Page 136 of February

“Where?” Monica looked confused.

Bridgette laughed and said, “Babe, I’m saying you could work here, at Southern.”

“Work here?” Monica asked.

“I know it’s no Four Seasons and no Manhattan skyscraper, but it’s not awful, right?”

“Oh, babe… No, that’s not what I meant,” Monica replied.

“I can’t pay you what you’re making now. I probably can’t pay you even remotely close to what you’re making. Like, what you’re making now is as close as Japan, and what I can pay you is here, in New Orleans. Actually, it’s probably more like Jupiter and the Sun or something, but–”

“Bridge?” Monica interjected.

“Yeah?”

“It’s not about the money. And the office is great.”

“But you don’t want to,” Bridgette said with a nod. “I get it. It was a stupid idea.”

“No, it’s not,” Monica replied as she stood and quickly moved to Bridgette’s side of the table. She sat down next to her and took Bridgette’s hand. “It’s not a bad idea, babe. I just… It’s a big deal.”

“I know.”

“We just started dating.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that,” Bridgette said. “But you being here finally got me to tell them what I was feeling and what I wanted for the business.”

“You did that on your own. I didn’t have anything to do with that.”

“Yes, you did,” she argued. “Maybe the Arnette in you more than the Monica in you, but you did. You coming here and trying to buy this place got me to actually step up. I’ve been spouting my ideas at them for years, just taking their no-ways and their reasons as reality; the future. I didn’t see any choice. And when I found out how bad they’d let this place get, to the point wherewe were about to sell, I had to step up, and you even helped me do that, despite your dad telling you to buy it.”

“Well, to be fair, I had some ulterior motives.”

Bridgette smirked at her.

“Not those. Those are great, too, but I’m not in it for orgasms. I’m in it for the holding before and after; for how good it feels just walking down the street while holding your hand or spending any time I can with you, even when you’re making fun of me.”

Bridgette laughed silently.

“I wanted to help however I could, and I still want that. I’m going to have work to do for Arnette, too, though. Me announcing that I’m leaving the company is going to be a big deal, and there will be some press, so I’ll have to help with that. I also have to help Darius, who wasn’t exactly expecting this to drop into his lap, but he’s the best-qualified candidate.”

“I know,” Bridgette said.

“Just hold on there, impatient,” Monica told her as she shook her head. “What I was going to say was that I’m going to do most of that from here. I know you have to work in the office, so I thought I’d just come in with you and work from the conference room, if you don’t mind. That way, we could have lunch together when you can, and I can help out if you need me to. I don’t want to just sit around the hotel or an apartment.”

“My apartment,” Bridgette said, interrupting again.

“Some days, yes. But I need to find one of my own.”

“Not right away,” Bridgette replied. “You can stay at my place whenever. I know we don’t have champagne service like the hotel, but–”

“I can buy us a nice bottle of champagne. If I do, will you serve it to me?” Monica asked with wiggling eyebrows.

“Naked in bed?”

“Only if you’re in there with me.”

Bridgette nodded rapidly, causing Monica to laugh.

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