Page 31 of Selfish Suit

“Here…” Tracey hands me a water bottle and some type of pill.

I don’t ask what it is; I just take it.

“Should I wait for you to go retrieve an umbrella, Miss Locke?” the driver asks.

“No, that’s okay.” I step out of the car. “Tracey, when do you think Mr. Sutton will be back?”

“Probably not until midnight,” she says. “He and Mr. Braxton aren’t going to leave that room until they’re happy with the pitch.”

“Perfect, thank you.” I grab my purse. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

Shutting the door, I rush to the elevator and finally text Nolan back.

Sorry. Was in a long meeting.

Since it’s about to rain, we can meet at my new place for our usual hour or so. Here’s the address.

THE INTERN

IVY

“My bathroom is to your left.” I let Nolan into the condo. “We can go back to the lobby to talk when you’re done.”

“Well, damn…” He smiles, looking as in awe as I was when I first saw this place. “Why can’t we just talk up here?”

“I just don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, crossing my arms. “To your left and make it quick…”

He ignores me and walks over to the windows, taking in the city below.

“Are your parents on their way?” I ask.

“No, um…” He clears his throat. “I lied about them coming. I just wanted to send you on a guilt trip because I thought you were ignoring me.”

I roll my eyes. “How mature.”

“Sorry.” The smile on his face reveals he isn’t slightly apologetic. “Do you have anything to drink?”

“There’s an entire coffee bar downstairs.”

“Oh, come on, Ivy.” He walks over to me. “Is it really like that now?”

“I don’t know,” I say, honestly frustrated. “We’ve been ‘on a break’ with status checkups for almost two years now, and sometimes I honestly forget what the hell we’re still holding onto.”

“I’ll make the drinks myself then.” He moves past me and into the kitchen, making a beeline for Dominic’s custom wet bar.

“I really would prefer if we went downstairs.” I notice him loosening his tie.

As if he can’t hear me, he pulls down a flight of shot glasses and fills them with vodka before pushing them toward me. Then he makes a glass of whiskey for himself.

“This brand is like five hundred a bottle,” he says. “I’m impressed that you’re making enough to buy something like this now. Six months ago, you could barely afford to get a decent six-pack of beer.”

I knock back a shot.

“Are you going to ask me what I’ve been up to, Ivy?” He takes a long sip. “I’ve made some huge upgrades in my life, too.”

“Sure.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes and knock back another shot.

“Well, six months away from you—well, ‘us’—flew by in a flash, and I really did learn a lot about myself and what I want in a relationship.”

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