Page 35 of Rich Girl
“Please tell me this is automated and not manual,” she sputters at me.
“Automated all the way, baby,” I snicker. “You can even connect your phone to the Bluetooth screen. Which you should, that way you know where we’re going.”
I wait for her to plug her phone into my charger before connecting it to the screen. The map shows in bright colors. I enter the address of the shop where we’re going, then I save the address of my own shop.
“I know I only asked for this ride, but if you could meet me at my shop once you drop me off, I’d appreciate it. I’ll give you a ride back into the city later today. Unless you have plans,” I make sure to add.
Hayden stares at me in surprise. This is more than she’d bargained for. I highly doubt anyone has ever asked her for this type of favors.
“Where do you live?” she thinks to ask.
“About forty-five minutes out. It’s really a straight shot once you get on the expressway.”
“And you’ll bring me back here,” she verifies in a suspicious tone.
“Swear on my life,” I promise, although that seems like quite a high promise for a fairly small task.
“I’ll do it,” she agrees. “On one condition.”
I check on the time, a little aggravated that she is dragging this out. When you get calls like the one we got earlier, you have to be prompt, or they will never call you again. And emergency calls are sure money makers.
“What condition?”
A tiny smirk forms in the corner of her mouth.
“You come to that wedding with me. And you make an effort to act like you belong. You help me show that asshole what he lost.”
That’s easy. I don’t even need to negotiate.
“Deal.”
ELEVEN
I’m notone hundred percent sure, but I think I might die today. Driving through the City of New York is not for the weak of heart. My heart is very weak at the moment.
Through some miracle, I managed to get Ray to the place where he needed to be. Apparently, there’s been a bad accident on the expressway on the other side of the city. It involved multiple vehicles that now needed to be removed as they’re blocking the traffic.
Ray informed me that he has a branch of his towing company here in the city. Someone else manages it, but that he works a lot of the weekends so that his employees can spend time with their families. I found that endearing. At the same time, I can’t say that I fully understand it. I don’t know anyone who does any type of physical work, unless it’s a personal trainer or a chef. Or a cleaner…
It's like the more I try not to judge Ray based on what he does for a living, the more I manage to put my foot in my mouth.
“Are you going to change out of these clothes?” I asked him just as he was getting out of the car.
He looked down at his shirt, surprised that I’d even suggest that.
“Nah,” he waved me off. “I don’t have time for that.”
He blew me a kiss and slammed the door shut. Now, I am doing my best following the directions given by the GPS as I try to make my way to where Ray Parker lives. From what I could see on the map, it is a small town right outside the city. It’s not far, and the fact that there’s no normal traffic from people going to work, or whatever else, helps tremendously.
When I see the sign for the exit I’m supposed to take, I about start crying in relief. I haven’t felt this stressed out in a long time. My hands feel clammy, and my fingers are cramped up from squeezing the steering wheel too tight.
My phone ringing through the Bluetooth about causes me to drive into the incoming traffic. Jeanine’s name flashes across the screen. With a shaky hand, I press on the button to answer before rushing to put it back on the wheel.
“Hayden,” she yells into the phone. “What the hell are you up to? I just stopped by your place. Your maid told me you haven’t been home in a couple of days. Where are you?”
I wince at hearing that she’s been looking for me. On top of that, I never thought of warning Maria off giving people information on my whereabouts. She doesn’t know I’m out of state, but at least she could’ve covered for me and just say I wasn’t home, as opposed to saying I haven’t been home in days.
“Uh, I took a trip.” My voice sounds as shaky as I feel. The adrenaline rush running through my veins right now is working against me.
