Page 78 of My Lord
“So, it’s not a long-term move?” I asked.
“Not unless you want it to be.”
“I think it could be quite an exciting project at least until the consolidation is complete. After that, we’d have to see.”
“You’re the only one I can trust, Alex, and I hope I’m not imposing on you too much.”
We sat for another few moments in silence as we thought on what each had said and finished our coffee.
“This adulting lark is quite the pain in the arse, isn’t it?” I said, chuckling to myself mostly.
We threw our coffee cups into the recycling bin and took a slow walk back to the office.
I decided not to mention to Gabriella what Mackenzie and I had spoken about. I didn’t want the possible move to the US discussed until I knew what was holding her back from moving in with me. I sure didn’t want to get all the way to the US and then find she was cooling over our relationship.
“Hi, I was looking for you two?” Gabriella said, as we crossed the reception to the lifts.
“Just went for a coffee,” Mackenzie replied.
“A boy chat, huh?” She smiled at us both.
“Something like that,” he replied, giving her a wink.
“Are we still on for dinner this evening?” she asked.
We had decided the three of us would have dinner. We hadn’t done that in a while.
“We are,” Mackenzie said. He patted me on the back. “Meet here?” I nodded in response and he walked to the lifts.
Gabriella linked her arm through mine. “I’ve missed you today,” she said.
“You only saw me this morning,” I replied. “Where are you off to?”
“A little shopping. A girl can’t have too many shoes and my usual store have called to say they have some new stock they think I’d like. I want to get in before everyone else does,” she laughed.
“If we do buy a house, we’re going to need an annexe simply for your shoes,” I replied.
She rose on tiptoes and planted a kiss on my lips. “I do demand a walk-in closet of my own, at the very least,” she said, and it was the first reference she’d made aboutourhome in ages.
“I’m sure that can be arranged, my Lady.”
She smiled and promised to be back in an hour to meet for dinner. I shook my head as I walked to the lift.
“Lord Duchoveny?” At the sound of my name I turned to see a young man walk into reception. A security guard stood waiting to see if I needed him.
“How can I help?” Since he had addressed me by title, he clearly knew who I was. He held a large white envelope.
“You might be interested in this,” he said.
He reached out with the envelope, but I didn’t take it. Instead, the security guard did. He ran it through an X-ray machine before handing it over to me.
“Why would I be interested in this?” I asked.
“My grandmother works here,” he said, and then smiled.
Realising he was referring to Mary, I said, “Then I shall be delighted to accept whatever you have here.”
“If I can be of service again, please feel free to reach out.” He felt inside his suit pocket for a business card. I was slightly taken aback by him; he was poles apart from Mary. Well spoken, for a start.
