Page 66 of The Grump

As I got into my office, I shrugged out of my suit jacket and grinned for no reason at all when I noticed my cuff links. Bailey had put them on this morning, saying they were her favorite part of my outfit. So I’d worn them.

Out of instinct, I snapped a picture of them and sent it to her.

Bailey: You’re wearing the same clothes at the office? Doing the walk of shame?

I replied right away, pacing my office instead of sitting down.

Xander: I went home and changed. I just kept the cuff links.

Bailey: Why?

Xander: Good question. Because you like them so much.

Was it crazy that I wanted her to know this tidbit?

Xander: How is your morning going?

Bailey: Absolutely perfect. I’m a bit sleepy, but someone gave me a lot of good vibes yesterday, so I’m not complaining at all.

I threw my head back, laughing. I gave her good vibes. This woman. In some ways, she felt so completely different from me. Yet in other ways, I felt as if we were exactly the same.

I finally sat at the desk, opening my inbox. Lydia always sent me an email early Monday morning with all the to-dos for the week.

She’d sent me two separate ones this morning. One was simply to-dos, and the other one was the invitations she’d mentioned. The events were listed chronologically along with the addresses so I wouldn’t have to sift through every single one to get the details.

I glanced at the list and was preparing to delete the email when one in particular caught my attention: the LUNA Ball. I’d only been there once. It was a fundraiser for art or something mixed in with a fashion show. I hadn’t enjoyed it enough to ever return, but I knew someone who’d actually like it—Bailey.

I opened the spreadsheet she’d sent me a while back, and the LUNA Ball wasn’t on the list. I started to formulate a plan.

The event was in the evening, which was good—I could get in a full day of work before picking her up and then heading to the event. She also didn’t have anything else planned on that evening, at least not according to the spreadsheet.

She would definitely enjoy this, and I’d love nothing more than to watch her. Last time, I’d been there on business. This time, I could just spend the evening with Bailey. The prospect appealed to me more and more the longer I thought about it.

I didn’t want to check with Bailey yet, intending to surprise her.

But I did reply to my assistant:RSVP for two for the LUNA Ball.

She’d be shocked, but it didn’t matter. If Bailey had some other plans, I could always pull out of it.

I did eventually get back to work and managed four hours uninterrupted before I got a phone call from Lydia.

“Hey,” she said. “There’s this guy named Trudeau who wants to talk to you.”

“The name doesn’t ring a bell.”

“He said it’s about the potential sale of the confectionery.”

“Oh yeah. Put him through.”

This was a pleasant surprise. I’d put out feelers eons ago, but no one had contacted me. I was pleased that someone was interested.

“Hello, my name is Ron Trudeau. You can call me Ron.”

“Hi, Ron. I’m Xander LeBlanc.”

“I figured it’s easier if I just call you.”

“Sure. I prefer that to endless emailing too.”

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