Page 22 of Family Secrets

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth held onto the handle above the window of Lisa’s car as she drove in and out of traffic, narrowly missing the broad side of a city bus and a taxi. When she finally pulled into a parking lot, Elizabeth closed her eyes and said a prayer, vowing to hire an Uber to take her home.

Lisa circled the lot, which was filled with cars in various colors, all bearing the logo of companies she didn’t dare try and pronounce. After gliding into a spot, Lisa exited the car dressed in a short skirt and high heels, despite the bitter cold temperatures. Elizabeth shivered out of sympathy as she followed her across the lot to a side door, watching in amazement as she tapped in a sequence with her abnormally long nails.

“You will have your own code as soon as Sully gets in,” Lisa tugged at the handle until a buzzing sound opened the door.Elizabeth nodded, but remained silent, the bitter wind leaving her anxious to be inside.

The interior of the office was modern with sharp lines and rich details, a complete contrast to the industrial exterior, which was cold and boring. Stepping further into the room, Elizabeth’s eyes landed on a beautiful woman sitting behind the desk, her attention on a sparkly phone, ignoring the one ringing in the background. The redhead reminded her of Karen, although this girl was far prettier, Elizabeth was confident they would be friends.

“Our office is on the second floor, Sully and Gino share the third floor—you’ll meet both of them later.” Lisa rattled off as they stepped into the elevator, ignoring the girl behind the desk as if she didn’t see her.

When the doors closed, Elizabeth’s curiosity got the best of her. “The girl at the desk—"

“Don’t waste your time getting to know the girls behind the desk,” Lisa interrupted. “The one sitting there now more than likely won’t make it to lunch.”

Panic flooded Elizabeth’s chest, the decision to move here suddenly not so brilliant. “Is the job difficult?”

“Pfft, no. The issue isn’t the work, but the person. Sully likes to move his help around. Not us of course, but from another business. The girls he chooses are best kept on a pole and not as a receptionist.”

“Kept on a pole?” Elizabeth marinated Lisa’s statement around in her mind, her eyes widening when the meaning finally registered. “Sully owns a gentleman’s club?”

“Several,” Lisa responded nonchalantly, as the doors to the elevator opened revealing a room full of activity. “Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Lisa tugged on Elizabeth’s arm, making her nearly trip over her own feet. Righting herself, she came face to face with a curvy girl with dark hair streaked with platinum highlights.

“Hi, I’m Cheri. Oh my God, look at your blue eyes.”

Elizabeth pulled back slightly, having been teased for the odd color of her eyes from the first step she took into kindergarten.

“You have incredible bone structure; you just need a little color. I can call my girl, get you fixed up in a few hours.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to refuse when Lisa leaned in and whispered. “The prettier you are, the more bonuses we get.”

The last thing Elizabeth wanted was to make a bad impression on her first day. “Sure, but not today,” she interjected, needing a solid excuse. “I can’t ask for time off when I’ve just started.”

Cheri looked from Elizabeth to Lisa, who gave her a slight nod. “You have a point. Come to Mia Bella’s on Sunday, all the girls meet there for weekly maintenance.”

“Maintenance?” Elizabeth echoed, her head tipping to the left in confusion.

“Yes, you know, nails, spray tan, hair color.” Cheri lifted her right-hand showing Elizabeth the pink ombre she’d received yesterday. “My girl is super busy, but I’m sure we can get you in. Let me know if you change your mind, or if you need anything, just ask.”

“Thanks, I will.”

After a round of introductions where Elizabeth prayed she would remember everyone’s name, Lisa led her to a desk across the room tucked behind a glass wall. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the New York City skyline before her. Seeing this spot through a camera lens was nothing compared to seeing it with her own eyes.

“Hey, Sully.”

The sound of Lisa’s voice startled her out of the moment she chose to steal, blocking out everything else to appreciate the view. Turning around, the view of the man standing before her was just as impressive. A dark suit, pressed shirt, and matching tie never looked so good as they did covering the body of the man she’d corresponded with over the past few days. Curly brown hair, tipped with what looked to be bleached ends, stuck straight in the air, but somehow it worked well for him. A genuine smile, so white it could light up the room, with tanned skin like most of the people in the room, but on him, she couldn’t tell if it was natural or came out of a bottle.

“Elizabeth,” Sully cleared the distance, his arms open wide in greeting, taking her face in hand, placing a kiss to each cheek. “So happy to finally meet you.”

Elizabeth’s knees felt weak as his cologne surrounded her. He smelled masculine, the way a man should smell, not spicy like Jonah. When his lips touched her cheeks, something deep within her caught fire, the embers smoldering long after he released her.

“I hope everyone is making you feel welcome.”

“They are,” Elizabeth squeaked out, unable to pull her eyes from his handsome face.

“And your flight here, did it go smoothly?”

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