Page 98 of Famous Last Words
As they continue talking business—a new campaign featuring me as the spokesperson for a luxury watch brand—I check my phone to find a new message from Fran. And the smile that caught me off-guard when I saw her name on my screen disappears the second I read her message.
Keller: Tony shut me down before I even had a chance to tell him about my idea.
Anger pricks at the back of my neck. She told me she stayed up half the night working on her business plan. And the asshole shut her down before she could even tell him about it? Honestly, it takes all I have not to march my ass straight down to the Carlton Myers office and start punching throats.
Me: That’s bullshit.
Keller: I don’t know why I even bothered.
I can feel her despondency through the phone, and I get a sudden urge to try make everything better for her. I have no idea how I’m supposed to do that, but I have this constant need to make her happy.
Keller: On a positive note, the seller accepted Alex’s offer.
“Everything good?” Andy interrupts my thoughts.
I look up from my phone as he takes his chair, signaling the waiter for the check.
“You look like you’re about to punch a hole through something.”
He knows me too well.
“Fran stayed up all night doing up a business plan. She wants to move into a buyer’s agent role. Maybe even focus on athletes. But her asshole boss wouldn’t even hear her out,” I explain, tapping a response into my phone.
Me: You’re too good for that place.
She doesn’t reply, and I realize then that I’m actually worried about her.
“What’s going on between you two?”
I look up to find Andy watching me with a dubious look in his eyes, and I can’t help but sit up a little straighter and square my shoulders, immediately on the defensive. “Nothing. What?” I shake my head. “What are you talking about?”Smooth, Mason. Real smooth.
Andy takes a sip of his wine, gaze still focused on me. “You two seem to be spending a lot of time together.”
“Yeah, because we’repretenddating,” I mutter quietly so the people seated at the tables nearby can’t hear.
Andy nods, but there’s a telling look in his eyes that I don’t like one bit.
“What?” I say on aheavy sigh.
He shakes his head, trying to contain a smug-ass smile. “Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” I hiss. “What?”
Andy holds his hands up in defense, laughing under his breath. “It’s just that you’ve seemed… happier with her around.”
“Chrissake, you sound like Ma.” I roll my eyes.
“Just calling it how I see it,” he says to himself, looking down at the proposal Stephen left.
I focus on my phone, at the message thread between Fran and me, and I can’t help but realize, as much as I refuse to admit it, Ma and Andy are right. I am happier with Fran around.
“Tell her to send it over to me.”
I look up, confused by Andy’s words.
He glances up from the paperwork and shrugs. “I’ll take a look at her business plan.”
I nod slowly, considering his offer. Andy built his agency from the ground up, all on his own. In five years, he went from a relative nobody to one of the top dogs. Not only is he a powerhouse in the professional sporting industry, but he’s a savvy businessman.
