Page 83 of The Bet
Chapter 24
She hadn’t heard from Xavier, and he hadn’t sent her any more work.
Izzy wondered what was going on. She couldn’t let too many days go by empty, and with things starting to slow down for Thanksgiving and Christmas, she was extra vigilant about her work drying up on all fronts. All of her jobs kept the wheels turning, and she couldn’t afford for Xavier to slack off with his side of the deal.
It occurred to her that he was a little disorganized, that he didn’t always have clear timelines in place, and she didn’t like that—having fluid boundaries.
She had started to use the MacBook in earnest, because it was faster, and easier, and it now made her own laptop seem so painfully outdated in comparison. And it was loaded with the latest software. She’d even started taking it to college with her.
A few days before the Thanksgiving weekend, she sent Xavier an email, and when he didn’t reply, she called him.
“Hello.” He sounded gruff, short. Not like his usual self.
“You haven’t sent me any work.”
A sound, something like a grunt, came over the phone. “Didn’t I?” he groaned again, as if it was a chore for him to find her something to do.
“Do youhaveanything?” She was all caught up with her studies. “I’ve got lots of free time right now and I can do the big stuff, if you have anything that needs doing.” And she wasn’t going home for Thanksgiving this year, either.
“Let me think about it.”
“Something wrong? You sound stressed.”
“I’m kind of busy right now. I’m not going to be able to give you anything to do until after Thanksgiving.”
“Oh, really?” That didn’t sound good. “I thought you had lots of paperwork for me to go through?”
“I can’t do it right now.”
She thought he sounded distracted, or maybe his assistant had returned and he wasn’t telling her. “Has your VA come back?”
“No. Why do you say that?”
“It’s just that you said before that you had lots of work for me.”
“I hadn’t counted on you being so fast.”
“I can’t help it. I’m efficient.”
“I’d noticed.”
“So, can you give me some more? Things have quietened down for me on all fronts.”
“I’m busy, Laronde. I swear I’ll sort something out for you but right now I’ve got papers everywhere and my office is a shitstorm. I can’t even think straight.”
“I could help you tidy up—if its paperwork and admin things.” Anything for a few extra hours of paid work.
She needed the money and she didn’t want to be in a situation where she started the New Year and had no work. Savannah might change her mind and might not want her back ever, and Xavier could say he didn’t need her anymore. And where would that leave her?
He fell silent, which made her think he was thinking about it.
“In that case, hell, yeah. If you want, you can come over and tidy up my office. But I’m going to be here, because I work from home.”
“Duh. I know that. You already told me.”
“I’m just reminding you because earlier you seemed happy that you wouldn’t have to be around me.”
“I trust you now.”
