Page 9 of Without a Hitch
“The right ones,” I hedge with a smile.
“Jesus, Tilly. You’re so stubborn. We’ve always known you won’t be my assistant forever. You’re too talented for that, but why must you venture out on your own? We just want to help, you know?”
“I do know, and I appreciate it. But when you grow up learning how to survive, not thrive, at some point, you have to stop simply surviving and make your own path.”
Colton grins, causing his kind eyes to crinkle at the corners.
I don’t want to admit to these billionaires that I’m scared to make the leap. Everyone in my life is so dedicated, so motivated. It’s embarrassing to admit I feel lost. I’ve always been better at existing in the background, helping everyone else find their dreams. Chasing my own is terrifying.
“Okay, well, you know where to find me if you change your mind. While I’m out on leave, you won’t have much to do unless assignments like this one come up. Take this time to really figure out what you need. If you can’t make it happen on your own, there’s no shame in asking us for help. Even if it’s just for advice. We’re family, and family helps one another.”
“I know. Thanks, Colt.”
“No worries. Tomorrow, just stick to the outline I gave you, and you’ll do great. Oh, and if you mess up, it’s only ten million we’ll lose out on.”
My drink sprays from my nose. “Ten million?” I splutter, trying to wipe the burning sensation from my nostrils.
He smirks like he did it on purpose. “Yup, just ten million. It’s a drop in the bucket to us.”
“Right. Billionaires and all.” I can’t contain my eye roll, and he chuckles.
“That’s right. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. I believe in you. You should try it sometime.” His signature grin is on full display.
“Okay, boss man. Anything else?”
“Yes. Have some fun while you’re there. California is amazing this time of year and you have to head into San Francisco proper too.”
Fun. Right. I sometimes forget that my boss is the emperor of fun. “I’ll try.”
“Are you heading back to the office before you go to Charlotte?” The way he asks has me smiling like a loon. Colton may work hard, but he also makes sure everyone around him remembers to live, laugh, and love.
“I wasn’t planning to. Why?” I lean in closer to the screen to examine his reaction.
“Lochlan is being a pain in the ass. I think he needs a little sparkle in his life.”
Colton has an affinity for glitter bombs, and no one in his life is immune.
“You know, for the longest time, I wondered if you had any friends. Now I wonder how you keep them. I’ve yet to meet anyone in your circle who likes being doused in glitter. Even if it is your love language.”
His laughter sounds rich even through my AirPods. “Why would you think I have no friends?”
“Because how long have I worked for you? Not once, in all that time, has anyone visited you besides your family, and no one ever calls unless it’s business-related.”
“It’s not the nineties, Till. We have cell phones, remember? No one calls anymore, especially not people who are busy running their own empires all over the world.”
“I guess,” I grumble. Would it hurt for some of his hot friends to pop by once in a while, though? Geesh. “Fine, what color this time?”
“Pink, of course.”
“You want me to send it from the same place? Ruindays.com? Or did you need me to send it personally from the office?”
“The online one is fine.” He chuckles like a ten-year-old. “Bye, Tilly.”
“Bye, Colt.”
Shaking my head, I click out of FaceTime and pull up my current blog post. I’d never had the urge to blog until I started traveling so often. I’m not a writer like my sister Sloane, but after an experience at a hotel in Arizona with an overworked housekeeper, I knew it would be all about the services that make the business—the helpers. With a side of love thrown in because it’s me.
Love in the Lobbywas born out of a need to stay connected to how I grew up, even if I’m living in the land of excess that someone else funds. For now, anyway. I wasn’t expecting it to take off so suddenly, but I had a hundred thousand subscribers by my third post, and it’s growing every day.
