Read Online Unbidden Love (Book Five of the Bidden Series) by Crystal Cierlak - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Crystal Cierlak
Tags: Romance
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uninformed on the matter.”
James shut his eyes and ran the backside of his thumb against his forehead. “That makes two of us.” When he opened his eyes again it was to glance in the direction of the bar setup on the far side. He should have started drinking before calling his dad.
“Why don’t we set up a meeting for next week once you have had a chance to settle in? I have some thoughts I would like to share with you.”
The bar was looking more temping with each passing moment. “Thoughts about what, Dad?” He could only imagine.
“For starters, the fact that Fitson employees have participated in that establishment you and Audra call a club . Namely you, Son.”
James burned with the sudden invasion of blood rushing to his face. He took a concentrated breath and focused on his voice so as not to sound obviously agitated. “Where did you hear that?”
“We will talk about it later.”
“Dad-“
“James, you are on leave. Focus on your family. We will talk next week. I have a meeting to attend. Goodbye, Son.”
The line disconnected before James could say another word. He grimaced and set his cell phone down on a nearby end table before the urge to hurl it across the room became too strong. Apparently one was never too old to be made to feel like a petulant child by Jackson Fitzgerald. Why was he seeking out information about The Golden Palm? And perhaps more importantly, who was giving it? Only a handful of trusted employees knew James had participated in the auction nearly a year ago. The Concierges, at least one accountant, maybe half a dozen other senior personnel, Audra and… And Natalie.
"Jack is going to run our West Coast operations from here, which means I am going to have to alternate handling operations in Vegas, Salt Lake, New York and Miami."
Natalie's heart drooped into her stomach as warning bells fired off in her nerves. “You are leaving?"
Audra's left hand reached out for Natalie's right as it balanced atop the couch cushion between them. “I am not leaving , per se. L.A. is my home, but I will be out of town three to five days a week for at least-"
"The foreseeable future," Natalie finished for her. They were the same words used by Jackson Fitzgerald when he informed her that James was on leave. She chewed on the insides of her cheeks in an effort to maintain the impassive look she was trying so hard to convey. But on the inside she was gutted. They barely had any time yet to explore the relationship they were trying to build, and now there would be even less of it.
Audra pulled her hand back and clasped it with the other in her lap, her eyes cast but unmet in Natalie's direction.
"It's fine!" Natalie said through a loud exhale of breath before Audra could say another word. It wasn't like she was unfamiliar with dating a Chief- something -Officer of a prominent business. Although when she and James started dating he made it a point to abbreviate three to five days into overnight trips. Not that it was fair to compare the one to the other.
"It would make me very happy if you could join me." Audra's words made Natalie break away from her thoughts. Join her? As in travel three to five days per week with her? "Not all the time, obviously. You have your own company to run. Since you have clients in Vegas and New York, maybe there is an opportunity to overlap the two. I don't know."
Natalie's work was portable. She and Joe designed it that way. Whether they were in the comfort of their own shared home or three thousand miles away on the other side of the country, so long as they had WiFi and a device to connect to it with, they could work.
Audra talked on and on about jet lag, living out of suitcases, the cost of jet fuel when you own a private plane - Natalie decided it was best not to try to wrap her head around that one - and after a few minutes it all started to sound as though it could work. They would still have the weekends, text messaging, and FaceTime. They
James shut his eyes and ran the backside of his thumb against his forehead. “That makes two of us.” When he opened his eyes again it was to glance in the direction of the bar setup on the far side. He should have started drinking before calling his dad.
“Why don’t we set up a meeting for next week once you have had a chance to settle in? I have some thoughts I would like to share with you.”
The bar was looking more temping with each passing moment. “Thoughts about what, Dad?” He could only imagine.
“For starters, the fact that Fitson employees have participated in that establishment you and Audra call a club . Namely you, Son.”
James burned with the sudden invasion of blood rushing to his face. He took a concentrated breath and focused on his voice so as not to sound obviously agitated. “Where did you hear that?”
“We will talk about it later.”
“Dad-“
“James, you are on leave. Focus on your family. We will talk next week. I have a meeting to attend. Goodbye, Son.”
The line disconnected before James could say another word. He grimaced and set his cell phone down on a nearby end table before the urge to hurl it across the room became too strong. Apparently one was never too old to be made to feel like a petulant child by Jackson Fitzgerald. Why was he seeking out information about The Golden Palm? And perhaps more importantly, who was giving it? Only a handful of trusted employees knew James had participated in the auction nearly a year ago. The Concierges, at least one accountant, maybe half a dozen other senior personnel, Audra and… And Natalie.
"Jack is going to run our West Coast operations from here, which means I am going to have to alternate handling operations in Vegas, Salt Lake, New York and Miami."
Natalie's heart drooped into her stomach as warning bells fired off in her nerves. “You are leaving?"
Audra's left hand reached out for Natalie's right as it balanced atop the couch cushion between them. “I am not leaving , per se. L.A. is my home, but I will be out of town three to five days a week for at least-"
"The foreseeable future," Natalie finished for her. They were the same words used by Jackson Fitzgerald when he informed her that James was on leave. She chewed on the insides of her cheeks in an effort to maintain the impassive look she was trying so hard to convey. But on the inside she was gutted. They barely had any time yet to explore the relationship they were trying to build, and now there would be even less of it.
Audra pulled her hand back and clasped it with the other in her lap, her eyes cast but unmet in Natalie's direction.
"It's fine!" Natalie said through a loud exhale of breath before Audra could say another word. It wasn't like she was unfamiliar with dating a Chief- something -Officer of a prominent business. Although when she and James started dating he made it a point to abbreviate three to five days into overnight trips. Not that it was fair to compare the one to the other.
"It would make me very happy if you could join me." Audra's words made Natalie break away from her thoughts. Join her? As in travel three to five days per week with her? "Not all the time, obviously. You have your own company to run. Since you have clients in Vegas and New York, maybe there is an opportunity to overlap the two. I don't know."
Natalie's work was portable. She and Joe designed it that way. Whether they were in the comfort of their own shared home or three thousand miles away on the other side of the country, so long as they had WiFi and a device to connect to it with, they could work.
Audra talked on and on about jet lag, living out of suitcases, the cost of jet fuel when you own a private plane - Natalie decided it was best not to try to wrap her head around that one - and after a few minutes it all started to sound as though it could work. They would still have the weekends, text messaging, and FaceTime. They
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