Page 34 of Cocky Nerd
“I haven’t checked my email yet, but I’m sure it’sfine.”
“Here is your passport back. John has your visa for China, so everything is together in oneplace.”
“Great. Thank you for taking care of allthat.”
“It’s my job and my pleasure.” He tries to wink, but it just looks like he has a facialtremor.
The hoodie geeks are now completely engrossed in their computers. Sanjay returns to the table to type on his laptop. John puts his laptop down on the table and comes back over tome.
“Do you worktoday?”
“I work the dinner shift, yeah, but I’m free for a while.” I reach out to touch his T-shirt and get a feel for his toned abs beneath it. I just can’t help but touchhim.
He tenses up and clears his throat. “So, we leave for China in three days and then the New York gala is right after that. You may want to go shopping today. For clothes?” He pulls out his wallet and gives me ten crisp hundred-dollar bills. “That might not be enough. You can call me and I’ll just pay for whatever you need over thephone.”
“Oh. Thanks. So you’re workingtoday?”
“Oh yes. Every day. I’ve had my assistant research the best ballet classes in Shanghai in case you’d like to drop in on one while we’re there, I know you have to stay fit during the off-season. But let us know if there’s anything specific that you need while we’rethere.”
“I only do ballet classes once or twice a week in the summer, actually. I go to the gym more now and cross-train.”
“Interesting. To work on physicalimbalances?”
“Exactly. Most of the year we’re working the same muscles over and over, so now’s the time to work on generalathleticism.”
He smiles. “I like that, that’s smart. Well, the hotels we’ll be staying at have world class fitness centers and indoor pools. It’s off-season for the Shanghai Ballet now too, unfortunately, but there is a Peking Opera that we’ve been invited to by our hosts. Have you been to onebefore?”
“No. But I’ve watched parts of some on YouTube. I’d love to seethat.”
“Some people find the shrill singing voices annoying, and the staging too stiff, but I find it quite beautiful andenergizing.”
“Can’twait.”
“Oh, and you’ll notice in the itinerary that we’re flying first class to Shanghai, from SFO. I hope you don’t mind. As I mentioned, I consider private jets to be a shameless waste of money andfuel.”
“Your frugality and consideration for the environment isadmirable.”
He’s ushering me out the door. “Have you had enough breakfast andcoffee?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We have a lot to do here, so I’ll have my driver take youhome.”
I jerk my arm away from him. “I don’t need your driver to take mehome.”
When we’re in the hallway, he says, voice lowered, “Don’t be stubborn, Olivia, a Lyft is an unnecessary expense that I don’t want to payfor.”
“I didn’t ask youto.”
“I’m not using my driver this morning, he will take youhome.”
“It’s not okay for you to order mearound.”
“Was I ordering youaround?”
I don’t know, was he? I’m horny and annoyed and I don’t like being sent home. I get to choose when I go home. “I just don’t like yourtone.”
“You’ve never liked my tone. That didn’t stop you from kissing me lastnight.”
