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Chapter 7
Addison
I heard a knock at my door that broke me from whatever daze I’d been in for the past few hours since Daniel left my office with that awful woman. The whole meeting had put me into a bad mood, which was ridiculous because I practically landed him as our newest donor. Our biggest one yet.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel slighted by the morning. Here I was thinking it was going to be something more, when in fact, it couldn’t have been more the opposite. I felt foolish for being swept up in whatever fantasy I had thought up. I blamed Monica for putting her silly romance plot inside my head.
Another knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I said, pretending to busy myself with something on my laptop.
Brian poked his head in before the rest of him followed. “How did it go?” he asked, taking a seat across from me.
I mustered up the proudest smile I could. “Daniel Jacobs is Leading to Learn’s newest donor.”
Brian slapped his hand on the desk loudly before leaning back in his chair and looking at me in awe.
“Holy shit, Addison,” he said.
“I know.” I shook my head because I still couldn’t believe it.
“You did it.”
I didn’t like the sort of disbelief in his tone of voice, but I ignored it because I was somewhat in disbelief myself.
“I guess so.” I shrugged.
“You should celebrate. Go home early.”
I didn’t feel like there was really anything to celebrate, but it would be better to be miserable in the comfort of my loft than here in my office.
“Really?” I asked.
“Really.”
Brian stood and headed out the door. “Good job today,” he said before slipping out.
I gathered my things and stood to leave, my leather skirt loudly peeling from the surface of my chair. I looked down and thought how ridiculous this outfit choice was. I let out a sigh and shut my laptop before heading out the door.
As I walked toward the subway station, my phone pinged in my purse. It was Monica:
How was it?
I wasn’t in the mood to talk about it, so I slipped my phone back in my purse before descending the stairs to the platform below. The train to Brooklyn blurred past me. I missed it. I frustratedly plopped down in a row of metal chairs, the chill of the metal biting into my bare skin. This skirt was way too short.
I wondered for a millisecond if that was why I landed this deal, but quickly shook it off. Daniel Jacobs was a businessman. A majorly successful CEO. He didn’t make deals based on how short a woman’s skirt was. Plus, even if he did, I wasn’t his type. That was made crystal clear when I saw Kiera. Even her name screamed classes above mine.
The only thing that made me feel better was knowing I was a good person. As much as I kept it together during our meeting, I could feel a fire of slight rage growing inside me brought on by Kiera’s privileged attitude. I couldn’t believe the way she rolled her eyes or looked down on people who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than them.
I wondered how Daniel could stand to be around someone like that, but maybe that was just how rich people were. Really, I was better off not knowing him, or being involved with him in whatever fantasy I had conjured in my head. Still, I couldn’t help but think about the moments our hands had touched, creating their own kind of fire in the pit of my stomach.
There were times today I could have sworn his eyes lingered a little too long in places they probably shouldn’t have. I didn’t even feel upset by it. If it was desire from him, it only made me want him more. It was over now, though.
The next train to Brooklyn rumbled down the tracks, causing the platform to shake slightly. I stood up and walked toward it, the breeze from the fast train blowing against my face. I looked around at my fellow commuters. This was just another reminder of how different mine and Daniel Jacobs’s worlds were.
When I arrived home to my apartment, I turned my phone off. I decided to take a true afternoon off. From work, from the world, from Monica’s questioning. I’d disappoint her tomorrow with the news that I wouldn’t be the inspiration for her next romance novel.
I drew a hot bubble bath and peeled the leather skirt off of my body, tossing it on the floor next to the gray one from yesterday. Two things I wouldn’t be wearing again for a long time. I stepped into the tub and inhaled a deep breath as the hot water surrounded me like a cozy sweater. I read the rest of my book, and while the ending gave me the happily ever after I desired, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for myself.