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“Remember…” started my father. “No guests. No women in your rooms.”
“I know, Dad.”
“Good.” He nodded.
“Meet at the airport at noon tomorrow. It’s all on the—”
“Itinerary,” I finished his sentence. “I know. See you then.”
He and Kathy strode out of my office without greeting Monica, who was sitting just a few feet away. He could be such a pompous ass. I suddenly felt embarrassed by his rudeness. He was probably still licking his wounds from when they talked at the conference. He wasn’t used to a woman speaking her mind, especially when it came to the defense of his son.
Once I was sure he and his sidekick were gone, I called Monica into my office. She stood from her desk and walked over, looking delicious as ever in the same black pencil skirt I had helped her into this morning, and a white button-down. Her hair was wrapped up into a bun held by a pencil, probably still damp from our shower this morning. I drank her in like a warm cup of coffee.
“You needed me?” she asked.
“Always,” I answered.
She shook her head and bit back a smile. I tried to ignore the sensation in my groin as she sat down across from me.
“Sorry about my father,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Oh, it’s okay.” She shrugged.
“He can be such an ass…”
“What did he want?”
“To remind me of tomorrow’s company retreat…in Atlantic City.”
“Oh! I didn’t even see it on your calendar.”
“Neither did I, until just now. Kathy must have conveniently forgotten to mention it to me.”
“She does that, doesn’t she?” Monica rolled her eyes.
I laughed.
“How long will you be gone for?” she asked.
“Five days.”
I could see her smile falter a little.
“Oh, wow,” she said, looking down at her feet.
I could tell she wasn’t happy about it either. I realized we hadn’t been apart that long in months. Even when we weren’t together, we still saw each other at work. I was starting to dread getting on that plane tomorrow.
“You gonna miss me?” I asked with a sly smile.
She looked up and saw my face, shaking her head.
“You’re insufferable.” She laughed.
“Admit it.”
She sighed. “Yes, of course I am.”
“Then come over tonight. We can have a proper goodbye.”