Page 143 of Sapphire Sunset

“Yeah, I don’t think so, Blondie. Open the door.”

Naser, shit.

Technically, Connor had stayed at work, even if he’d spentevery break between frantic phone calls curled into a fetal position under thecovers, the same thought blazing through his head as he sobbed.

After Gloria called to tell him Nicole Richter’s assistanthad scheduled a call with Connor for that evening, his assistant general manageralso made several attempts to lay eyes on Connor. In each instance, he’d puther off. He’d told the staff calls were coming in so fast and furious on hiscell he didn’t have time to leave the suite. That was, of course, bullshit. Thetruth was, after his initial sobs had abated enough for him to catch hisbreath, he’d pulled off his work clothes and hurled them into a rumpled ball inthe corner. Since then, he’d spent the day in pajamas and Wheat Thin crumbs,with crying jags in between frantic business calls. None of the possiblescenarios if Lighthouse canceled could be described as remotely good. HarrisMitchell felt Sylvia Milton had gone so far over the line Connor and his motherhad no choice but to file a defamation suit. It all came down to four words—theHarcourt family’s crimes. Right now, Connor had about as much stomach for thatas he’d had for the black tar smell on his uncle’s hands the night of hisassault.

He opened the door a crack, and Naser gave him a once-over,from his bedhead to his bare feet, which he’d done such a terrible job ofslathering with lotion they looked like they were shedding melting wax. Naserraised one eyebrow.

“I’m working out of my suite today,” Connor mumbled.

“Really?’Causeit looks likeyou’re attending a hoedown with the Keebler elves.”

“Never. I hate those queens. They’re too into meth.”

Naser smiled. “Well, you still have your sense of humor.That’s good.”

“Who called you?” Connor asked.

“Gloria. She said her next call was going to be your mother.”

“Shit. Come in so we can barricade the door before she getshere. Mom canary-yellowed me the other day, and I’m still recovering.”

Closing the door gently behind him, Naser examined the suiteas if he expected to find corpses littering the floor. “All right, well, nothing’sbroken, so that’s good,” he said. “But you placed nine room service orders forWheat Thins, which the staff interpreted as a cry for help.”

Connor picked up the nearest open box and held it out for Naser.“Help yourself.”

Connor flounced down onto the love seat at the foot of thebed. With a sweep of the hand, he gestured for Naser to sit anywhere he liked.

“Gloria’s worried,” Naser said. “I’mworried.”

“You didn’t have to leave work for this,” Connor said.

“Connor, it’s five thirty. I’ve been off work for half anhour.”

“What?” Connor sat up, checked the view beyond the windows,and saw the early-evening light that presaged dusk. “Christ, I’ve got a callwith the Lighthouse Foundation in thirty minutes. I hope they’re nicer whenthey’re teaching people how to read.”

Naser sat down on the love seat next to him. “Whathappened?”

“So did he make some big dramatic exit?” Connor asked.

“No. Gloria said they didn’t even realize he was gone untilthey checked the lot for his truck.”

“That’s good, I guess.”

“Maybe.”

“I didn’t accept his resignation. And I accused him ofgiving up without a fight. And of not letting me fight for him.”

“And what did he say?” Naser asked.

“He said I was making it sound like him working here and ourrelationship were the same thing.”

“Did you?” Naser asked.

“It’s how it came out. Kind of.”

“Kind of?” Naser asked.

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