I twisted my lips. “Three. Well, four if I include the freelance writing for a few magazines. But I’m cutting back on that.”
He shifted to stand in front of me, studying me. He wrapped a strand of hair around his fingers. “I like your new look.” Then he tipped up my chin. The contact sent a jolt through my body. “That’s a lot to manage.”
I shrugged. “You do what you have to do. Anyway, let me treat you to some comfort food.”
He got into the passenger seat, and I took him to Let’s Ketchup.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
ELENA
For work,I wore a summer dress because it made me feel pretty and feminine. Spending too much time on my hair and makeup wasn’t my thing until today. After all that, I opted to leave my hair down with big waves. A side clip and some gold earrings finished my summer ensemble.
You look like you’re going on a date instead of work.
I didn’t care. It had been a long time since I’d dressed up. With all the stress I’d been dealing with, I almost forgot what it felt like to feel pretty. Even if it were just for one day, I wanted to wallow in this joy for as long as I could. It was an escape I desperately needed. The chaotic reality could resume tomorrow.
My mind wandered back to the dinner we shared at Let’s Ketchup. He’d enjoyed the food there and told me enough about professional thieves to start my article. Most thefts were committed for money, but some did it for the thrill. I asked too many questions that he’d deflected, answering them in a way that made him more mysterious. What was he hiding? One day I’d find out who the true Orion was.
Arriving at the parking garage of my workplace, I took a moment to gather myself.
My phone buzzed, and I smiled at the name.
Vivian:Hey! You busy next week?
Elena:I can make time for you. What’s up?
Vivian:Hosting a gathering on Thursday night. The girls want to see you.
Elena:Okay. Sounds like fun.
Vivian:We’ve got events planned that could be great for Musepaper.
That was true.
Elena:Want me to bring anything?
Vivian:Nope. Just show up. (Smile emoji)
Elena:See you soon!
I should probably sign up for one of her self-defense classes at the Martial Arts Studio in case an incident with drunk men occurred again. But I didn’t have any time and the extra income to pay for something that wasn’t a necessity.
I got out of the car, entered the building, and pressed the button to the fortieth floor. Glancing at my phone, I shook my head.
“You’re five minutes late. Way to make a great impression on your first day, Elena.” I shoved the phone back into my purse.
I glanced at the directory poster on the wall, showing several financial firms, law offices, and software companies. The top ten floors belonged to the Reimann Group, but it didn’t list what each floor did. From my research into the Reimann Group, it was an umbrella for a vast number of companies throughout the world.
How did he manage them all? Was he stressed? I juggled multiple part-time jobs while working on Musepaper, my dream. Though it wasn’t making me any big profits yet, I washappiest when working on what I loved. But anxiety never stopped hounding me.
The door to the elevator opened, and I stepped out into a spacious hallway.No one sat at the front desk.Maybe she just stepped away.I approached the desk, waited, and admired the modern furniture, unique three-dimensional art on the wall, and the décor that looked too pricey.
My gaze landed on a breathtaking painting on a wall. It was a night sky with the Orion constellation. I recognized the three stars that made up Orion’s Belt, which reminded me of what I dreamed about last night. It was fun yanking off his belt in his office. I read somewhere that there was a hidden meaning behind sexual dreams, but I didn’t have time to investigate yet.
See what stress did to my body?
I turned my attention back to the artwork. I could see him in the painting. The darkness blended with the light. What exactly was the hunter aiming at?