Page 59 of Manhattan State of Mind

“I haven’t exactly broadcasted this yet, but we’re planning to branch out into wellness retreats under the Quinn & Wolfe banner.”

Silence engulfs us.

“Wellness retreats?” she asks, smiling. “Really?”

I affirm with a nod, a ghost of a smile on my face. “Yes, really.”

“Wow. That’s… quite a pivot from casinos.”

“Yup. That’s the plan.”

“Do you know much about wellness?”

I chuckle. “Enough to know I need it.”

She falls silent, absorbing my words. “So what’s the unique selling point for these wellness centers? Burnout recovery for high rollers?” She smirks.

“Something like that. Burnt-out bastards like myself who have been looking in the wrong places for happiness,” I explain. “It’s a business venture that echoes my personal wants. I need to put some distance between me and the madness of Vegas.”

Her eyes flicker in surprise. “But you’re the owner. Can’t you delegate the casino operations?”

“I could. But the temptation will always be there, lurking. It’s better if I step away entirely. Truth be told, I’m craving a quieter life now.” I flex my grip on the wheel, my arms taut under the fabric of my shirt. “This isoff the record, Lucy. Not many at the company are privy to this plan.”

She stares at me, her eyes wide, her mind ticking. “My lips are sealed. I don’t think anyone would believe me, anyway. So, what got you into wellness?”

“I went to a retreat. As an apology to someone special,” I admit, feeling too close to dangerous territory. “It wasn’t something I thought I would have liked, but I ended up having the best sleep of my life.”

Her eyes flutter wider in surprise, but all she utters is a soft “huh” as she turns her gaze back to the passing cityscape.

“So I was on point about the chanting monks, huh?” she questions after a beat, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Quite possibly.”

“That’s pretty cool. I think I’d prefer that to casinos, if I was going for a weekend away. I don’t think I could ever feel at home in a place like Vegas.”

I know, baby.

“But really, it’s not about the place,” I say, my eyes burning into hers, not missing the slight hitch of her breath. “It’s about who I’m with. The city doesn’t matter if I have the right person in my arms.”

She hesitates, biting her lower lip, as if wrestling with a question. “You’re seeing someone?”

Shit. Cornered.

I clench my jaw, pressing the accelerator. “Things are… complicated.”

“Oh.”

The car comes to a halt at an intersection and I steal a glance at her, noticing the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Jealousy? Difficult to say.

She looks caught off guard, her lip still captive between her teeth.

I decide not to push her any further for now.

“Listen, about the hackathon,” I say. “If it’s too much, say the word and you’re off the hook. I want you there, but not at the cost of your comfort.”

“No, it’s fine. I need to get back to work, back to my routine. The sooner I return to my normal life, the better… and apparently that includes hackathons at one of your mansions.”

My lips curve into a tight smile. “Indeed, it does.”