Page 164 of One Wrong Move

“I enjoy my work here immensely.”

“I can tell, Harper. I can tell.” He smiles and nods at me, and then he’s off into the crowd, mingling again. Always mingling.

I take a long, slow sip of my champagne.

This party is proceeding nicely. I have new friends in the city. The chance at a permanent job. And, after researching for two hours last night, I even have three viewings for new rental apartments lined up.

Life is good. Life should be good.

But I can’t shake the feeling of sadness.

Once the event is over, Aadhya comments on my mood. She hasn’t said anything all day, but she has clearly noticed. Her voice was soft when she started with a few probing questions while we locked up the gallery and began cleaning up.

“And I heard that you might be offered a permanent position?”

“Good news travels fast,” I say.

She shrugs, reaching for another empty bottle of champagne. “It does. People are excited about the possibility. You’ve charmed everyone here, you know.”

That makes me smile. “I really like this place.”

“Please stay,” she says. “I would hate to have to train another junior trainee.”

My eyes widen. “Because training me was so time consuming, was it?”

Aadhya laughs. “God, yes, you had a hundred questions!” she says. “No, no, you were efficient from the start. It’s not always like that.”

“I would like to stay. I think. It’s just complicated right now with… well.”

She nods. “Yeah.”

I hadn’t told her everything. But enough. “I love this city, though. I would love to stay for a full year, at least. Also, it’s so close to other places in Europe that I could visit. I didn’t realize how many direct flights there are from Heathrow or Stansted. You’re so spoiled.”

Aadhya laughs again. “Geography, love.”

“I need to get out there.”

“You were in Paris like yesterday.”

“Yes, and it made me hungry for more,” I say while grabbing one of the folding chairs we rented for the event. Push it together and lean it against the wall. The janitorial staff will handle most of the clean-up over the weekend, but we need to make sure everything is ready for them.

“Are you going to forgive him?” Aadhya asks. She sets down a big brown paper bag with five empty champagne bottles, and the glass makes an ominous clinking sound.

I sigh. “Maybe. I think… The thing is, I can understand why he thought what he did wasn’t a big deal. He meant well, and I know that. I know he’s nothing like my ex. But he should have known that it would be a major issue for me. Especially when I’m trying to figure out my own life.”

“I get that,” she says.

“My last relationship was stifling. My ex always went over my head, made decisions about money, and set the agenda. He expected me to just roll with it, or worse, be grateful. I lost myself in that, and I never want to lose myself again.”

Aadhya puts her hands on her hips. “He demanded gratefulness?”

“Yes. And it’s not like I wasn’t, but when someone buys you something you’ve never asked for and then holds it over your head like a weapon…”

“Okay, that sounds awful,” she says. “What’s the point of dating a rich man if he’s going to behave like that?”

A surprised chuckle escapes me. She turns, blinking innocently. “What?”

“I love when you say the wildest things with a perfectly straight face.”

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