Page 2 of Julian's Curse

“There’s answer keys in the back of it,” I let her know. “I am going to go figure out your new log in, then help you get started on our welcome modules.”

She settled into her seat. “Thanks Lucie. I appreciate you so much.”

“Can I offer you water or coffee?” I asked, hoping we still had a few Keurig cups left. I’d been meaning to figure out how to use our Office Depot account and place an order, but with the launch of the app, I’d found myself juggling more responsibilities than time allowed.

“I drank coffee on my way here, but thank you,” Kali blinked thoughtfully at me. Her deep brown skin and sharp, graceful features caught the light as she spoke, and her dark eyes had an almost perceptive quality, as if she was processing everything in the room. She then nodded toward the uniformed workers setting up the metal detectors. “An unusual precaution for a magazine entrance, isn’t it? We had these at my old school in the Bronx.”

I smiled inwardly. “Is that where you’re from?”

“New York, yeah.” She said with an East Coast accent that I should have recognized before.

“Amanda wants to be careful,” I explained, leaving myself out of it. It occurred to me that Kali had no preconceived notions of me – at least not like most strangers on the street. She didn’t look at me with the same curiosity as the people that knew me from magazines. It was so refreshing that for an instant, I wondered if this was how Julian had felt when he’d first met me. Free to be himself. Free to escape the headlines of tabloids that oftentimes crushed us both.

“And you?” She turned the conversation to me.

“Seattle. Now southern California is home, though.” I missed Gram, but I could picture myself staying in San Diego for the rest of my life. If I could take care of her somehow. Would she be open to coming here eventually?

“Nothing beats the weather, right?”

“Yeah, it’s a treat to live here.” I hoped it would lift her mood about whatever she was going through. “I’ll be back in a moment with your log in info.” I rushed out to find Greg from our helpdesk team, while I checked my phone again to update Julian on my delay.

Work with me and you’ll never be late for lunch with the boss, he’d already texted.

I felt relieved that he wasn’t upset with me.

I am so sorry. I am unexpectedly helping a new hire here. I’ll see you in twenty minutes.I was almost at Greg’s desk, so I shoved my phone in my pocket. I hoped that Julian wouldn’t feel hurt that I’d almost stood him up, but I’d promised Amanda no leniencies. And everyone else would have postponed their lunch in this situation, so I really had no choice…

‘Hi Greg.” I slid into the chair next to his desk. “Can you help me with a username set up?”

Per the items on his table, he’d just finished a lunch of Pad Thai, and was now washing it down with a mega sized orange soda. His nursing schoolbooks took up all the rest of the space, leading me to believe that he’d been studying on his lunch break. Or maybe around it too.

“Sure, Lucie. What’s her name?” He rotated his chair toward me, then grinned at me like I’d become a welcome distraction.

“Kali,” I frowned at the lack of info I’d given him. “Will we be able to find her in the system based on just that?”

He gave me a smug smile. “Sure, let me check. We should be able to figure this out.” He loaded our CRM, while I sat and waited. Greg was always willing to help me because I’d savedhim from Amanda’s rage on several occasions. I finally relaxed, but not for too long.

My phone vibrated, so I pulled it out of my pocket to check the call, expecting to see Julian’s caller ID. But it wasn’t him this time around.

Bradley? I hadn’t heard from him since he’d left for Hawaii. Last year, we’d almost gotten into a relationship, but then both of us recognized that our hearts belonged to other unavailable people. I’d wanted to give him space to figure things out with his ex-wife, that’s why I hadn’t reached out for months. His mechanic shop had remained closed, and he’d prolonged his trip, so things were possibly going well there.

And there was also another reason — a more selfish one — I didn’t want Julian to feel hurt. We’d been trying to rebuild something that had taken a lot of badgering, and I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize it. So, I let the call go to voicemail; this wasn’t the right moment for such a personal conversation. I’d call him as soon as I could. Bradley and I shared such a deep connection that we could easily pick up where we left off.

“Here, Lucie.” Greg scribbled Kali’s log in info and shot me a victorious glance.

“I owe you.” I beamed.

“Not that you have to, but if you can get me into one of Sophie’s parties…” He flushed crimson.

I laughed. “Yeah, I know. I miss her too. I think if you’re fine schmoozing with a bunch of top producing agents, I may be able to. She’s only partying in bougie circles these days, so be prepared for a different crowd.”

He made a sour face. “My girlfriend loves her parties, but I don’t know about that. May be too pompous of a gathering for my taste.”

“Hey, you’re going to be a nurse. That’s way more impressive than selling properties,” I encouraged him because he needed to hear that. Taking night classes with our job had to be insane.

Someone cleared their throat behind us. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was—our connection made it unmistakable. His scent drifted to me, intoxicating as always, a blend of his unique aroma and a rich, woodsy cologne with a subtle hint of spice. It was the same cologne I’d noticed that morning, lingering in the air after the embrace I’d held onto as long as I could without risking being late for work.

“Hope I am not interrupting,” Julian alerted us of his presence by clearing his throat. He had probably given up on waiting at the restaurant, and I couldn’t blame him for it.

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