Page 13 of Cocky Nerd
“Uh.Okay.”
“There’s no need for vaccinations, we’ll only be going to Shanghai, three full days there. It’s a long flight and it can be a difficult trip especially when it’s a short one like this, but if you stay well hydrated and take melatonin it should be fine. I load up on Vitamin C and get a B-12 shot before traveling internationally, I recommend it. You haven’t been to Asia before, haveyou?”
“No, but I’ve always wantedto.”
“Good. I think you’ll enjoyit.”
He opens up his bag and hands me a fat sealed envelope. I open it and find it filled with a stack of crisp new bills—twenties, fifties and hundreds. A selection. “Um.Thanks.”
“No, thank you. And I will set up a meeting with Louisa at the Ballet after a couple of weeks. Once we’ve established a public persona as acouple.”
“Fair enough. I’d appreciateit.”
“Well, you deserve to be featured, Olivia. You’re very talented and lovely to look at. Unfortunately, art does not survive withoutcommerce.”
“It is indeed unfortunate. A few years ago I probably would have been appalled by your offer, but I’ve learned pretty quickly that money talks at thiscompany.”
“Don’t be naïve. Money talks at everycompany.”
“Right.”
“I think it goes without saying that I’m the one who benefits the most from thisarrangement.”
“Yeah, well.” I let my eyes scan him from head to toe.I can probably find a way to enjoy this if I try hardenough.
“I mean, the matchmaking service charges $20,000, plus I’d have to go through a tedious interview process and dates with strangers, so you just saved me a lot of time, though not muchmoney.”
“Right.”Stop talking.Dear God, please shut yer piehole you beautiful cluelessbastard.
I hear Callie open the door downstairs and call out to me, asking if I’m home as she runs up the steps. In a flash, Johnny has pulled me to him and lowered his lips onto mine, I instinctively raise my hands to his face as he kisses me playfully, hands on my hips. Like we’re a couple publicly displaying affection while waiting at a busstop.
“Oh!” Callie says. She stops in the doorway to the livingroom.
I stand on my tiptoes, wanting more, but Johnny turns away from me to face my little redheadedroommate.
“Hello,” he says. “I’m John Brandt.” He crosses the room to shake hands with her, and I hover mid-air for a few moreseconds.
“Hi John Brandt,” says Callie. “I’m Callie. Sorry to interrupt. I’ll just go to my room. HeyO.”
“Hey,” I say, clearing mythroat.
“No, I was just leaving.” He crosses back to me. “Do you have a spare key, or should I have a copymade?”
“Um. We have a spare. Cal, can I give Johnny the sparekey?”
“Sure, it’s in the kitchencupboard.”
I get him the spare key, although I don’t recall agreeing to it. I can still feel his lips on mine, and my brain isn’t completely functional yet. He texts his driver to pick him up. “Great, so don’t forget to get the passport photo for the visa. Sanjay will be in touch shortly. Let’s see….Anythingelse?”
“Do you want me to wait with youdownstairs?”
“No, I have to make some calls. Lovely to meet you, Callie. Is that short forCalliope?”
“It can be, but my name is actuallyCallie.”
“Interesting,” he says, as he walks past her. Not: “Interesting, what a nice name,” or “Interesting, you look like aCallie.”
I wait for him to call out goodbye, or that he’ll talk to me later, but all I hear is him saying “Call Sanjay,” and then the downstairs door opens andshuts.
I am still touching my lips when my eyes meetCallie’s.
“Holy fuck,” she whispers. “Tell me everythingimmediately.”
Ican’t.
