Page 16 of Accidental Getaway

As I slump on the bed, my head reels from this morning’s outing.

On the one hand, I felt so alive up there.

The way we talked, and the moment Niko grabbed my hand, laughing …

It felt so real. Like I was making a friend and having fun.

Something I haven’t done in eons. I felt like myself for the first time in years. Since I met Malcolm, probably.

But at the same time, I’m worried that it’s going to interfere with my work.

Niko and I have barely touched the proposal for the board meeting.

Meanwhile, I’ve been receiving nervous texts and emails from Amber checking in, and I have nothing to report.

While I wait for my food, I get up to type out an email.

Subject: Meetings with Mr. Psomas

Amber ,

Wow. You weren’t kidding about Niko wanting to be hands-on.

I’m sorry I don’t have much to report yet, but I do think things are going well.

He seems excited about what Aspen Sky has to offer.

He is pretty set on using standard metrics for the proposal and focusing on our measurable success rates. Should be straightforward.

Again, I’m really sorry I don’t have more to report back, but I’ve been working nonstop, just waiting for Niko to really sit down with me to go over it.

I don’t think you need to worry, though. Everything is under control! I can handle this. Get some rest and I’ll report back soon.

Best,

Jenni

I rest my forehead in my hand, elbow on the desk next to my laptop. I should have so much more to report by now. I really need to get some concrete work done. I need to figure out how to prove, unequivocally, to the board that we are worth our salt.

Just as I open a spreadsheet to brainstorm some talking points, there’s a quiet knock at the door. My stomach growls in response. My food. Thank goodness.

I quickly glance down at my outfit before opening the door. I’m still wearing my bathing suit and shorts from earlier. My hair is tangled and in a messy bun, and now that I think about it, my makeup is probably washed away or smeared all over my face.

“Jenni!”

When I open the door, Ana, looking absolutely perfect as always, is beaming in the hallway. I stand there, a bit like a deer in the headlights of her glow. “I wanted to come say hi and see how you’re doing. Alexander said you had returned from your trip with Niko!”

She air-kisses me and then pushes her way into the room. “Oh, Niko gave you one of the best rooms. I just love this view. It’s so invigorating. By the way, I like to sleep with the window open all night to listen to the sea. You should try it!”

“Sure, I will.” I still can’t quite figure out why she is here, feeling the need to check on me.

“How was your day?” she asks. “Niko mentioned you were going to the marina?”

I guess she’s staying for a chat. This is … unexpected. Ana crosses her legs and leans back in the chair, looking comfortable and relaxed.

Almost exactly the same way Sarah would if she and Piper were here. Piper would be sitting on the bed, shoes off, back up against the headboard. My heart aches at the thought. I miss them.

“It was incredible! The island is so beautiful. The parasailing was … interesting. I’ve never worked with anyone quite like Niko before.”

“How so?” Ana leans forward as if we’re teenagers about to dish about a boy at school. Talking to her feels so natural that I feel my shoulders and my guard drop.

“He just doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously, that’s all. I’m used to men who wear fancy suits and sit in glass offices while making demands. Niko seems more focused on having fun.”

She taps a finger on her rosy lips. “You sound like you’re describing Niko’s dad. He sits in a glass office.” She laughs. “Niko can be that way too, though. I don’t think he’s left the hotel in weeks. He’s always behind his desk.”

Really? Then why did he take half a day off to take me parasailing? “He doesn’t normally have days like today?”

“Nope. I think he likes you.” She shrugs. “But I’m glad he’s having fun. He deserves it.”

That can’t be right. I mean, sure, I hope he likes me. Enough to hire our agency. But that’s all it should be. Obviously .

I go to ask Ana what she means, but there is another knock at the door.

“That must be my lunch.”

Ana pops up out of her chair. “I didn’t mean to take so much of your time. I only came to ask about your plans for dinner?”

“Oh, um, I hadn’t thought about it yet.” I open the door to the room and a waitress carries a tray of food in.

She lifts the plate covers and quietly exits once she has set everything on the table.

I call out my thanks as she closes the door, wishing I hadn’t been so frazzled and could have acknowledged her properly. Instead, I turn to answer Ana.

“I think I’ll …”

Something on the tray catches my eye. It’s a little yellow duck. I snatch it up to get a closer look, wondering if my brain is playing tricks on me. Sure enough, it’s a rubber duck. And not just any rubber duck, it has a red rose tucked under one wing and is wearing a top hat.

“What is this?” I turn to Ana.

“Looks like a duck to me,” Ana says with a grin.

“But what is it doing on my room service tray?”

I’m struck by the recollection of the conversation on my very first, jet-lagged afternoon. I had completely forgotten.

“Niko said something about these the first day I was here. There’s a duck prank going on around the hotel. I think I’m the latest victim,” I tell Ana. This sort of thing never happens to me. My life is usually so boring. A warmth bubbles to my chest.

“Seems harmless to me. Maybe someone was just trying to brighten your day,” she says with a gleam in her eye.

“Maybe …” I turn the duck over in my hands a few times before setting it on the desk. I’ll figure out what I think about it later.

Ana looks at me pleadingly. “So … tonight? ”

“I’ll probably just run downstairs and eat at the restaurant later, after I shower.”

“That’s no fun! You simply must come with me. I know of a great restaurant on the water, near a nightclub. We can eat and dance the night away!”

“I would hate to impose. You don’t need to babysit me. I’ll have a quiet night in, call some friends, and go to bed early.”

“ Please . You’d be doing me a huge favor! I need girl time. I need music!”

If her intent is to guilt-trip me, it’s working. Plus, Piper and Sarah would be thrilled if I told them I went out and did something fun.

“Okay, if you say so. That sounds really fun. But just dancing, right? I don’t want to meet any men.”

“Yay!!” Ana squeals and bounces up and down on her toes, clapping her hands together. Her joy bubbles into the room, and I can’t help but feel excited for the evening.

“And men? Who needs men? Meet me downstairs at eight and wear something sexy!” With that, she floats out of the room with as much energy as she brought into it and leaves me in the quiet once more.

I check the time. I’ve got a few hours until I need to start getting ready.

I sigh as I sit down to my pasta. This is all becoming so much more complicated than I thought it would be.

Rather than just minding my own business and getting to work, I feel like I’m being thrust into some social experiment to root out the fake.

Not only do I have to impress in the business meetings, but I also have to play this part of someone remotely in their social circle? It feels like I’m set up to fail.

I take a sip of the orange juice that came with my lunch. Maybe it’s the promise I made to myself earlier or maybe Ana’s guilt trip brought up other feelings, but I dial Mom’s number. I expect her not to have service in the mountains, but she answers on the second ring .

“Jenni? Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“I’m okay, Mom. I just wanted to hear your voice. Are you still camping?”

I hear some noise in the background as Mom whispers to tell Dad it’s really me.

“We are, but we drove into Durango for an estate sale. You wouldn’t believe the quilts this lady had. I’m making your father haul an embroidery machine home.”

Her voice fills a hollowness in my stomach. I hadn’t realized I was homesick. I didn’t know that was a thing a twenty-four-year-old could feel. Especially when I have wanted nothing other than getting out of there.

“Have you had your big meetings? Is everything going well?”

“Not yet. But we’re getting there. When I get home, I’m going to make you Greek coffee. I think you’ll love it.” My voice cracks. I want to tell her that I think I’ve made a mistake coming here. I want her to tell me it’s okay and I should come home.

“If you say so,” she responds.

I push the food around on my plate, feeling the weight of everyone’s expectations: Niko, Ana, Piper, Amber. They all want me to be someone that I’m not sure I can be anymore. Today was good, but how much longer can I keep up this charade?

“Mom, what happens if I can’t make this work?” I ask. My voice is practically a whisper. “If fail here and can’t get my life back …”

There’s a loud rumble on her end, as if a she’s at a racetrack rather than an old country antique shop.

“What was that sweetheart? I couldn’t hear you; a motorcycle club just pulled up. I don’t know how they expect to take anything home?—”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and sit up straight. I can’t admit my fears to her. “Nothing, Mom. I was just saying I missed you and hope you’re having a great time.”

“Oh sure, you know us. We’re in our happy place. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I am, just tired. I was in the sun all day.”

“Well then you’re in your happy place too, I guess! I’m sorry I was so worried about you. Dad has talked me down over the last couple days.”

It’s breaking my heart that I’m not being honest with her when she’s obviously trying to support me. I’m glad she didn’t hear me waver, though, because I can’t go home. Not now.