Page 76 of Babies for the Big Shot
“You live in Tribeca.”
She shrugs. “Maybe I missed you.”
“No, you didn’t.”
She smiles, pleased I still know the difference. “You’re grumpier than usual.”
I don’t rise to it. “Why are you here.”
She tilts her head. “Can’t I say hello to an old lover without being accused of sabotage?”
“Not you.”
“Well.” Her eyes rake over me, amused. “Still sharp. Still unfairly attractive. Still pretending we weren’t great together.”
I take my seat behind the desk. “You’re wasting my time.”
She leans back, all mock offense and real provocation. “Don’t say that. We had fun in this office, didn’t we? All those late nights, that desk…”
We didn’t.
Maybe she made a habit of mixing business and pleasure, but I never did. Not here.
I don’t correct her. There’s no point.
“Is there a point to any of this?”
She shrugs again, casual as ever. “Maybe I just wanted to remind the room how far you and I go back.”
“Loud way to do it.”
She bares her teeth in something approximating a smile. “Subtlety was never my strong suit.”
“Neither was honesty.”
She places a hand to her chest, faux wounded. “Cruel. Cold. No wonder your little brunette looks like she’s in over her head.”
My jaw tightens. “Leave Sara out of this.”
Rebecca’s eyes glint. A predator scenting blood. “Did I say her name?”
“You didn’t have to.”
She leans in, voice dropping. “Relax, Nick. I’m not here to burn the house down. Just leaving breadcrumbs.”
“For who.”
She gives a shrug, sweet and venomous. “People talk. Assistants. Interns. Gossip has value. I’m just adding to the circulation.”
There it is.
It clicks, why she barged in, why she made a spectacle, why she kissed me, planting a flag.
It’s not about me. It’s about rattling Sara.
I rise. “We’re done.”
She follows, unhurried. “You’ve gotten so serious.”
