Page 7 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Oh my gosh, look at you. You just get more beautiful every time I see you!” she exclaims, standing to pull me into a hug. She smells like Chanel No. 5 and I know for a fact I will for the rest of the day now too.
“Which is not nearly enough. How are Sarge and Cooper?” Barbara has the cutest Corgi’s I’ve ever seen in my life. If I were to ever get a dog, that’s hands down the breed I would get.
“Oh, they’re good. Sarge had to have surgery last week but you know he’s a tough one. He’s recovering like a champ.” I cross my arms over my chest and give her a playful smirk.
“Youknow,Champ would be a really cute name for a puppy.” I wink at Babs before catching a chastising glance from Jack.
“You’re still a troublemaker, I see.” Jack shoots me a sly grin before looking back at the papers he’s flipping through. My brows knit together as something familiar flutters through my chest, but it’s gone just as quickly as it appeared.
“Me?Never.” Marcus comes in from rounding up the rest of the agents that were running late and I secretly loathe that I was one of them today. I’m never late for a meeting, and the one day I am is the day the freakingownersof the company are here. Mind you, I was latebecausethey’re here, but I digress.
“Okay, everyone. Have a seat,” Marcus announces, shutting the door behind him.
When I look at the table the only open seat is next to the new guy that isstilltexting. I look at Luther and roll my eyes before pulling the chair out and sitting down, keeping my attention onMarcus and not on the loud ass typing happening next to me. Who leaves their volume turnedonin a meeting?
Marcus starts talking about how we’re moving into what is considered theslow seasonand reminding us that if we keep putting in the work, we shouldn’t see too big of a difference in our numbers. Then I hear the faintwhooshsounds of an email being sent and something in me snaps.
My head whips to the side. “Are you serious?” The whispered scold is met with a look of indifference. “I don’t know who you are or why you’re even here but I do know rule number one of human decency is to pay attention when someone is talking.” He leans forward, keeping his eyes—which are the most insane color of blue I’ve ever seen—locked on mine when he answers.
“Andwhotold you I’m a decent human?” I roll my eyes and see the way his jaw tightens. He sits back in his chair still not taking his eyes off me. I don’t know if he’s doing it to intentionally piss me off at this point, but if so, it’s working. There’s nothing I despise more than people who don’t pay attention when someone else is talking. Anyone who’s had that sinking feeling of seeming invisible when saying something important to them and having no one pay attention would know exactly what I mean. When I finally snap out of it I realize I’m gripping my pen so hard my knuckles are white.
“Now, to move on to what I’m sure youallare wondering. Why are Jack and Babs here and who’s the guy in Marcus’s chair?” There’s a collective laugh around the table, though I’m not in a verygigglymood so I opt for a forced smile. Jack stands up, followed by Barbara andthetexter.
“It’s good to be back in the office with you all. Reminds me of the good ole days being in the field, helping families find and eventually sell their first homes but, Babs and I aren’t here to reminisce about the past. We are here because we’ve broughton someone new that we think will help…improve some things around here.”
Honestly, Jack. Could youbeany more vague?
“He’s come all the way from New York to join our team and we areverylucky to have him. So I trust that you will all treat him with the same kindness and respect you were shown upon joining the Coleson family.” The room is awkwardly silent for a moment.
“I’m a little confused. What exactly is hispositiongoing to be here?” I ask in what Ihopeis the kindest way possible, but if he’s coming on as an agent I know people are going to be a little more hesitant to welcome him with open arms. We’re already at our max number of agents and this is a pretty competitive field.
“He’ll be an agent, but he’ll also be weighing in on other departments that can be improving.” I want to say something—something positive or encouraging—to welcome him and show Jack that I’m gonna be a team player, but I’m just not feeling it at the moment.
“And our new agent’s name is?” Luther, God bless his soul, chimes in and cuts the growing tension in the room.
“Oh, forgive me. I guess a proper introduction would be helpful.” The gruff tone of Jack’s laugh fills the room. “This is Mr?—”
“Fitz,” he interrupts Jack, smiling at everyone in the room. Though it’s going to take more than a bright smile with perfectly pointed canines to get the bad taste out of my mouth about him. E-mailing during a meeting, interrupting Jack, and the entitlement dripping from his Tom Ford suit and expensive cologne that I would like to drown in if it were on literally anyone else. He smells like a rich man with good taste and I loathe myself for being so attracted to it.
“Okay. Dismissed everyone.” Marcus opens the door and everyone begins chatting as they file out of the room. I takea deep breath to collect myself, push away from the table and stand with my head held high—a habitanda necessity since this guy is as tall as the Empire fucking State Building.
“Welcome to Coleson,Fitz,” I say, baring my teeth as I give him my most customer service-coded smile. “I’m Lauren, Lauren Long.” I offer him my hand and instead of shaking it the bastard slides both of his into his pockets and barely spares me a second glance before responding.
“Happy to be here, Sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 3
FITZ
My little troublemaker doesn’t remember me?
That simply won’t do.
CHAPTER 4
LAUREN
“I think this is the one.” Mr. and Mrs. Johnson stand together in the kitchen of the townhome that I have had five separate showings of this week alone. This is a new building and the surrounding community seems to be at least fifty percent new families from what I’ve seen during my showings this week, so it’s the perfect place for these two—soon to be three—to settle down.
