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Pointing my attention on my work where it belongs, I mumble, “You’re worse than Lucy.”
“With all due respect, your sister is much worse than I am. You don’t realize it because you’re not the one she’s calling every day.”
That gets me to pause. Looking up at the sweat on his forehead, I note, “You’re scared.”
“Ms. Sullivan made it clear that I won’t keep my job—or my head—if you continue to lose weight.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your tailor said you dropped an entire pants size.”
“My tailor has a gambling debt and is itching to reconstruct my wardrobe to pay it off. My clothes fit me like a glove.”
That’s not entirely true. I’ve noticed how gaunt my face is when I look in the mirror.
Which is why I’ve stopped looking in mirrors. I’m like the Beast living in that castle BB—Before Belle. Or in my case, Before Yaya. The only time I catch my reflection these days is when my laptop screen dies.
Mosely sighs. “You should have at least flown in earlier to see your family.”
He’s right and I feel a pinch of guilt that I’m dropping in and out to monitor the fashion show before I’m off to assess an investment in South America.
To be fair, I wasn’t supposed to be here at all.
I didn’twantto be in town for the fashion show.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Yaya and I don’t know how I’ll process watching her strutting down a catwalk with that sultry smile on her face and her honey eyes glowing in the spotlight.
The easiest solution would be to not show up, but Mosely didn’t give me a choice, stating that Ihadto at least show my face at the company rebrand given how much of a splash we’ve made about it in the press.
Taking Yaya out of the event would have been much easier for me, but I couldn’t stab her in the back like that. In fact, I instructed the PR team to continue with Yaya as the main face of Tru Essentials, the new and improved Ru-Carpsel.
I told Mosely it was for business, which is true. Yaya is a talented model and she’s also got the ‘it’ factor. People naturally gravitate to her. They like and trust her. Not only that, they respect her as someone who refuses to label herself as a victim. She is living proof that anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it.
But it’s not all about the bottom line. I also remember how excited she was about being on stage again. No matter how painful our breakup was, I couldn’t yank that away from her.
Mosely’s grumbling lures me back to focus on him.
“We’re on a private jet with all the food and wine money can buy, yet you starve yourself.” The frown etched into his face is so deep, it might become permanent. “Humans can’t survive on coffee alone.”
“I am proof to the contrary.” The document in my hand rustles as I turn the page. Unfortunately, discussing the fashion show made me think about Yaya and now my brain is incapable of focusing.
Something red flashes on the page and I glance at my watch.
Mosely settles into the seat across from me. “That watch has been blinking a lot recently.”
Pinching the watch between my fingers, I stare at the light.
“Seems like your niece misses you every second of every day.”
“Huh.” I make a mental note to ask Talia about that on our next phone call.
Just then the flight attendant strides up to us. “Sir, we’re about to land. Can you fasten your seatbelt?”
I put away my laptop, documents and pens.
The belt fastens with a click.
Despite the turbulent landing, we make it safely on the airstrip. I head into the terminal for private jet passengers and I’m whisked off to the fashion show.