Page 49 of The Suit

He returned twenty minutes later with a paper bag containing the best salad I’d ever had, as long as he’d remembered to ask for no olives – if not, it slipped to seventh place.

“Hey boss, does the ignoring Rafe Latham thing include face to face?”

I grabbed the paper bag and pulled the salad out as my stomach rumbled. “Yes, all of it. Kimberly can deal.”

“Well, slight problem then because I just passed him in building reception, asking to see you… and he’s now on the way up,” he pointed at me, “to see you.”

My mouth dropped open at the same time a blinding pain shot through my brain, giving me a very unnecessary reminder that I couldn’t cope with seeing him, today or any other.

I grabbed my phone and laptop, running out as fast as I could on five-inch heels, and not stopping until I was safely through the heavy fire door leading to the stairwell. I took three flights down before buzzing myself back in through the security door, slipping into the official entrance floor of the firm. Checking the coast was clear I got in the elevator and travelled the remaining sixty floors to the bottom, only as I stepped out onto the street did I realize I’d been holding my breath the entire time.

An hour later, a shadow cast over my work causing my hand to fly to my chest as it threatened to give out for the second time that day. Not sure why Feather ever thought I was CIA material. Pretty sure top of the checklist of compulsory requirements would beis not jumpy.

I looked up to find Blake peering down, holding my bag in one hand and my salad in the other. The relief I felt had me rubbing against the spot where my heart was about to explode.

“Oh, it’s you. How did you know I was here?”

“This is the nearest coffee shop, and I knew you hadn’t had enough today.” He placed my salad on the table and dropped my bag on the seat next to me, then sat down opposite.

“Thank you.” I opened the salad and started eating. Being a lying, two-faced thief certainly worked up an appetite. “Did you see him?”

“Yes. He wasn’t happy but he went on his not-so-merry way.” He raised an eyebrow, that asked more questions than I had answers for. “He wasn’t interested in seeing Kimberley.”

“Okay… thanks for sorting it out.” I bit down on another forkful of salad, as I willed my chest to stop pounding from the close call. “Why don’t you go home for the holiday weekend? I don’t need you here.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s the long weekend, go and enjoy the break. I’ll see you Tuesday.” I smiled at him only to receive a frown in return.

“What are you going to do?”

I shrugged. “I’ll go to the hospital again, and then take the quiet time to clear up other work I haven’t gotten around to yet.”

I didn’t have any other plans, nor did he offer me any pity. He’d known me long enough by now to understand that holiday weekends were not my thing.

Holidays full stop.

Because when you have no family or friends to spend it with, what was the point?

10

Rafe

“Why aren’t you busy studying?” I asked Rory by way of answering my phone when his name flashed up on my car’s dashboard.

“How do you know I’m not?” he replied, but I could hear the grin in his voice that told me I’d been spot-on.

“What’s title E article eighty of the New York penal code?”

He waited then laughed. “You’re such a dick! Not everyone gets a boner for the law like you do.”

“Everyone who matters does,” I shot back as I pulled up in front of the hospital, making sure to stay clear of the ambulance bay. I might get overlooked by the NYPD for speeding, but even they couldn’t get me out of the wrath of Nurse Ratched inside when I’d stopped in the bay for all of three minutes a couple of years ago. You’d have thought that grown men, armed grown men no less, would be able to stand up to a little old lady, but no. And my thousand-dollar fine was proof of that. “So… what do you want?”

“I thought you were going the cottage this weekend.”

“I am, just have to drop something off then I’m heading out. Why?”

“I just called, and Cynthia said she wasn’t aware anyone was coming, and that it was shut for a repaint before the summer”

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