Page 5 of The Wrong One

“You’re just going to call her up and offer the job?” I asked.

He laughed. “Yeah, that’ll work. She’ll shut me down pretty hard. No, I need to be a little more casual about it. I need to slide right in and make her think it’s something you and I need.”

I nodded and got to my feet. “Alright. Whatever works. I’ve got to get going. I’m supposed to be meeting the building manager about the renovations I want to do in my apartment. I think it’s stupid I have to get all this shit approved. I own the damn thing.”

“You should have bought a house,” he said. “Buying a house was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“Because you have a kid,” I said. “I’m a bachelor. I don’t plan on changing that status anytime soon. I like being in the city. I don’t have to do anything more that touch an app on my phone to get whatever I need.”

“You just like the view from your nest in the sky,” he joked.

“It’s definitely a selling point,” I agreed. “I can see the city, Back Bay, and the mountains in the distance. I have it all. I have everything I need with the touch of a button. For a guy like me, getting to live in that building is the stuff of dreams. I remember when we started making money and they were building that tower. I kept telling myself I was going to live in there one day. You thought I was crazy.”

He chuckled. “I did. I have never been fond of the skyscraper thing. I prefer my feet to be on good, solid footing.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I left his office and headed for my Mercedes with all the bells and whistles. I was saving the Porsche for when I hit my midlife crisis. For now, I appreciated comfort and luxury with plenty of room to move. I headed up to my apartment, catching the manager just as he was getting ready to leave.

“I’m here,” I said. “Sorry, I got stuck at work.”

“No worries, Mr. Fraser.” He smiled.

I walked to my door and unlocked it, gesturing for him to go inside. “I’ve got the proposal from my designer,” I said. “No major changes. I want dark countertops. There are a few other modifications I’ll be making.”

“You don’t like the white?”

I looked at the sea of white that was my kitchen. “No,” I answered bluntly. “I don’t like it. It’s bland. I need more.”

“I’ll submit this,” he said and took the envelope. “I cannot imagine there would be an issue.”

“Considering what I paid for my apartment, I would think not,” I replied. “It’s not like I’m taking down walls. I reviewed the HOA, as did my designer. There is nothing that says I cannot make these changes.”

After he left, I walked to my master suite and stripped out of the suit and tie and changed into something more comfortable. I didn’t want to be that guy, but I paid damn good money for my apartment. I was going to like every inch of it. Not just this space or that. I poured myself a drink and stepped out onto my private balcony high above the city. This was the life. This was why I busted my ass.

ChapterThree

Izzy

Iparked my car in the driveway of Ramsey’s old house. It was technically new to him, but it was an old-ass house. It was gorgeous if not a little gothic. It was beautiful and very private. The house sat on four acres of lush grass and lots of trees. It was the perfect home for a little girl to grow up in. I walked up to the front door of the three-story stone house.

I rang the bell and waited. My beautiful niece Lily pulled open the door. “Aunt Izzy!”

She launched herself at me, giving me the biggest bear hug ever. I pulled her into my arms and twirled her around. “How are you? I think you’ve grown a foot since I’ve seen you last! You’re getting way too big.”

She giggled. “I just saw you.”

“I know, but you keep growing. You’re going to be taller than your dad.”

“My dad is too big,” she said with a wrinkled nose. “Dancers can’t be that big.”

“I think anyone can be anything,” I assured her.

She had her sights set on being a ballerina. That was her dream today, but I had a feeling she would change her mind eventually. She was going to be a doctor a year ago. Before that, she was going to be an astronaut.

We walked into the house with pictures of Lily on one wall. The house was huge, but Ramsey made it a home. “Come look at my new doll,” Lily said and took my hand.

She led me into the family room that was filled with toys and Lily’s favorite books. There wasn’t a TV in the room. Ramsey wanted her to have a place without TV, which I thought was a very good idea.

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