Page 8 of Destined To Fall

I raise an eyebrow in response, and he chuckles, releasing my hand.“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

“So it would seem. So, Jeremy.” I pause to grab my drink, needing the slight distraction. Jeremy beats me, handing over cash before I can.“What’s your story?”

“Hmm, let’s see.” He takes a sip of his own drink, furrowing his brow in thought.“Divorced father of three. I live in my office, where I spend most nights feeding my drinking problem.” He raises his glass to his mouth and pauses.“Oops.”

A laugh bursts out of me, a little too loud, and I cover it up with my hand.

“You have a great laugh. You shouldn’t hide it.”

“Yours isn’t so bad either. Do you speak any other languages?” My curiosity gets the better of me, and I can’t help wondering what other hidden talents he possesses. He has all the charm of a player, but the gentility of a good southern boy. It definitely got my attention and is a little disarming, especially in someone younger.

“A little bit of this and that. It comes in handy in meetings.”

“What do you really do?”

“Lead business consultant. Advertising mainly. And you?”

“Ah same.” I internally cringe at my faux pas. Does marketing yourself count?

“Really?” He sounds dubious.

“Sort of. The consulting and advertising part at least. My clientele is more of a niche market and on a smaller scale. It’s a little different from what I studied at BU.” Understatement.

“You went to BU? When did you graduate?”Uh-oh.

“I left before my twenty-first birthday. I ended up working on the other side of the country.”

“Oh, so you’re not a local?”

I fight a grin at his despondent tone.“I moved back earlier this year.”

My clutch buzzes in my lap, drawing my attention, and I miss whatever Jeremy says in response. I shift it to the bar and return my attention to him.

He fidgets on his stool, looking diffident for the first time.“So, there’s this thing I have to go to tomorrow for Cancer research. Most of this building is involved actually and—” My cell buzzes, then again and again, vibrating through my clutch to the bar.“Do you want to check that?”

“Maybe…” I pull out my phone while sending an apologetic look Jeremy’s way, groaning when I see Antony’s name filling up my screen.

A: We need to talk about this.

A: An agreement is an agreement.

A: Where are you?

A: I’m coming to get you.

Oh my god, what the hell?My fingers fly over the keys as I type back my response, giving Jeremy a sheepish, embarrassed grin.

V: I’m not cancelling, I’m only adjusting the time a little. I just got out of an appointment. Give me 20, and I’ll meet you somewhere downtown.

His response is almost instant.

A: What kind of appointment, and with whom?

V: None of your business, but MM&P Ltd, if you must know.

I responded quickly and without much thought, but I doubt he’ll think anything of that tidbit of information. A follow-up doesn’t come, so I stow my cell, hoping that’s the end of it.

“I’m sorry, that was rude. Ah, where were we?”

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