Page 7

Shit. Did I laugh out loud?
“Oh, no. Nothing,” I said, waving him off, feeling my cheeks burn.
“All right. Well, then it’s settled. I’ll have Margaret set up a time that aligns with both our schedules.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I said, reluctantly pulling myself to my feet.
I almost wished he had more questions or that he wasn’t so willing to work with me, so I could push further. It would mean more time with him. I wanted more time. Needed more time. What was going on with me?
He stood and walked around his desk toward me. He held out his hand and I wondered if the initial spark I felt the first time I shook his hand would run shockwaves through me again. I shook his hand firmly, noting how large his was in how it enveloped mine like a warm blanket. There was that electricity again.
I pulled my hand away and headed toward the door, feeling his presence behind me like my own shadow. He pushed it open and allowed me to slide past.
“I look forward to seeing you soon,” he said after me.
I was able to muster an “mhmm,” but I didn’t dare look back.
I stopped and saw Margaret at the front desk.
“Hello. Daniel. Er, Mr. Jacobs, said to set up a follow-up meeting. He wants to visit our offices.”
She scanned her computer screen and I willed it to have an opening soon. I noticed her eyes were a brilliant shade of green that played off her jet-black bob. I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. And weirdly jealous. There was no way she hadn’t slept with him.
“It looks like he’s free tomorrow morning. Does ten a.m. work?” she asked, looking at me expectantly.
“Uh, yes. That should work.”
That was soon. Sooner than I expected. My nerves had hardly settled from just a minute ago, and now they were playing ping-pong through my whole body knowing I would be seeing him again in less than twenty-four hours.
“Perfect. I’ll put it in the calendar. Can I have the address, please?”
She slid me a pen and a piece of paper and I jotted down the address for the Leading to Learn office building. I thanked her and headed to the elevator. As the elevator began its long descent down to the lobby, it felt as if a piece of me was still on the top floor.
I was being crazy. I was not this type of girl. I said it myself, and now I was eating my words. As I walked out of the lobby, I breathed in the fresh air and felt the sunshine on my face. I tried to ground myself, but before I headed toward the subway, I looked up at the building I had just exited. I could see a peep of foliage hanging over the top terrace and smiled to myself as I walked down Fifth.
There was something about Daniel that was so captivating, it made me forget who I was. I was not usually attracted to men like him. I knew the type. Rich and only cared about themselves. I’d tried pitching to enough of them to know. They didn’t care about a nonprofit or helping children, let alone anyone. I could hardly get anything out of them. They were cold and calculated, unless they wanted something from you. And usually that was getting you into bed with them.
Here I was, thinking about what it would be like to be in bed withhim.Despite this ridiculous fantasy, he seemed interested. Sure, it was probably for the tax write-off, or the accolades or theForbesarticle that would surely be printed.Either way, my boss would be happy.
Before descending down the stairs to the subway and the land of no service, I typed out a quick email to my boss. I let him know the meeting went better than expected, and that Mr. Jacobs would be visiting the offices tomorrow morning, but had requested the tour be with me. I hitsendbefore tucking my phone in my purse and making my way downstairs to the platform.
My train arrived five minutes later. I found a seat and leaned my head against the window as it jolted to life and made its way back to Brooklyn. A place that seemed far from Daniel Jacobs in more ways than one.
As I trudged up the stairs to my apartment, I noticed Elma’s door was open. I could sense her waiting to pounce, like her cat. I snuck past silently, wanting to avoid any questions about my meeting with Daniel. I made it successfully up to my apartment. As I searched for my keys, my phone rang in my purse. I slid it out. It was my boss.
“Hey, Brian. Did you get my email?” I answered, holding the phone between my cheek and shoulder.
“Yeah, I did. Uh, what’s with this tour tomorrow?”
“Oh, Mr. Jacobs just wants to see more of what we are about before he makes a decision, but I’m confident he will be our newest donor.”
“That’s all well and good, but what’s this about the tour being with you?” he asked skeptically.
“I don’t know. He was adamant about it.”
Brian paused on the other line. “All right. Don’t screw this up, Heartly.”
I rolled my eyes. I had gotten us this far.