Page 52 of Her Billionaire Boss
“Star Trek futuristic or Star Wars futuristic?”another intern asked.
The first one responded, “Star Wars was a long time ago.It says that right at the beginning of the movie.”
While I was sure Matt would be thrilled with a super nerdy space station theme, it wasn’t what I had in mind.I hoped he would skim the meeting notes.“No, if we go futuristic, it needs to be our own thing.The future of New York.The way we’re going to be living in two, three hundred years.”
“Then the climate control on that pool deck should be cranked up to three-fifty Fahrenheit,” Marshall muttered.
“The decor trends are going to change.Things that are sleek and modern by today’s standards will be hideously ornate.I don’t want to go too sterile, but I’m thinking rounded corners, oblong benches...”What I needed was someone familiar with fashion to handle this.
A light switch clicked in my head.
“I’ll be right back.You all keep brainstorming.I want to hear ideas when I come back,” I said, heading for the conference room door.
I went to my office and once I was safely closed inside, I let Business Charlotte slip away.I pulled out my cell and texted Sophie,Can you talk?
She texted back almost immediately,Sure,before the screen lit up with her incoming call.
“Hey,” I said, scratching my head as I tried to formulate my question.“You know how we were talking about the sex club thing?”
“I do.”She dragged out the second word in a singsong of interest.“Any updates?”
“Big ones.It’s going ahead and I’m leading the project.”It was still such a weird thing to say.It felt like a lie.“The problem is, I’m trying to come up with a theme and a feel for the place and...frankly, I’m out of my element.I’m a California board-shorts and bikini-tops girl and New York is high fashion.I was wondering if you’d be interested in consulting.Since you have a fashion background?”
“Fashion, not interior design,” she reminded me.“But I remain intrigued.Let’s talk about it in person before I commit to anything.”
That would give me time to talk to Matt and see if I had the power to hire people.I should have checked with him on that before I made the offer.Did the old adage about begging forgiveness instead of asking permission apply to human resource situations?
“Sounds great.When are you going to be in the city?We can meet up for lunch,” I suggested.
“I’ve been meaning to invite you and Matt out to the house,” Sophie said.“The weather isn’t going to stay this good forever.and you and I haven’t gotten to do our lay-out-by-the-pool thing.”
We had a pool at our apartment.I was too scared to use it, because it was up so high.“I don’t want to impose—”
“I’m inviting you.It’s not an imposition if someone is inviting you,” she said, almost sternly.“We’re kid free next week.Olivia is at her grandma’s house and Rashida will be with her mom in Paris.You should come out and spend some grown-up time with us.”
I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my question.“Sophie, my boyfriend owns a sex island that you and your husbands have been guests at.I need you to define ‘grown-up time’.”
She giggled.“Define it as a relaxing day, maybe a barbecue, and then see where things go?We’re not going to push you into anything.You’re my friend.I have lots of friends I don’t bang.”
“But some that you do,” I guessed.
“Exactly.Come out, we’ll talk a little business, and if we dootherbusiness, that’s what happens.If not, we’re still going to have fun.Just no alcohol,” she stated firmly.
“Oh, god, yeah, I wouldn’t think of it.”I already knew her husband, Neil, was a recovering alcoholic.
“Cool.Some people are so weird when you tell them that.Like they can’t have fun without it.”Dropping her voice conspiratorially, she added, “Weed is fine, though.”
“I appreciate that.”I laughed.We made arrangements to meet up next Tuesday, though I had to clear the plan with Matt.After the call ended, I put Business Charlotte back on for my walk to his office.I stopped at his spooky assistant’s desk and asked, “Is he in a meeting or on a call?”
She shook her head.“No, he’s free.”
It was crucial to ask, after I found out that I had a free pass to interrupt him.I’d made too many awkward entrances that intruded on meetings and phone calls, and while Matt had been totally fine with that, I wasn’t.I never wanted to give people the impression that I considered myself special or outside the rules.I even knocked before I went in.
“I know that knock,” Matt called as I opened the door.
He looked so fucking good sitting behind his desk with his jacket off and his shirtsleeves rolled up.No tie, because I’d suggested that he could absolutely rock that type of look.I’d been right.
“Can we take next Tuesday off?”I asked.He blinked in surprise, and before he could answer, I hurried to add, “To go out to the Hamptons to meet with our potential investors in Ascend Manhattan?”
