Page 35 of A Simple Reminder
I finally lift my eyes, pinning her with a look as I arch a brow. “Actually, it’s five minutes past one. So, explain why I’ve been sitting here waiting for you.” I lean back in my chair, my tone razor-sharp. “Do you usually keep your boss waiting, or is this some special treatment reserved just for me?”
Jared awkwardly scratches the back of his neck. “Sorry, Liam. We... Ehm, we just assumed–”
“Sophie, I askedyoua question.” I don’t know why my mood shifted this much, but I can feel the tension radiating in my entire body.
She frowns, her smile fading. “I apologize. We lost track of time.”
Lost track of time.Because Jared is so fantastic now, apparently. Great. Now I’m even more pissed off.
“Let’s get to work,” I snap, shoving the irritation aside—or at least trying to. I point to the two chairs in front of my desk, my tone clipped. “Take a seat.”
They sit down, Sophie’s earlier laughter now replaced with a more serious expression. Jared, too, seems more focused–just like he should.
“As Sophie might have told you, the bedrooms, the restaurants, and most of the common areas have already been planned, and the furniture has been ordered by her. However, I need both of your minds on one very important area.” I let the moment stretch, letting their anticipation build.
“The rooftop.”
Sophie's eyes brighten, a flicker of excitement breaking through her serious demeanor as she leans in, trying to catch a glimpse of the blueprints I hold in my hand. I see the spark of enthusiasm in her, and despite my displeasure, it’s impossible not to admire her dedication.
I spread the blueprints out on the desk, the expansive layout of the rooftop unfolding before them. “This space needs to be exceptional,” I continue. “It’s going to be a key selling point for the hotel. We need something that combines elegance, comfort, and a bit of that wow factor.”
Sophie nods eagerly, her expression making it easy to assume she’s already mentally designing. “I’ve got a few ideas,” she says, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. I lift my hand, stopping her mid-thought.
“I want you two to come up with ten different ideas for this area,” I push it a little further, just because I can, ”and I want a full-on presentation from both of you by Monday.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but she quickly masks it with resolve. “But it’s Tuesday today, and we have a week filled with meetings.”
I quirk an eyebrow, leaning back slightly in my chair. “Plenty of time,” I say, my tone laced with challenge. Let’s see just how far they’re willing to go to meet my expectations. If they like to talk and laugh together so much, let’s see how they handle using that energy for work—and only work. I know how competitive Sophie can be—let’s see if Jared can keep up or if he’ll crumble under the pressure.
Jared glances at her, then back at me, a confident smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Challenge accepted.”
Try hard.
“Good,” I say, handing them both a copy of the blueprints. “I expect each idea to be fully fleshed out, considering aesthetics, functionality, and feasibility. This rooftop has to be perfect. Hotel Ayoub D’Or stands for nothing less.”
Sophie takes the blueprints, her fingers brushing briefly against mine. The simple contact stirs something in me, a flicker of the effect she still has, but I quickly shake it off. “We’ll make it happen,” she says.
“I expect nothing less.” I mean it, I expect nothing less than greatness from her. Anything else would be…unacceptable.
With a nod, they leave my office, the door closing softly behind them. I sit back in my chair, a sigh escaping my lips. Did I push too hard? I wonder, staring at the space where they had just been sitting. Maybe hiring Jared was a mistake, but now a gnawing curiosity tugs at me. What exactly went down between them? Why did they break up? I need to find out.
I tap my phone, hesitating for a moment between who to text before sending a text to the only person who might shed some light on the situation. If anyone knows the whole story and might share it with me, it’s Adeline.
Me
Hey Addie, what’s up?
I wait a few minutes, drumming my fingers on the table, my impatience growing with each passing second.
Adeline
Hey, not much. I’m on a break. What about you?
How do I articulate this without sounding like I’m probing? I decided to be as straightforward as possible.
Me
What happened between Jared and Sophie?
