Page 27 of Her Prince in Disguise
Picking up her phone, she dialed her best friend’s number. “Hey, woman, what are you up to?” Carys demanded. “I guess I should first ask where you are, since you’re a world traveler now.” Her friend ended with a chuckle.
Andi smiled, but thought there was an edge to Carys’ tone. “I’m back in Philly. Do you want to…?”
“Yes!” Carys replied before Andi could even finish the sentence. “When? I so desperately need to speak with you!”
Andi laughed, leaning a hip against her kitchen counter. “I just showered. I’m not even sure what time it is.”
They made arrangements to meet at a restaurant down by the Cherry Street Pier, an area of the city filled with quirky restaurants and fun shopping options. Not to mention, it was just a great place to people watch.
As soon as Andi stepped off of the subway, Carys was there, enfolding Andi in a huge hug. “I’ve only been gone for a couple of weeks,” Andi laughed, returned Carys’ hug.
Carys pulled away, wiping at her tears. She laughed as well, saying, “I know it wasn’t all that long, but I’ve missed you! Imiss our lunches and gab sessions, plus, I was left with Marjorie and Liz for Friday night fun.” They both grimaced. Marjorie and Liz loved to party in the clubs until dawn while she and Andi preferred being home in comfy pajamas by ten o’clock, even on the weekends.
“How long did you last?” Andi asked, looping her arm through Carys’ companionably as they headed towards their favorite bistro.
“About three hours. I ditched them when I couldn’t take the loud music any longer.”
Andi sighed, shaking her head with mock shame. “We’re getting too old to party. Such a disgrace.” They laughed. It was Saturday night and both women knew that they’d be back at their individual apartments, reading a good book by nine o’clock and, most likely, asleep by ten, if not before.
After they grabbed dinner and were eating ice cream as they walked along the Delaware River, Andi turned to her friend. “So, when are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” she asked, forgetting her own troubles because of the palpable tension in Carys’ shoulders.
Carys sighed, then leaned against the railing that separated the pedestrians from the water. She toyed with her spoon while Andi waited patiently.
“It’s nothing, really,” she lied.
“Okay,” Andi said with a nod. “Then let me tell you aboutmyproblems. Maybe that will give you the courage to tell me what’s going on in your life.” She told Carys all about the wild sex with “her boss” on their last couple of nights in Singapore,her concerns about how a fling with one’s boss is a recipe for disaster, and Jonas, the ass who seemed to be trying to sabotage her. She also mentioned getting the weird boxes with alarmingly creepy sex scenes, only one of which she’d seen the inside of, and how Laith was concerned about the contents of the box, but wouldn’t show her because he knew it would upset her.
Carys listened patiently, then laughed and hugged Andi. “Thank you! That completely puts my worries into perspective.” She sighed. “At least I don’t have a weirdo sending me sex fantasies.”
Andi’s eyes narrowed on her friend. “But you have a guy that you’re interested in?”
Carys shrugged. “Nope. There is a man that I admire, but nothing will come of it.” She jerked her head. “Come on. Those dark circles under your eyes tell me you need more sleep. Let’s head out of here. The group is meeting for brunch tomorrow. Maybe you’ll feel better after a good night’s rest.”
They talked of mundane issues as they walked back to the subway station. But later, as Andi was unlocking the door to her apartment, it occurred to her that Carys hadn’t warned her not to continue her relationship with Laith. Carys was usually very logical and sensible. Why wouldn’t she warn Andi to stay away from the man who threatened her career? They’d both been so careful and ambitious since graduating from college and ending up here in Philadelphia together. Why hadn’t Carys said anything?
Chapter 16
After a relaxing, if short, weekend away, Andi had thought she was ready to get back to work. Not even another flight in the back of the plane, in a middle seat, no less, could dampen her enthusiasm. Thankfully, the flight was only six hours to London, so it was a much shorter flight in an uncomfortable seat. The bathroom visits weren’t as odiferous this time either, since only one meal was served on the flight.
Still, she was more frazzled than her teammates by the time she walked into the conference room. Plus, they’d arrived four hours ahead of her. So, they’d already spread out and were deep into their research by the time she hauled her laptop, as well as her suitcase, into the conference room.
“Hey, Andi,” Jennifer called out, clipboard tucked under her arm as she prepared to head out for her factory inspections. “Why the suitcase? Didn’t you want to settle into the hotel first?”
Andi shoved her suitcase into a corner, then sighed heavily as she pulled her laptop out and set it at the opposite end of the table from everyone else. After two miserable flights, plus the fact that they’d obviously been here for a few hours, she was feeling…disconnected was the only word that popped into her mind.
Before she could answer, Laith walked into the conference room, a scowl darkening his handsome features. Andi had to hide her excitement at seeing him again by turning away to take off her coat.
“Nice of you to join us,” he commented disapprovingly.
Andi’s mouth fell open and she glanced at the man standing just behind Laith. Jonas, the arrogant ass, ignored her and tapped something onto his tablet.
Andi didn’t have time to explain that she hadn’t been on the same flight as the others, and even if she had been on that flight, she would have been in the back of the plane instead of the front where she could disembark and get through the checkpoints ahead of the crowd.
Instead, Laith started handing out assignments, explaining what he suspected were the issues in the London branch operations. Andi listened carefully, but she was still fuming from his previous comment.
“That’s it,” he finished. “I hope everyone had a good weekend because this office is going to be tougher to work with than Singapore. The people here are suspicious and most likely unwilling to offer information. Jonas is ready to run interference for anyone if you aren’t getting cooperation from your individual departments. So, use him as a resource.”
Andi looked away, terrified that if she looked at Laith, he would see the yearning, the desperate need, in her eyes. She’d missed him terribly over the past few days. It was silly, of course, but she missed his arms around her and the way they’d talk about things. She also craved the sweet warmth in the aftermath of sex with him.
