Page 49 of A Lot to Unpack
I can’t afford to like him. I can’t afford to feel charmed by him. I’m not here to be his friend, I’m here to get into his room, swap the contracts, and then head back to my life with my job still intact.
And yet…
As he tells a story about the weirdest things he’s seen in Central Park over the years – all weirder than my sticking my arm in a tree – I catch myself laughing too hard. Watching the way his eyes crinkle at the edges when he’s knows he’s being funny.
I feel like I’m in trouble here, because he really is charming, and if the roles were reversed, he would’ve had me already. In the gotcha sense, that is, nothad mehad me.
Although… No! I can’t think like that. I can’t fall for his charm like everyone else. I’m here to do a job.
Or try to, anyway.
19
There’s a certain kind of bar that only really exists in New York City – well, if TV shows and movies are anything to go by. Super sexy. Candlelit within an inch of its life. Moody even. Like you could be here for an illicit affair with a married man or a cop in need of a post-work whisky – or maybe even both. It’s a real one-size-fits-all sort of place.
Why am I here? Well, neither of the above reasons, that’s for sure. I’m here because I need to be somewhere, because Jordan clearly has no work for me to do, and because I’m going a little crazy on my own.
‘Another?’ the barman asks me, nodding towards my empty glass.
My plan was to try a few different cocktails, but with so many to choose from – and given that I’m in New York – I defaulted to a Cosmopolitan and, to be honest with you, it’s just easy to get another.
‘Yes, please,’ I reply.
I know, I’m very much at risk of being asked: why the long face? But nothing feels like it’s going to plan.
I take my phone from my bag to pay and notice I have a message from Paige.
Paige
Is it done yet?
Liberty
Not yet.
Paige
Liberty, come on. This is important. I need you to pick up the pace.
She must realise I’m trying? Does she think I’m just sitting around sipping cocktails? Okay, yeah, fair enough, I am right now, but I really have been trying my best.
Liberty
I know, but I can’t risk getting caught, and he’s not making it easy for me to get close to him.
Paige
Please try harder. If you can confirm he has the right version, I’ll step in and press him to sign. But I’m not reaching out until I know he’s seen it, otherwise he might sign the wrong one and we’re screwed.
What can I say?
Liberty
I’ll try.
Paige
Try harder.
