will see her tonight. It’s soon enough.
“Blergh. I don’t want to get used to it. I miss biking.” Her voice sounds plaintive and harried.
I don’t bring up the topic of not working at all because I don’t want to get into another argument, but the biking issue is one I can address. “I was thinking I should invest in a cycling company. What was the name of that bike you liked in the SoHo store?”
“You can do that? You can just decide, hey, I want to buy a company because my girlfriend likes what they make?”
“Yes, I can do that.” My lips curve into a smile. She’s probably shaking her head right now.
“That’s weird. Very weird. I’ve got to go. Don’t buy any companies that I like.”
“Why not?”
“Because! You can’t go spending money like that just because I think they make cool stuff.”
“That’s exactly how people should invest, Tiny. You buy things that people around you like because that means that those companies are developing not only brand loyalty but producing a product that meets market desires. It’s an important part of market research.”
“Really? Well, I guess that’s why you’re making millions a day and I’m a bike courier.”
“You’re not a courier anymore.”
Silence.
“Thanks for the reminder. Look, I’ve got to go.”
With that, she disconnects.
Fuck. I screwed that up.
“By the glower on your face, I’m guessing you’re having lunch with me today,” Louis says with forced cheer. I can see he wants to put aside the morning’s uncomfortableness.
“Your powers of observation are legendary.” I sigh but willingly go along. There’s no need to fight with Louis. I’ve come to a decision about him.
“It’s part of why you pay me so much. Come on, old man, I’ll buy you lunch and you can explain why you’re wearing that loud monstrosity of a suit.” Louis stands at the office door and pushes it open.
Heaving to my feet, I finger the lapel. “Tiny picked it out.”
He rolls his eyes. “She is overtaking your life.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” My phone dings and I see it’s a text from Tiny. It’s a small series of pictures. Tiny is dyslexic, so when she texts it’s usually emojis. I refuse to feel weird about that, given it’s the best way for us to communicate. The image of a bicycle, water, and sun next to a sandwich appear to be telling me that she wants to go the beach this weekend and bike around and then eat. I’ll look forward to it. Clicking on the emoji icon for my phone, I search for one that says yes. I settle for the thumbs up.
“You’re worse than a preteen,” Louis says impatiently.
“Louis, if I wanted your opinion I’d ask for it.” Sticking my phone into my breast pocket, I exit the office. Louis is on my heels. Pausing at Rose’s desk, I say, “We’re off to lunch, but we’ll be back for the SunCorp presentation.”
We cab it to Morimoto’s for lunch since I’ve sent Steve to sit outside Jake Tanner’s office and make sure no one harms Tiny. I wonder if she’s figured out that he’s been reassigned to bodyguard duties. I’m guessing no because she hasn’t said anything about him to me and she’s not the type to accept being followed without some discussion.
When she’s not so raw from her mother’s death and she’s more settled in what she wants to do with her future, we can talk about the safety measures I’d like her to take. For now, I want to keep the lifestyle changes from scaring her off, but if she’s going to be with me she’s going to have to accept that power and a lot of money attracts a lot of desperate people.
Steve’s a bit disturbed because he doesn’t like the subterfuge, but he’s keeping quiet for now because discretion is part of what I pay him for.
After ordering, my mind wanders to Tiny again. Steve should deliver her some lunch. Feeding that woman is my new obsession. Along with fucking her, of course. I text Jake.
Are you feeding my
“Blergh. I don’t want to get used to it. I miss biking.” Her voice sounds plaintive and harried.
I don’t bring up the topic of not working at all because I don’t want to get into another argument, but the biking issue is one I can address. “I was thinking I should invest in a cycling company. What was the name of that bike you liked in the SoHo store?”
“You can do that? You can just decide, hey, I want to buy a company because my girlfriend likes what they make?”
“Yes, I can do that.” My lips curve into a smile. She’s probably shaking her head right now.
“That’s weird. Very weird. I’ve got to go. Don’t buy any companies that I like.”
“Why not?”
“Because! You can’t go spending money like that just because I think they make cool stuff.”
“That’s exactly how people should invest, Tiny. You buy things that people around you like because that means that those companies are developing not only brand loyalty but producing a product that meets market desires. It’s an important part of market research.”
“Really? Well, I guess that’s why you’re making millions a day and I’m a bike courier.”
“You’re not a courier anymore.”
Silence.
“Thanks for the reminder. Look, I’ve got to go.”
With that, she disconnects.
Fuck. I screwed that up.
“By the glower on your face, I’m guessing you’re having lunch with me today,” Louis says with forced cheer. I can see he wants to put aside the morning’s uncomfortableness.
“Your powers of observation are legendary.” I sigh but willingly go along. There’s no need to fight with Louis. I’ve come to a decision about him.
“It’s part of why you pay me so much. Come on, old man, I’ll buy you lunch and you can explain why you’re wearing that loud monstrosity of a suit.” Louis stands at the office door and pushes it open.
Heaving to my feet, I finger the lapel. “Tiny picked it out.”
He rolls his eyes. “She is overtaking your life.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” My phone dings and I see it’s a text from Tiny. It’s a small series of pictures. Tiny is dyslexic, so when she texts it’s usually emojis. I refuse to feel weird about that, given it’s the best way for us to communicate. The image of a bicycle, water, and sun next to a sandwich appear to be telling me that she wants to go the beach this weekend and bike around and then eat. I’ll look forward to it. Clicking on the emoji icon for my phone, I search for one that says yes. I settle for the thumbs up.
“You’re worse than a preteen,” Louis says impatiently.
“Louis, if I wanted your opinion I’d ask for it.” Sticking my phone into my breast pocket, I exit the office. Louis is on my heels. Pausing at Rose’s desk, I say, “We’re off to lunch, but we’ll be back for the SunCorp presentation.”
We cab it to Morimoto’s for lunch since I’ve sent Steve to sit outside Jake Tanner’s office and make sure no one harms Tiny. I wonder if she’s figured out that he’s been reassigned to bodyguard duties. I’m guessing no because she hasn’t said anything about him to me and she’s not the type to accept being followed without some discussion.
When she’s not so raw from her mother’s death and she’s more settled in what she wants to do with her future, we can talk about the safety measures I’d like her to take. For now, I want to keep the lifestyle changes from scaring her off, but if she’s going to be with me she’s going to have to accept that power and a lot of money attracts a lot of desperate people.
Steve’s a bit disturbed because he doesn’t like the subterfuge, but he’s keeping quiet for now because discretion is part of what I pay him for.
After ordering, my mind wanders to Tiny again. Steve should deliver her some lunch. Feeding that woman is my new obsession. Along with fucking her, of course. I text Jake.
Are you feeding my
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