Page 90 of Say It Isn't So

After being inEurope, coming back to the office felt like going back to school after summer vacation. Don’t get me wrong, my job wasn’t all fun and games, and fashion weeks were anything but a vacation, but there was definitely that distinct difference that hung in the air.

So after recovering from jet lag, I was finally back, walking the hallowed halls. And by hallowed halls, I meant the posh high-rise we called Blog HQ.

Stepping off the elevator, I looked around and inhaled the familiar scent of orange that the cleaning crew used to polish the common areas. It felt good to be back.

One pull of the door and I saw the back of a redhead sitting in a black leather chair in our lobby. Groaning inwardly, I feared what that could mean, because it could only be one woman—Rina. Only Rina would show up at my office in New York after running into each other overseas.

As far as I knew, she hadn’t been back to New York since that day she’d left me, so it begged the question, why now?

I walked into the lobby and around the chair she sat in. “Rina, what are you doing here?” I asked, but what I really wanted to know was:wasn’t Europe enough?

Uncrossing her leg, she stood up and placed her hands on my shoulders, bringing me close to her. Close enough that she could kiss both my cheeks. That was certainly something she’d picked up in Europe.

“Knox, I called your office and they said you’d be back today,” she explained, which unfortunately didn’t explain much.

I nodded, still not making a move to go into my office or walk away from her, which I was strongly considering, if I was being honest. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it for some reason. “And?”

“I wanted to see you, silly.” She pushed her hair behind her ear and looked at me expectantly.

Not that I knew what she wanted me to say. So I went with a safe bet—“Okay,” hoping she’d give me something to work with in return.

Looping an arm through mine, she smiled. “Show me your office?”

I patted her hand that was around my arm. “Rina, I have work to do. Why don’t you just tell me why you’re here?” I really didn’t have time for all this coy back and forth, besides the fact that I really wasn’t interested in playing games with her.

“I want to discuss my advertising.”

“But you don’t advertise with us,” I pointed out.

She sighed and angled her head as if speaking to a child. “I know that, but I’d like to.”

“You flew out to New York to discuss advertising? With our blog?” I had a hard time buying that. Picking up the phone and calling would have made more sense.

She nodded, though, steadfast in whatever her mission was. “Yes. So, where’s your office?”

* * *

Rina

I’m back!

Why was he always acting shocked to see me? What didn’t he understand when I’d told him I was going to fight for him? I couldn’t very well fight for him from Europe while he was in New York.

That meant that I’d needed to buckle in for the ride of my life and call New York my home for a while, or at least until we headed back to Europe for fashion weeks again.

There was no way I could ignore the powers that be—whatever had brought us together again—not when it was just the right time in our lives.

This was our moment, and I wasn’t going to let it slip away.

“Have a seat,” Knox instructed as we walked into his office finally. He shut the door behind him.

I smoothed down the front of my dress and sat. “Thank you. So how have you been?” I asked in a sing-song voice, trying my best to make this seem as casual as possible. Really, it was anything but. He didn’t know it yet, but I was staring into the eyes of the man I was meant to be with.

“Since you broke up with me or since I left Europe?” he deadpanned.

I sensed he wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t letting it get to me. “You always were funny,” I said, chuckling. “And how have I been? Oh, well, thanks for asking. My flight was long, far too long, but it gave me a lot of time to think.” About Knox. About us. About me and Knox.Okay, so now I sound like a broken record and you probably get the picture—I’ve been thinking about him a lot.

Sitting down at his desk, he fisted his hands on the top of it and asked, “You were thinking about advertising, I take it?”

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