Page 95 of Wildflower
There’s a message from Robin, and a tingle erupts in me. Robin. Should I change the contact name to Mark? It feels strange to put Robin away.
I open it, not sure what to expect.
You need to stop looking at me like that. I can’t get a hard-on in front of potential investors
I burst out laughing. Okay, so he is telling me to stop, but in a fun way.
Three dots appear on the screen. Is he typing while in the meeting?
Another message appears from Robin.
Stay with me tomorrow. Neil will pick you up at 8pm at your place.
Oh my God, he meant it? Is this really happening?
Ping.
Please say yes so I can focus on this meeting
Yes yes yes I’d love to
“Who’s Robin?” a small voice comes from behind me. I gasp and swivel in my chair to find Kaia standing too close. “Is it your man-friend texting you backfinally?”
“Jesus, you scared me,” I breathe, clutching the phone to my chest. “Um, yes, he did.” Did she see what he wrote? Surely she wouldn’t make the assumption it’s Mark? That’s too far-fetched.
“You look happier. Glowing sort of.”
Jesus Christ, do I have sex face? Is that a thing?
“Thank you,” I say, smiling in a way I hope is normal and not screaming, ‘yes, I just got absolutely railed by our delicious CEO, thank you very much’.
“Tolu, Noor, and I were talking over breakfast this morning,” she says in her classic monotone voice, which means I never know what she’s about to come out with next (but I find it endearing now). “We want to have new starter drinks in the office, and Nia said it’s okay as long as we tidy up and leave before ten. What do you think?”
“Oh? That sounds good, I guess. Are we really allowed to drink here? When?”
She shrugs. “Nia said it’s okay. Most of us don’t drink alcohol, but we want to have some fun together. Play some games. And we could always go back to our house share afterwards, seeing as the three of us already have to.”
This must be the closest to excited I’ve seen her in the weeks we’ve worked together, except one of our lunch-breaks when she found out there’s a sweet matcha latte place up the road. There’s almost a smile on her normally stoic face.
“Are you available next Friday?”
“Sure, yes,” I say. Hiding the fact that, for the first time in my life, I might have a man’s house to go to. Although, I’m sure I can swing both. Am I getting ahead of myself? Let’s take one weekend at a time, shall we?
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
open your eyes
REY
Neil pulls up outside Mark’s place in Mayfair (of course he lives in bloody Mayfair) and I look up at the building, clutching my overnight bag. What can I expect? Did I pack the right things? What did I pack? I’ve been in a panic state pretty much all day. Luckily, work kept me preoccupied—Tolu and Noor showing off their involvement in theDragon Trialsexpansion was the best distraction.
When I came home, I stared at my wardrobe for so long, I only had an hour left to shower, shave my legs, cut nails, pack some clothes, brush my teeth, and scream of joy and anxiety into the void. Now, the bag on my lap feels weirdly light, and I’m sure I’ve forgotten everything except my toothbrush, which I turned up with in my hand to a questioning look from Neil.
“Rey, this is it.”
“What? What do you know? What do you mean this is it?” I ask, panicking even more. Did he drive me here for Mark to break it off?
Neil chuckles. What the fuck is funny?
