Page 3 of Famous Last Words
Andy lifts the phone back to his ear. “Can you do three o’clock?”
At that very moment, over the din of the city going about its business around us, I hear my name being called.Fuck. Thankfully, Andy’s car pulls up to the curb, and I make a run for it, quickly hopping into the shiny SUV right as a photographer comes into view across the street.
Through the tinted window, a few flashes go off, but I shield my face with my hand as Andy ends his call and directs the driver where to go.Heaving a relieved sigh, I allow my head to fall back as we pull away from the curb.
“How about a celebratory lunch?”
Eyes closed, I nod because I’m suddenly starving. I’ve barely been able to eat these last few days, racked with stress over what the Player Safety Board decision was going to be today.
Andy punches my arm. “Good. You’re buying.”
I can’t fight the grin that tugs at my lips because the man next to me, the one who’s been on my side ever since I was nineteen with nothing but an unbelievable ability to play hockey, saved my ass today, and I owe him a lot more than a fucking lunch, that’s for sure.
CHAPTER 2
FRAN
Being called to your boss’s office as an adult is the equivalent of being sent to the principal’s office as a kid.
As I stand outside Tony Carlton’s office, panic courses through me. I stare at the door, at his name etched into the glass in bold platinum letters, my heart thundering. A fortifying breath does little to placate the anxiety churning in my belly because I know why I’m here. It’d be stupid to pretend like I don’t. But that doesn’t make me feel any more prepared for what I know I’m about to face. So, with a deep breath, I lift a trembling hand and knock, because there really is no avoiding the inevitable.
“Come in,” Tony’s booming voice calls from behind the door.
I plaster on a smile I know doesn’t reach my eyes as I open the door and step inside. But the moment I do, I’m rendered frozen at the sight ofhimsitting there, smirking at me in that way that tells me almost everything I need to know. I might as well turn around and walk back out.
“Fran, take a seat.” Tony motions to the vacant chair, the one next tohim.
I hurry in, smoothing down the front of my skirt before taking a seat, ignoring the asshole beside me despite the obviousness of his gaze as it bores into me. He’s trying for a reaction, but I refuse to give him one.Not today, dick bag. Instead, I lift my chin in a show of confidence I sure as shit don’t feel on the inside, smiling at Tony when he finally graces me with eye contact.
Tony Carlton is an attractive man. A quintessential silver fox: tall, broad shouldered, tan skin, and veneers so white they’re almost blinding. Actually, maybe it’s just the power that makes him sexy. Sexy or intimidating, possibly both—I’m not entirely sure.
“You wanted to see me?” I play dumb and so sickeningly sweet that I momentarily hate myself. But acting like a clueless twit with a man like Tony Carlton is really the only way to succeed in this business. It’s either that or offer to give him a blow job under his desk. Or so I’ve heard.
Beside me, Tadd snickers under his breath, concealing his laughter with a cough, and again, I do everything in my waning power to ignore him.
“Let’s talk about Allora,” Tony begins with a disappointed sigh.
I nod once, swallowing hard around the ball of nerves that’s wedged itself into the back of my throat.
“What happened?” Tony removes his designer glasses and rubs his eyes like I’m one of his teenage daughters who’s given him a headache.
I clear my throat, searching for words he’s not immediately going to call bullshit over. “Um, I… had a lot of interest initially. An up-and-coming tech guy really loved the apartment. But when I asked if he was ready to put an offer in, he said he was still deciding between here and San Francisco. He ultimately chose a three-acre ranch in Saratoga because… he wants to buy a racehorse.” I can’t help but shrink at my own words because I know exactly how ridiculous they sound.
Sitting up a little straighter, I’m reluctant to continue, but I do because Tony’s intense gaze is unwavering and I have a tendency to ramble when I’m nervous. “There was a social media influencer who liked the building, but she said the altitude made her hair…frizzy.” I can’t even conceal my own wince as I say it out loud. “She said she’d be interested in something on a lower floor if it ever came up.”
I nervously wring my hands together. “Um, I do have an email that came through late last night from a potential buyer… I was just about to phone him to gauge interest and maybe set something up.”
Tony’s shrewd gaze narrows, and I take that as my cue to shut the hell up.
“You were given an exclusive ninety-day contract. It’s been seventy-eight days,” he says, looking down at the papers in his hand. “We’ve done two broker opens, multiple caravans, spent far more than we should have on marketing.”
I catch Tadd’s shit-eating grin from my periphery at the same time as Tony says, “Tadd is going to take over the listing.”
My resolve slips and my mouth falls open on a gasp. With Tadd practically gloating beside me, and Tony barely able to look at me, I can’t remember a time I’ve ever felt so insignificant. I take a breath, ready to object, but Tony continues before I can get a single syllable out.
“Tadd haskindlyoffered for you to shadow him.” He juts his chin in Tadd’s direction, but I refuse to acknowledge him. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll see that smug smirk on his face, and I won’t be able to stop myself from reaching across and grabbing the fancy gold pen off Tony’s desk and using it to stab Tadd in his eye.
“I know there’s history between the two of you,” Tony says, shifting awkwardly in his chair.
