Page 22 of Unconventionally, Elle
"Yeah, yeah. What's up, Ellz? How did the interview go?" He hung his yoga mat on the chair and turned to face me.
"Well, what are you doing next Thursday?" I asked with a sly grin.
He shrugged. "I have a feeling something with you, but as of now, Jackson and I don't have anything planned. Why, what's up?"
Jackson was Finn's partner. He worked in the Red Sox office and was a former professional baseball player in his twenties. Finn told me he'd made it to Triple-A, but after a torn ACL, he'd had to retire. Jackson still had a slender build, but I knew without a doubt how he'd caught Finn's attention. They metbefore Jackson's injury, so Finn saw him in his uniform more than once. If there's one thing we have in common, Finn and I both appreciate a nice derriere.
"Ding ding, you are correct. So the editor in chief thinks I have promise and gave me an assignment to cover Cirque du Soleil next week. I have two tickets. Wanna go with me?" I gave him the best puppy eyes I possibly could.
"Um, abso-fucking-lutely I do. I love Cirque. I saw it in Vegas and it's incredible." He closed his eyes and shuddered. "Those costumes."
I rolled my eyes playfully and continued. "Great! Okay, awesome, I'm glad I don't have to go ogle these tight costumes alone." His side-eye was devilish. "Speaking of costumes, my assignment is to see how circus fashion affects street fashion, so I really do have to evaluate them. It's my job, after all." I winked and his eyes sparkled with mischief.
"So how was it up there, other than the trial piece?" Finn asked. "Even though that building is right across the street, I've never been inside."
"Oh my gosh, the floors are white marble, and the lobby feels fancy." I shut my laptop and leaned in toward him. "You know Emma Henry, right? The girl I usually set up next to in yoga?"
He furrowed his brow and set his drink on the table. "Yeah, what about her?" he said.
I ignored his change in tone and continued with my thought. "Well, she is the one who helped me get the interview, and I think she must be someone important there, because she has a corner office. It was really cool up there, overall."
He sighed deeply and crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, Elle, youwouldfind the Henrys already. You're such a friendly person, it's like people are drawn to your magnetism." Finn took another sip of his drink and then smacked his lips. "Okay, so here is your Boston 101 lesson for the day. Ready?"
Confused, I nodded slowly and rested my chin on my hand.
"Emma Henry's family is super rich and well connected. Her dad owns a mega real estate and investment company, and her brother works with him."
"Oh, really?" I said. "I mean, she didn't mention much about her family, just that she and her brother both went to Yale."
"Ha, yeah. Of course they did. The Henrys are huge donors
to Yale."
"Shit, wait, Finn. How do you know all this?" I asked, cocking
my head.
"Oh, I went to school with Emma as kids, and then she went to a feeder school. You kind of hear things. Also, it's common knowledge among locals that her family owns the studio building, and I'm pretty sure the building across the street with Boston Social." I stared at him with an open mouth. "Remember, her dad is a big real estate guy. It's not surprising."
"Wow, I had no idea. That's crazy as hell that they own all of this real estate." The disbelief left me breathless.
"Oh yeah, the Henrys are a big deal around here. Definitely don't go pissing one of them off. But if you're friends with Emma, that's cool. She's one of the sane ones. I hear the brother is nice too, but I don't see him around that often, and he's older than us, so I never saw him in school."
"She mentioned her brother today. She said I may see him around if I'm at the office."
"Well, you can't miss him. He and Emma look pretty similar. They both have the same espresso-brown hair and blue eyes. Did you notice how fucking beautiful her eyes are?" He shook his head. "It's actually disgustingly unfair to be that beautiful and rich."
I would have laughed along, but I was too focused on his words.They both have the same blue eyes.
I went home right after our coffee and looked up Emma's Instagram profile, which was private.
Damn it. Facebook? She didn't have one. Next, I googled her.
Bingo.
Emma Henry: Boston's Junior League. Of course. Emma Henry, recent Yale graduates. Already knew that. Oh, there we go: Barrett Henry Named Boston Spotlight Honoree with Sister Emma Henry. I'd know that smirk and crystal-blue stare anywhere. Kale Guy was Barrett Henry, and I finally knew his name.
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