Page 53 of Not In The Contract

“Pretty much,” I groaned through a chuckle. “It’s easy enough, Alex is always busy and I have a ton of work to get through so it works out perfectly.”

“Not if you want to get information out of her,” Tamera pointed out.

“Hey, let me work through it one day at time.”

“Make sure you’re taking care of yourself,” she said. “Something tells me that this is fucking with your head. Maybe try to talk to Alex tomorrow?”

“I can promise that I’ll try,” I conceded, too tired to consider anything else. “And I’ll come and see you this weekend, too.”

“You can spend all your time snoozing away while I eat the delicious treats I bought for you.”

“That’s why you’re my bestest.” I chuckled.

“Naturally.” She giggled. “How are your classes going? Has Paula been checking in?”

“I’ve been working on compiling my research so far,” I said. “I figured I’d get a head start with what I have rather than wait until the last minute like I usually do. Paula hasn’t really been on my case, but I have a meeting with her coming up soon. I want to talk to her about this whole thing.”

“You’re having doubts?” Tamera guessed.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “Kind of?” I admitted. “I feel like this was a great idea but the execution is flawed. I feel like Alex and I just don’t get along well enough.”

“You’re both in the same situation,” Tamera reminded me. “Give it some time, yeah? She’s probably feeling as off-kilter as you do.”

“I think I just need sleep, to be honest.”

“I’ll let you get some sleep, babe,” Tamera said, and we hung up a little while later.

When my head finally hit the pillow, I could have wept with relief.

My body jolted awake, my eyes blurred and mind hazy with sleep. I glanced around blearily and fumbled for my phone. I unlocked it and my mouth went dry. It was eight-thirty.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck,fuck.

I threw the covers off and sprinted into the bathroom, my heart hammering in my throat as I speed ran my morning routine. No time for breakfast and barely enough time for full makeup. I cursed my awful time management under my breath.

Alex was going to be so pissed. Rightly so. The last thing I wanted was to give her another reason to dislike me.

Without a car, I was forced to run down the length of the driveway while I ordered an Uber, my knees wobbling with every uneven step on the loose gravel. My Uber still hadn’t arrived when the gates rolled open to let me out, and I hopped from one foot to another, panic seizing my chest. I looked up and down the deserted street, my bottom lip caught between my teeth.

“Shit,” I hissed, and dialed Katya’s cell.

She picked up on the second ring with a hushed, “Where are you right now?”

“Waiting on the side of the road for my Uber,” I whined, wishing I sounded less frantic. “How bad is it?”

Katya sighed audibly and whispered into the phone, “She’s not in the best mood,” she confessed, and my heart thudded harder. “She has a ton of site visits on her schedule today. Do you know what time you’ll get here?”

“If my driver gets here in the next five minutes, I should be there just after nine.”

“Okay, do yourself a favor and go to the address I’m texting you,” she said, her voice just as quiet, “and order a tall flat white with cinnamon and a chocolate croissant.”

“Oh… kay?” I said and breathed a sigh of relief when my Uber pulled up. “Is there anything else you want me to get while I’m there?”

“No, just that,” she said. “And something for yourself, I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet.”

I hung up and got in the car, briefly chatting with the driver to add a stop to my trip. He was nice enough and drove me to the address Katya had texted me. I didn’t have much time to admire the rustic little coffee shop or its beautifully ornate wrought iron furniture. It looked like a slice of Paris tucked away in a corner of the city. I rushed to the counter of the blissfully empty shop where an older, portly woman was refilling the display with the most delicious looking muffins I’d ever seen.