Page 762 of One More Kiss

Nicholas

I watchthe elevator doors close and wish I was inside with her. The thoughts of our time together flicking through my mind.

The only reason I kept her behind is just to get a moment alone with her. I had to know if she really is going with her boyfriend. The thought of her being with someone makes my blood boil, and the memory of her calling me boring makes me grit my teeth. She has to be bluffing. There is no way she is with someone.

Problem is, now that doubt has settled in my gut, it’s hard to shake. Then another thought forms. What if she does have a boyfriend, and he is an asshole who is the reason she is living in such a shitty place? I know what alcohol and drug abuse can do to someone and what kind of road that leads to. My mind comes to the worst conclusion.

I stride into my office, passing Paula at her desk. She comes hurrying in behind me, holding a coffee and the newspaper. She places both on the desk with a small smile.

“Paula, get me the salary information of everyone on the project,” I say, thinking about the conditions in which Riley lives. Maybe she needs a raise? Which after this project wouldn’t be suspicious.

“Yes, sir. Anything else?”

“No.”

She leaves the office, and I turn to the New York Times in front of me, flipping through to the business section. I get started on research. Part of Brooks Enterprises is acquiring small companies and making them better.

I’m great at securing the worst and turning them into successful businesses. It’s a trademark of mine within the company. The only reason I took on the mental hospital project is for my mother. The one woman who meant the world to me, and I couldn’t help her.

“Sir,” Paula says over the intercom.

“Yes,” I reply, holding down the intercom button.

“I’ve emailed you the report you requested.”

“Thank you.”

Paula is an effective personal assistant. If I didn’t work so well with Louis, I’d hire her in a moment to follow me back to New York.

I open up my laptop and pull up my email. A spreadsheet is attached and when I click on it, I see something that I didn’t expect. The Boston team gets paid very well, especially for the average in this area.

I scroll down to Riley’s numbers and see that she makes more than enough money to sustain a life in a better neighborhood. Why would she be living in a dump like that? It’s not safe, there are too many variables that can’t becontrolled.

If she was mine, I’d have moved her out of there in a second.

As the thought pops into my mind, I feel a sense of shock. I’ve never had that thought about anyone before. No attachments is my hard rule. I don’t have time for a woman, and yet I’m concerned with Riley’s living habits.

I need to get my mind right. I delve into the future projects pile on my desk and attempt to focus, but I can’t. I run over all of our conversations, the one last night and the one this morning. How dare Naomi suggest we go to the gala together, especially in front of Riley.

A knock sounds at the door, bringing me back to the present. “Come in.”

Thomas strides through the door. For once he’s looking sober and put together. He’s even wearing clean, ironed clothes. Something is going on.

“Hey, brother,” he says, taking a seat across from my desk.

I slide my chair to face him, a curious expression on my face. “What brings you to Boston?”

“I want to come to work. I didn’t think having this conversation with Dad would go well, so I figured I’d talk to you.”

I chuckle and lean back in my chair. “He’s still pissed at you?”

“Yeah, after Madrid he said he disowned me. But I’m clean. Did the whole twelve-step thing. Rehab in California and made peace with my demons. I just need a job, and if I go out on my own, I’m afraid I’ll slip.”

“You think working here will keep you in line?”

His plan is thin, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen him take the initiative in anything. Usually, Thomas only cares about being fucked up and fucking women. Nothing else seemed to matter to him.

“I know it. This is my second chance, Nick. After Mom died, it was like I lost a part of me. Her mental disease was such a part of who she was, it’s like it transferred to me. I was depressed and used alcohol and cocaine to cope. I know that now.”

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