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“Sorry for worrying you. And thanks for everything.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“We both know I do.”
No, you don’t.
I promised his mother to always watch out for him, and that’s never going to change.
“Goodbye, Asher. Make sure to call your brother and sister.”
I hang up and rub my neck. My original plan had been to stay late at the hotel to work on some proposals, but I’m exhausted. It’s been a long day and I had better head back home.
“Sir, there’s an issue on the third floor that requires your attention.”
I look up at my secretary and raise an eyebrow.
“What could possibly require my attention?”
“One of the VIP guests came from the hotel, asking for you. Something about not getting adequate services. She also mentioned that the two of you are acquainted.”
I sigh. This shit shouldn’t fall on me. I may have built a few five-star hotels from the ground up, but the management and control of those hotels should not be any of my concern. That’s why I have employees there. These days, I’m mostly involved in the policies and real estate aspects of the company.
“What VIP guest?” I question tiredly.
“She says she’s from D.C. Ms-”
“Justine Blake. Yeah, I know her. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
There can only be one woman from D.C., claiming to be my friend. This is probably the worst time for her to reappear in my life. I get to my feet and put on my suit jacket and, after making sure my appearance is in order, I head down to the third floor. I find Justine waiting for me on the plush white couch in the lounge. She looks exactly as I remember her, although her brown hair has been dyed blonde.
She’s dressed formally in a light blue suit and a skirt that stops just above her knees. As I walk toward her, I can’t help thinking about the first time I met her. Most people find true love only once in their life, and I thought the same applied to me. I thought I had met my true love the first time I met Justine. Then she promptly broke my heart. I met Kathy after and I understood that whatever I felt for Justine had never really been love.
She gets to her feet when she notices me. There’s a bright smile on her face, and her lips are painted blood red. I stiffen when she places a kiss on my cheek.
“You’re still as handsome as ever,” she notes.
“Justine,” I drawl. “It’s poor form to show up at a person’s place of work without an invite.”
She waves me off. “Those rules and formalities don’t apply to us. We’re friends, right?”
I raise an eyebrow. She really is a beautiful woman. In her late thirties but she doesn’t look a day over 25. I would bet some surgery has something to do with that.
“I wouldn’t classify us as friends,” I state. “What are you doing here?”
“Always so straight to the point. You haven’t changed, Alexander.”
“I have an important meeting in a few minutes, Justine,” I tell her impatiently.
“Liar,” she says under her breath. “I just came from your hotel and they refused to give me a suite for the duration of my stay. According to them, they’re completely booked or something.”
‘I’ll have something freed up,” I tell her. Anything to cut this conversation short. “Is that all?”
“Of course not.”
“Well? I’m listening,” I prompt.
“You’re going to have to make time for me. We’ve got something to talk about.”
