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Even as I went through the rest of my day trying to believe that, a niggling little voice at the back of my head was whispering things I didn’t want to hear.
That if this wasn’t me, then why had I felt more at ease with myself over the past couple of weeks than I had in the previous few years?
That if this wasn’t me, why did my shoulders suddenly feel lighter, my heart warmer, my life brighter?
“Oh, Jesus,” I hissed, hand flying to my heart when I went to open the bedroom door, only to find Alvy standing there.
Standing there like they were waiting for me, like they had something important to say.
“Let’s talk,” Alvy said, in a tone I hadn’t expected from them, in one that was firm, cold, maybe even, I don’t know, suspicious?
I could handle firm and cold.
Suspicious, though, that was cause for concern, wasn’t it?
“We could talk about how your boss is a superficial dog who thinks women are only good for their looks,” I suggested, breezing past them, making my way into the kitchen area, deciding breezy and a tad bitter was the truest reaction I could muster at the moment.
“Fenway is a lot of things. Superficial is one of them,” Alvy agreed. “But I think you are smart enough to know that he wouldn’t be dragging you all around the world just because you’re pretty.”
“Why not? Men do it all the time,” I told them, reaching for the bottle of pink champagne, not caring that it was too early in the day for drinking.
“Sure. But, for the most part, Fenway doesn’t.”
“For the most part is not ‘never,’ Alvy.”
“True. There have been brief infatuations in the past. But I have been here for longer than anyone else. I know this isn’t that.”
“I really don’t think this conversation is appropriate,” I said, leaning into the boss-employee mindset, hoping it would throw Alvy off enough to walk away.
“I have been in charge of buying Fenway condoms and lube for years, Wasp, I think we have crossed the line of appropriateness a long time ago. Besides, I’m not overly concerned with Fenway’s behavior.”
“So you’re concerned with mine.”
“He doesn’t know your real name.”
“He doesn’t need to know my real name.”
“He does if—”
“Oh,” I said, scoffing. “Oh, well, that’s real nice, Alvy,” I said, shaking my head. “You are worried I am after him for his money.”
“Well, you are staying in his suite. You did go to his yacht. You do have bags and bags of souvenirs.”
“I think you must know as well as anyone else that Fenway enjoys spending his money. Have you ever tried to take out your wallet when he was around? He never lets you use it. And he will throw more and more money around to get servers and people in shops to take his side. I have never asked him to spend a penny on me. If you must, you are free to ask him that yourself. I can guarantee his words will line up with mine. And furthermore, I am insulted that you would even insinuate that. I am not some gold digger. I make my own way in life.”
“As a dog trainer. A traveling dog trainer.”
“It is not any of your business, but yes.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t believe I give a shit,” I shot back, my anger being of the short fuse variety. “I’m not asking you to trust me, Alvy. Quite frankly, it is not your place. What Fenway thinks is what matters. And I have a feeling I know what Fenway would think about you coming in behind his back and trying to grill me over something that doesn’t involve you.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I am telling you that I don’t appreciate you coming to me with baseless accusations about wanting him for his money,” I corrected, putting down my glass, making my way toward the door. “You know what, Alvy? I liked you,” I told them in the doorway to the hall. “Really, I did. You were a good ally there for a minute, offering me escape routes should I ever get overwhelmed. That was a much better look than this one. Don’t worry, though. I will keep this between us. And don’t worry. I don’t want his money. My most recent job set me up for quite a while.”
With that, I slammed the door.
“Shit,” I hissed, stabbing my finger in the elevator call button. “Shit shit shit,” I mumbled over and over to myself as I rode down, the door sliding open, bringing in a woman who shot me small eyes. “Like you’ve never heard a curse word before. Please,” I grumbled, my mood too sour to care about being a good human right then.
I wasn’t sure if Alvy had gotten to Fenway yet, if that was their next step.But if that happened, it had the potential to ruin everything.
