Page 26 of Final Verdict
“Always, Dad,” we speak in unison like programmed robots, and then we wait until he says goodbye before daring to log off.
I delete the app to make sure there’s no chance of them seeing that I’m getting ready to clean an office.
Pulling my cart inside, I pick up the glass cleaner for the mirrored table.
I’m wiping fingerprints when my phone sounds.
Jameson.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hello.” His deep voice is a welcome highlight to my day. “What are you doing?”
“Working as usual.”
“Take a break and meet me for drinks.”
“Ha!” I let out a nervous laugh. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” he says. “There are plenty of decent bars in this city. I’ll let you pick.”
I’m not twenty-one yet...
“I just can’t get off right now,” I say.
“Okay, what about two hours from now?”
“Not then either.” I try to keep my tone firm. “My job doesn’t work like that.”
“I’m sure it does since you can talk to me all night while you work,” he says. “You’re salaried, right?”
“I’ll have to take a rain check, Jameson. I’m sorry.”
“Well, what time do you get off tonight? I can pick you up and we can do drinks that way.”
“You must be feeling really lonely,” I say.
“Because I asked you to join me for some drinks?” he asks.
“You’ve told me like six different times that you’d rather work than ever have a hobby and you don’t have many friends.” I pause. “So, either this is a pity invite because everyone you know turned you down, or you’re lonely.”
“Or, maybe I would just fucking like tosee you, Scarlett...”
“Oh.” My cheeks flush red. “Well, that’s a possibility too.”
“That’s exactly what it is.” He’s rolling his eyes; I can tell. “If there’s ever an award for making shit ten times more difficult than it needs to be, you would win it over every terrible client I’ve ever had.”
“In that case, make sure to put hazel-colored stones in my plaque, so it can match my eyes whenever I hang it on my wall.”
“I’ll keep the Montana sapphires in mind then…” His voice trails off, and I’m reminded just how much random information he seems to know.
He’s smarter than any man I’ve ever dated…
“We still haven’t finished closing up your loan issue,” he says, “which you’re very welcome for, by the way.”
“I’ve said thank you millions of times.”
“I know. I just don’t understand why you don’t have any free time all of a sudden.”
