“I’m back in New York. I hope you didn’t miss me too much. We have a lot to go over tomorrow, so be prepared for a very busy day.”

Great.

“Welcome back. I will see you in the morning.”

“Don’t forget my coffee.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I won’t. It’s become part of my morning routine.”

“Good. Try not to spill it this time.”

“I’ll do my best. Have a good evening, Jack.”

“You too, Lorelei.”

“Who were you texting Mommy?” Hope asked as she looked at me.

“My boss.”

“Oh. Addison’s mom and her boyfriend took Addison to the zoo yesterday. She told me on Friday how she couldn’t wait to go.”

“That was nice. We can go to the zoo if you want.”

She shrugged and went back to doing her homework. I could tell something was off with her and it bothered me.

I prepared myself the next morning to get ready to walk into the lion’s den. Walking into Jack’s office, I noticed he wasn’t in there, so I set his coffee on his desk, and as I was walking out, I ran into him in the doorway. I mean, literally ran into him. He lightly took hold of my arm.

“Good morning.” He smiled.

“Good morning. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I love it when beautiful women run into me.” He winked.

Shit. Vibrations down below were starting and my stomach began to flutter. He called me beautiful. The mere sight of him was intoxicating. I guess not seeing him for a week really heightened his sexy factor.

“How was Paris?” I asked.

“Paris was good, but it would have been even better if you were there,” he spoke as he took a seat behind his desk. “How is your mother?”

“Oh, she’s feeling much better.”

“I see. Was it just a virus or something?”

“Yeah. We think so.”

His eyes glared at me. A glare that told me he knew I was lying.

“Hey, Jack,” Coco spoke as she poked her head in his office. “Mom needs us upstairs now. Good morning, Lorelei.” She smiled.

“Good morning.”

Jack sighed as he got up from his desk. “Lorelei, we’ll go over a few things when I get back.”

I gave him a small nod and followed him out of the office. Taking a seat at my desk, I turned on my computer. Curiosity got the best of me so I googled Paris Fashion Week and a shitload of pictures popped up with one Mr. Jack Sutton and a glamorous-looking brunette. Something inside me sparked. A touch of anger, jealousy perhaps. I didn’t really know and I didn’t like it. My mind began to fill with images of him and her in bed. Some of the pictures were of them sitting on the balcony sipping coffee in their white robes in the early morning hours overlooking the beautiful city of Paris. ‘It would have been even better if you were there’ kept playing over in my head. If he was with her the whole time, how the fuck would it have been better? I shook my head, came to my senses, and closed down the browser.

As I was trying to focus on my actual job, Jack strutted down the hall and asked me to come into his office.

“First thing on the agenda is I need you to go over to Chanel and pick up their new flap handbag in burgundy. Also pick up matching gloves and a scarf. Then you are to head over to Ralph Lauren and pick up one of their wool down men’s jackets in black. Also pick up a scarf, but make sure it has a design on it, and black leather gloves.”

“Is that all?” I asked.

“Yes. You may leave now.”

I got up from my seat, and as I was about to walk out of his office, Jack called my name.

“Oh, Lorelei, I need another box of condoms.”

I stopped dead in my tracks and didn’t turn around. “Okay.”

I bet he needed another box of condoms after his week in Paris with that skinny bitch. After Chanel and Ralph Lauren, I stopped at the drugstore and went straight to the counter.

“Hello, Lorelei.” Juan smiled.

“Hello, Juan. Mr. Sutton needs more condoms.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Do me a favor and grab ten boxes.”

“Ten?” he asked with surprise.

“Yes.”

A few moments later, he returned with the condoms, rang them up, and bagged them. Grabbing the bag, I walked out and headed back to the office. Throwing the bags on my desk, except for the one that the condoms were in, I walked into Jack’s office, where he was having a conversation with Garrett. I dumped the bag on his desk and let all ten boxes fall upon it.

“There. Now you should be set for a while.” I turned around, said hello to Garrett, who was sitting there with a wide grin across his face, and stomped out of Jack’s office.

Chapter Fourteen

Jack

“What the fuck just happened?”

Garrett couldn’t contain his laughter. “That’s what you get for sending your assistant to buy your condoms. I guess she’s just making sure she doesn’t have to do that again for a while.”

I sighed as I picked up the boxes and placed them back in the bag.

“Is everything all set for Coco’s birthday party Friday night?”

“Yes. My mother has taken care of everything. Or should I say her assistants have. You’ll be there, right?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Are you inviting Lorelei?”

“Yes, and she better come.”

“I’m sure she will. I have a meeting. I’ll talk to you later, Jack.”

After Garrett walked out, I yelled for Lorelei to come into my office. Walking in with bags, she set them down on the table and looked at me.

“I didn’t appreciate your sense of humor as far as my condoms were concerned.”

“I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was just making sure that you were fully stocked and you didn’t have to worry about running out any time soon.”

“Whatever, Lorelei. Coco’s birthday is Friday and we’re having a birthday party for her and you’re invited. It’s at the 48 Lounge in the Theater District at seven o’clock.”

“Okay. Sounds fun.”

“Really? You can actually go?” I asked in surprise.

“Yes, Jack. It’s Coco’s birthday. I wouldn’t miss that.”

“Good. I know she really likes you and it would mean a lot to her if you were there. You can bring someone if you’d like.”

“Like who?” she asked in confusion.

“A date, perhaps?”

“I don’t have a date. I already told you that I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“That’s right. I forgot.” I lied.

I hadn’t forgotten. I just wanted to make sure someone didn’t walk into her life while I was away in Paris. I thought about her every moment I was there. She would have loved it and I would have enjoyed spending time with her. That just meant that we would have to spend time together here in New York, starting with Coco’s birthday party.

Looking at my watch, I got up from my desk. “I have a meeting, so I’ll see you later.”

“Okay.” She gently smiled as I followed her out of my office.

****

The week went by pretty smoothly. Every time Lorelei went to lunch, she always carried an 11x14 leather-bound book of some sort in her arms. It was Friday and I decided to follow her to lunch. I saw her walk into a deli and take a seat by the window. She didn’t know I was following her, so I had to make it look like I was going to the same deli for lunch. Walking in the door, I pretended not to notice her and I placed my order for a carry out. Grabbing the bag from the counter, I turned around and tried to play it casually.

“Lorelei?” I spoke as I walked up to her table.

She quickly closed her book as she looked up at me in shock.

“Jack. What are you doing here?”

“Getting lunch.” I looked at my watch. “I have some time. Would you mind if I joined you?”

She shook her head and placed her black leather-bound book in her tote.

“Since when do you get your own lunch?” she asked with a raised brow.

“I was starving and I knew you were at lunch and I didn’t want to wait. You know I don’t like waiting for things.” I smirked. “I didn’t know you came here for lunch. I thought you always ate in Central Park.”