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“Okay. Send it over now and you’ll be able to contact Bella directly for anything you may need. Please remember to keep it strictly non sexual and I will be checking in with both of you weekly to make sure this arrangement is still working for the both of you.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Okay, thank you for your business, Dylan.” With that, Angelica hangs up and I transfer over the money immediately. I don’t know how long it takes for Isabella for her to get the money but I want to make sure she can get it right away.
I shouldn’t be making calls like this at work but it isn’t like anyone is tracking my phone. At least I hope no one is. Lucy is hard at work in her office and tonight we’ll be able to go out for drinks now that she’s hired a new nanny. It is a friend of Isabella’s actually, and I am happy for her. I am even happier that my friend is getting laid according to my intel. It seems the nanny and her had a one night stand before they knew they’d be working together. Lucy swears nothing more is happening there, because it’s strictly professional, but I don’t believe it. I give it by the end of the year before she’s coupled up.
Thanksgiving is next weekend and I am headed nowhere for the holidays. I’ll have a quiet night in at my apartment and I can’t wait. It should seem sad that I don’t have anywhere to go for the holidays but in reality, I am relieved. I have spent too many holidays heading to my parents’ house to pretend to be someone I’m not. When I finally came out and told them who I was, everything changed. I was in my 30s but they managed to disown me and make it clear I was no longer their daughter. I get it, they were born in a different time. But to have your parents look at you like they don’t know you and don’t want to get to know you? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. So I’m spending the holiday alone and I’m relieved about it.
I shake my head and I think about tonight. It is one of our annual holiday parties. Which holiday, I’m not actually sure of. But it is sure to be a blast and I am looking forward to seeing Isabella again. It is last minute so I had sent her a dress to wear for the occasion, taking a guess at her measurements and hoping they are at least close to her size. She is so petite it isn’t hard to guess what might fit her. I’ll have time to go home, shower, change, and meet everyone at the hotel tonight. It is a big deal, even Lucy is going to be making an appearance. Especially now that she has the hot nanny.
* * *
Lefts is across the room,talking to someone that’s trying to get his attention, but he manages to shoot Lucy and I a warning glare. I know Lucy is running a few minutes late but it is hardly the time to give her a hard time about it. I mean at least she is here. She never usually makes it to things like this. Of course, Isabella is running a little late but she had warned me she might be. There was an accident on the train earlier and since then everything has been running out of whack. Yet, I still am keeping my eye on the door just in case she is going to show up. I want to be the first one to see her tonight.
“I saw our boss gave you a look, I thought you might need this.” I walk over, handing Lucy a martini.
“I just know he’s going to come over and say something.” She sighs.
“Just say you were having a family emergency with that hot nanny of yours,” I tease, but her cheeks turn ten shades of red.
“Oh my gosh! Was there actually something going on!?” I squeal, and she shushes me.
“No.” She shakes her head, but I am unconvinced.
“Mmm huh,” I say.
“So, you ladies have time to gossip but not to show up on time?” Lefts, says sassily.
“Well, I had an emergency with the nanny,” Lucy lies.
“See, I don’t buy that, but it doesn’t matter to me. Just get on talking with more potential donors, we can use all the help we can get.” He downs his champagne, throwing his head back, and forces a fake smile.
“He’s got to get that stick out of his ass removed,” I whisper, and Lucy giggles.
My attention turns as I look at Bella across the room. Dressed in a scarlet red, strapless dress, she commands the attention of every man and woman in the room. She is young, probably in her twenties. She makes her way across the room, heading toward us with a smile.
“That’s my date,” I say proudly, and Lucy’s jaw drops. I know she doesn’t mean it offensively, she’s just never seen me at one of these things with anyone besides a loser male. “Lucy, this is Bella. Bella, this is Lucy.” I introduce them and Isabella throws her arms around Lucy like they’re old friends.
“Thank you so much for getting my best friend the job, she absolutely adores Noel.” Isabella smiles. Lucy gives Bella a confused look but doesn’t say what she’s really thinking.
“I’m glad, I love her working for us,” Lucy smiles.
“We should go mingle,” I say and grab Isabella’s hand.
“Nice meeting you.” She smiles and I can’t help but keep my hand off Isabella’s ass as she walks. She looks up at me with a small smirk and I can tell she likes it. I don’t know why I am feeling so bold tonight.
Eventually, I move my hand and take her hand in mine instead, opting for a more PG hand gesture. We make small talk with some of the new authors, the ones we want to hire and the ones who will soon be getting a phone call from me on Monday with the good news that they are hired. It is a cutthroat business but these are the best of the best. I am glad Isabella doesn’t feel intimidated in this room. There are a ton of people but she carries herself gracefully and joins in all the conversations when necessary, gets me a drink when mine is empty and laughs at all the terrible jokes my bosses tell.
“You’re doing great,” I whisper as she hands me a drink. I take a sip and notice there’s no alcohol in it. Is she cutting me off? I laugh to myself at the drink, after what happened last time I don’t blame her.
“So are you, I just wanted to keep it that way.” She winks. Yup, the drink was definitely done on purpose. I could very well go and get myself a new drink, I am barely tipsy and I know how much I can handle. But I also love the idea of Isabella looking out for me. It is her own way of caring. But I try not to read too much into that, no matter how much I want to.
“Will you excuse me?” Isabella makes a face and I nod. Looking after her, I see her going over to talk to a man, someone I don’t know.
I figure she can handle herself, heck maybe for all I know that is her dad. I don’t know too much about Isabella yet and that is okay. Wait, isn’t her family from Oregon? I think she’s told me that once. So this guy is definitely not her father. But I also trust her, whoever this might be, she’ll introduce me if she wants me to know who he is.
I mingle with some more people while I wait for Isabella to come back to me. But by the time I’ve finished my new drink and she still isn’t back, I start to worry. Not like something could actually be wrong at one of these things, but something just feelsoff. Isabella knows how important events like this are to me, she wouldn’t ditch me in the middle of one for some random guy. Especially when she knows her paycheck is on the line.
