favors...
JOSH: Only if you promise to do the same.
ELLA: What power do I have over you?
JOSH: Just that you occupy my every non-work-related thought almost 24/7 and I salivate with anticipation every time I think of spending time alone with you. Now, get yourself to the photocopy room toot sweet.
ELLA: Toot sweet? What are you? In seventh grade?
JOSH: Sixth. I'm on my way.
ELLA: Perhaps the photocopy room isn't the best place to meet.
JOSH: I prefer it because it has that forbidden quality to it. We might get caught. It makes everything more intense as a result.
ELLA: Are you into voyeurism perhaps?
JOSH: I'm hoping I'll soon be into your panties.
I took the elevator down to her floor. I said a brief hello to Sarah, the receptionist, and asked where everyone was.
"There's a conference call in the boardroom, but it should be over in about thirty minutes."
"Thanks," I said and found my way through the halls to the photocopy room. With everyone except Sarah in a conference call, I had a brief window of opportunity, which I planned on exploiting to the maximum. When I opened the door, I saw that Ella was already there, a smile on her face.
