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I used to love coming to this place.
I hung up the phone with my mother before promptly picking up my cell phone. I shot Grace a text message, telling her I had dinner plans for tonight. I would pick her up at six o’clock sharp and she needed to be wearing something very nice tonight. I sent it off and tossed my phone onto my desk, then closed my eyes to cherish the silence.
And seconds later, my email started flooding in with emails from my investors.
Instead of answering them, I simply turned my computer off. I had plenty of other things I could be doing besides dealing with angry rich people. I went around to all the departments and took a look at how they were doing. Shook hands with the department heads. Even dipped into the mailroom and said my ‘hello’’s. This was what I had been missing in my days. Human interaction. The chance to smile at someone and ask them how their day was going. The chance to learn about the people around me. I’d been so cooped up in my apartment belly-aching over my own situation, and it never occurred to me that returning to work would simply be another prison.
I didn’t want to live like that any longer.
Without saying a word, I left work early. I drove home with so many things spinning around in my head. But there was one thing in particular I couldn’t get my mind off of.
And that was never going back to work.
I didn’t want to sit at that desk again. I didn’t want to deal with those investors again. I didn’t want to build new hotels or field new projects or schmooze rich assholes into giving me their money. I didn’t want to waste my life away doing something that didn’t matter. Hotels didn’t matter. Bottles of champagne on cheaply-made mattresses didn’t matter. None of that shit mattered.
But Grace mattered.
How she helped me had mattered.
How Zander helped me had mattered.
I tossed my stuff into the corner and put on my best suit. My mother and Cara were meeting me there at Daniel’s, but I was due to pick up Grace soon. I smoothed my hands over my black suit jacket and drew in a deep breath. I had two massive announcements to make and I hoped they would go over well. I grabbed my keys and my wallet before strolling down to my car, then I hopped in and went to pick Grace up in style.
She was stunning. Clad in a black cocktail dress that hugged her from her shoulders to her knees. She was breathtaking and I scoope
d her against my body, bringing my lips down to hers in a kiss I never wanted to end.
She had to touch up her red lipstick in the car as we drove to the restaurant.
“What is all of this about?” Grace asked.
“Why don’t you come with me and see?” I asked.
I offered her my arm and she took it willingly. The two of us walked up the steps and into the fine dining restaurant where we were both promptly led to a table in the back. My mother and sister had already arrived, and they were surprised when I walked in with Grace on my arm.
But they both hugged her closely and seemed happy enough to see her.
“Grace, you look stunning,” my mother said.
“Where did you get this dress?” Cara asked.
“Believe it or not, the high-scale thrift shop up the road from here,” Grace said. “Thirty bucks was all this thing cost me.”
“You need to show me where this place is,” my sister said. “So we can go shopping.”
“I’d like that,” Grace said with a smile.
I pulled out her chair for her and I watched my mother and my sister exchange looks. I sat down beside my beautiful date and took her hand within mine. I wanted to start the evening off with the announcements so we could get them out of the way. I knew everyone was curious and I could tell Grace was nervous about what was going on. Her hand was shaking in mine, and I smoothed my thumb over her skin to try and settle her nerves.
“I take it the two of you have something to tell us?” my mother asked.
“I’m so sorry, please forgive me. I had no idea you guys were going to be here,” Grace asked.
“Is that true?” Cara asked. “You didn’t tell Grace we would be here?”
“Mom. Cara. I want to introduce you to Grace,” I said.
“We know Grace,” my mother said. “Is everything okay?”
