Page 45 of Begin Again
“No, you’re right.” He sighed, standing up from my desk. “You’re busy. I should go…What is that?”
I looked around the room to find the source of his question. What is he talking about?“Cosa?”
“That.” Nick pointed at the large bouquet of roses and lilies on the conference table.
I shrugged, fiddling with the pen in my hands. “The courier dropped it off earlier.” I hadn’t given the bouquet much thought since my assistant brought it in this morning.
Nick pushed through the flowers, looking for a card, which I hadn’t done yet. “What the fuck?” He held the card up in the air as he walked back to my desk, and I stood to meet him. “Thanks for an unforgettable night. Can’t wait for the next one,” my husband read the card aloud. “Nina,che cazzo è questo?”What the fuck is this?
I was as confused as he seemed to be. I grabbed the card from his hands and read the words for myself.What the fuck?There wasn’t a name, only an “x” where there should be a signature. I turned it over, looking for any indication of who they came from, but there wasn’t one.
“The other night when you were ‘working’ with Luke?”
Did he just…Was he seriously implying I was having an affair with the guy I’ve been mentoring?
“Nick.” I scoffed. “You cannot be serious.”
“Well, what am I supposed to think, Nina? You work late every fucking night. You spend more time here or with him than you do at home. I can’t remember the last time we had a meal together that wasn’t business-related or with someone else there. And now, I walk in here to find this. I can’t—Non posso farlo,Nina.” Nick hung his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. He can’t do this?
What doesthatmean?
“Nick, nothing happened. How could you even suggest that?” I took his face in my hands, not missing the way he leaned into my touch. “Fossette,” I said, trying to butter him up with the familiar nickname meaningdimples. “I know things have been hard with me stepping in for Kai this time. I know that. But you have to believe me. Nick, I would never—”
“You didn’t even come home that night!” Nick ripped himself from me, taking two steps back. “I went to bed alone and woke up the same way. And you…You flitted off to fucking Chicago without a fucking care in the world.”
There was nothing I could say to make this any better. He was too riled up, and most of his anger was my fault because of my focus on work over our family the past seven months.
Nick scoffed and walked out the door without saying goodbye. I tried to follow him, but my assistant Sydney intercepted me, blocking my path with a desperate plea to call the chairman. He had already called twice, but his impatience would have to wait. Pushing by her, I promised Sydney I would call him as soon as I talked to Nick. By the time I reached the garage, he was already gone.
My attention returns to Luke when he asks, “What flowers?” He seems genuinely confused, but I can’t tell if it’s an act or not.
I say, “The flowers you sent last week…to me.”
“I didn’t send you flowers.” Luke chuckles. “I sent flowers to my…girlfriend, but I didn’t send—Shit.” Luke sighs. “Now that I think about it, she did get the wrong ones. They sent her a bouquet with roses and peonies and…”
I stop listening to him ramble because I don’t need to hear anything else. It all makes sense now. Roses and peonies are staples in any bouquet Nick sends me. Nick must have sent me flowers on the same day Luke sent his girlfriend flowers, and the courier mixed up the two orders.
“Thank God.” One of the weights on my chest dissipates.
“You seem pretty relieved that I didn’t send you flowers.”
A smile spreads across my lips. “You have no idea.”
“Does this mean you can still help me?” Luke looks hopeful and I almost feel bad for what I’m about to do.
“Actually, I think it’s best if Andy takes over indefinitely.”
Luke groans at the same time my phone begins to ring. Turning it over, I see my brother’s name. Weird…They’re not supposed to have their phones until tomorrow.
“Kai?” I answer the call. “What are you—”
“Nina.” Kai sounds exhausted on the other end. His voice is calm, too calm, and it sends a wave of anxiety rolling through me.
Something’s wrong.
“Kai, what’s wrong?” I ask.
“Have you…Have you heard from Nick?”
