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“You didn’t call to talk about yesterday?”
“No.” I clench my eyes shut. “I’m scared.” The words come out in a whisper. “How do I balance work and her? Because I don’t think I can. My gut is in knots until I’m with her. Then the pain disappears.”
“What now?”
“I need to protect her. Can you get a condo for her?”
“What’s wrong with the one she has?”
“It’s a small space she rents with a couple of wall bangers.”
He laughs. I groan, remembering how we fell out of bed. Fucking ridiculous setup. A smile creeps across my face. It was a little funny, but I’m not mentioning that to Jobe.
“Send me a list of locations, and I’ll find something. Price range?”
“Whatever it costs for her to have something nice and private with a view and balcony.”
“The comfort needs to be at a level to accommodate you when you stay over?”
I don’t respond.
“Why don’t you just let her stay at your penthouse?”
“We’re not at that stage.”
“Bullshit. I’ll get her a condo but stop being a dick and accept that she is good for you.”
“Rich coming from you. When was the last time you had a relationship?”
“I don’t see the need to have one girl. I like two at a time in my bed. I’m not old and boring like you.”
“I was twenty-four when I was with Daphne. It’s not old.” But he’s right. I only wanted relationships as they gave me the certainty of continuity. While my work life is all calculated risks, I can’t live my private life in the same way. Only now, I’m so fucking time-poor, there isn’t space for anyone.
“Do you miss her?”
“No. Not like I did. I loved our conversations about the economy and finance, but we’re still friends. It’s different with Penny.”
“Penny is real. She is a breath of fresh air and not governed by the dollar. I bet your wealth scares her. Be careful, bro. I’d be asking her about the condo first before bankrolling it for her.”
“We haven’t negotiated her contract, and it might be a form of payment that suits her.”
“I’m not sure, Franklin.”
The door squeaks behind me.
Penny is naked, her knotted hair falling over her shoulders.
My cock twitches.
“I gotta go.”
20
PENELOPE
On Wednesday,an email comes through from my boss about the next project Hugh and I will be working on together. I should be excited, except all I can think about is Franklin’s house. We spent most of Sunday discussing ideas, choosing tiles and wall paint, and researching state-of-the-art bathroom cabinetry and accessories. I’ve never worked on a project with endless cash flow, and I need to research more about some fancy shit that can make his home stand out. Excitement streamed through me as we discussed all my ideas, yet every time I offered to recycle or repurpose furniture, he shut me down, sayingout with the old.
It left me a little stunned.
