Page 18 of Mob Princess

I know. I have meetings in Ottawa and Quebec City that week.

Legit business in Ottawa. Finn and I are venture capitalists. There’s a company I’m interested in acquiring in Ottawa. I’m supposed to meet with a senior member of the Montreal mob, but I refused to do it in Montreal. I didn’t want to be obvious. Now I’m thinking I should reschedule.

Lina

You’ll love it. Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal—you can’t go wrong. I wish I still lived there.

She doesn’t live there? I guess I assumed she went back to Canada after grad school. I don’t know why I did. But she never said where she lives. We don’t even know each other’s last names. If I ask her for her last name, then she’ll ask me mine. I haven’t offered mine because I’m enjoying just being Sean. I don’t know whether she would recognize the O’Rourke name, but it would only take a single google to find a shite ton of unfavorable things about my family. Most of the accusations are true, even if they haven’t been proven. We’re good at making sure they aren’t.

Me

Do you go back often?

Lina

I’ve always gone back every few months. Never too long between trips.

Me

You have the best of two worlds.

There’s a pause. Her response doesn’t come as fast as it has been. It’s nearly a minute—I watch my phone clock—before she responds.

Lina

Most days. I just got a call from my grandfather. I need to take it.

Me

TTYL

Lina

Bye

“Sean?” Dillan knocks on the door as he says my name.

“Yeah?”

He opens the door. I’m glad my computer is still on my lap to hide my boner. Just texting her does that.

“You making any progress?”

“I’ve been dealing with something else. But I’m nearly done. I’ll see what progress I can make before I take Mair to the doctor.”

“Thanks. I’m headed out for my meeting.”

He’s watching me, and I know he suspects something. I just don’t know what he’s assuming. I watch him walk out, closing the door behind him. I wait until I hear him walk away, then I lie back and reread the texts.

I made no progress before taking Mair to her appointment yesterday. It fucking chaps my arse that I haven’t cracked this shite yet. Whoever did this knows my family has someone with their skills. Why else would they make it this complicated? I almost take it as a personal challenge, and therefore, a personal insult. I’ve been working on this all day, and I’m nearly cross-eyed. I sit back at my desk in my home office. I’m annoyed and tired. I have a headache.

I glance over at my phone. With a deep inhale, I accept there’s only one thing that’ll make me feel better. I reach for it and unlock the screen.

Me

Did you have a favorite pizza place?

Such a fucking random and stupid question.

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