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However, I know if I’m going to win his favor and demonstrate my indispensability as a team player—exceptional enough for him to knock off any thoughts of buying my shares—I must set aside last night’s events. For the good of my staff and my own sanity.
Squaring my shoulders, I take a few deep breaths and bring my focus back to work, pushing away the hot memories from the night before.
Idon’t see him the rest of the day. Following his tour, he requested supplementary files from Sarah (with a dash of grumbling about why we still rely on antiquated paper files instead of embracing the digital era, good grief), and then gracefully departed the premises, en route to his office at Blackwood Inc. At least, that’s where I assume he went.
It doesn’t matter to me as long as he’s off the property.
I’ve never been one to avoid my problems, but in this particular instance, I welcome the distance. It gives me a chance to decompress and figure out how I want to handle this “delicate” situation we find ourselves in.
I conclude the best way is to hash things out with him as soon as possible.
Tonight.
The remainder of my day is consumed with calming my concerned colleagues who pop by my office door. They find comfort in understanding that Mr. Blackwood is merely a new co-owner, while I firmly maintain the role of manager. In between these visits, I juggle my usual day-to-day duties and address Norman’s organizational tasks. It’s exhausting but keeps my mind busy, and when 7:00 p.m. rolls around, I’m more than ready to go home—even though that means dealing with Sean Blackwood.
But I’ve had enough time to think about what I want to say to him.
As soon as I step off the elevator, with purpose, I march to his door and knock. After a few seconds, when no one answers, I knock again. Nothing. He must not be home yet. Deflated, I let myself into my own apartment, greeted by Pippin’s delighted chirping.
“Pippin, Mommy’s home!” I cross the room, open the cage door, and reach inside. Immediately, he hops onto my finger, still chirping when I take him out. “And did you have a great day?”
I stroke his little head, and he gives me an affectionate nibble before hop-flying onto my shoulder. He never fails to make me smile. I know for a fact he’ll be perfectly content hanging out on my shoulder for the rest of the evening.
“Pippin, you would not believe the day I had,” I tell him, tossing my purse onto the couch. “As soon as that grumpy neighbor of ours gets home, I’m going to confront him about yesterday. But first, dinner.”
I bring the food app up on my phone, trying to decide what I’m in the mood for. Given how all over the place the day was, ordering in is preferred. After tapping the “Confirm order” button, I clean Pippin’s cage, replenish his water, and refill his food trays. Squawking, he watches me and then hops to his food tray, eager to munch on a fresh piece of apple as I collapse on the couch. With a full belly, the little cutie pie ventures back out. He wanders for a bit and returns to my shoulder where he remains, preening himself.
As I wait for my quintessential New-York-style vegetable and chickpea curry, I get lost socializing on my favorite platform, scrolling through video after video, laughing and amusing myself.
That’s when I hear footsteps out in the hallway.
Part of me thinks I should give Sean a chance to decompress before cornering him and demanding we talk. Then again, I had zero time to prepare before walking into that meeting this morning. Besides, the sooner we talk things out, the better.
Taking a deep breath, I heave myself off the couch and step out of my apartment. By now, Sean’s already inside.
I waste no time knocking. “Hello?”
The moment he opens the door and sees me, I launch into the speech I prepared. “Don’t say anything, just listen,” I demand, my voice positive, even playful, but firm. “Abandoning you on our tour was childish of me, yes, but you have to see that I have every right to be angry. First and foremost, this entire deal was done behind my back without my knowledge. And while that’s an issue I addressed with Norman, you coming in and trying to buy me out was frustrating.”
“Jess—”
“Not done yet,” I say, holding up my hand. “I’m already feeling like my opinion wasn’t considered, and now you’re trying to take away my dream. I’ve worked my ass off bringing those hotels to where they are now, and I don’t appreciate a stranger trying to swoop in and take it all from me.”
“Norman had every right?—”
“Nope, not done yet.” I cut him off a second time. “Secondly, if all that wasn’t bad enough, now I have to deal with the fact that I…” I pause, searching for the right word, “… ‘playfully engaged’ with the new co-owner of my hotels.” It’s the best expression I can come up with to make it sound less awkward than it already is. “I can assure you, if I’d had any idea who you were last night, I wouldn’t have flirted with you. And I definitely wouldn’t have cornered you. Nor let you do…that with me.”
He’s giving me a funny look—has been since the moment he opened the door. It gets to the point where I have to address it.
“And why are you looking at me like that?” I ask.
“It’s not every day that your neighbor and new colleague shows up at your door to monologue at you with a bird sitting on their shoulder.”
Oh, shoot. I never put Pippin back in his cage. I immediately reach up to stroke the bird’s feathers, which are slightly ruffled. He must sense my feelings toward Sean, or maybe he’s confused as to why he’s outside of our apartment. Realizing that my passionate speech is probably being undercut by the bird perched on me, I feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
“One second.”
I storm back into my place and put Pippin (who thinks this is a riot) in his cage. When I return to Sean’s, he’s no longer where I left him, however, the door to his apartment is still open.
