Page 33 of The Renter

Oh shit! Get it, girl!

25

Wednesday, May 18th

Her message, “On my way,” lights up my phone. I reply with a kiss emoji. It’s only been since Friday, but the anticipation of seeing Dani again makes it feel like an eternity. Stay present, I remind myself. Enjoy her company fully tonight. These meditation prompts I’ve been forcing into my routine are actually working.

Dani enters the cottage, casual in yoga pants and an oversized T-shirt. “Just walk right in,” I tease, trying to hide how stunning she looks, even in something so simple.

“What?” she fires back. “I thought you liked a little trespassing.”

“From you? Always.” I pull her in for a kiss. “I picked out a movie for us. It’s sexy, like you.”

She reaches into her bag and pulls out the NDA, and I know we’re about to shift to a serious conversation. The NDA is mundane but necessary. I hope she gets why it’s important. The last thing I need is a tell-all about my private life—or worse, my business.

“I read it,” she says, sitting at the dining room table. “Well, thoroughly skimmed it. It’s so long.” Her tone shifts to something more serious. “I signed it, but if you ever hurt me—like, lay a hand on me or do something crazy—I won’t stay silent.”

“Has that happened to you?” I ask, squeezing her hand.

“Sorin,” she says, looking down. “I took out a restraining order on him in two thousand seventeen.”

I grab her other hand, holding both tightly.

“I wouldn’t keep that kind of secret for you,” she adds. “Not even for all the money in the world.”

“Understood,” I say, yet shake my head, sadness washing over me that she even has to think like this, that she’s been through things like that before.

We hold a lingering stare before I guide her to the couch. I grab a blanket and tuck it around her.

“I have to focus on building up my client list.”

“I thought we already solved that problem.” I told the team at Harris Ventures to get her work.

“I’ve had great meetings, but no one’s signed with me yet.”

As we cuddle on the couch, my mind drifts to her career. Despite my influence, why hasn’t she secured more clients?

“They will. Don’t worry.” I head into the kitchen, pulling out my phone. It frustrates me that no one’s moved forward. I shoot a quick text to my assistant, urging some follow-up. Dani deserves this—not because she’s with me, but because she’s talented.

“I ran to the store today and bought a ton of food,” I call out, trying to lighten the mood. “You want popcorn?”

“Yes!” she yells from the living room.

“This poor little rich kid has a fun fact to share.”

“Tell me!”

“Today was the first time I’ve gone grocery shopping in years.”

“Years?”

“Yeah. My house manager in Chicago usually handles that. Do you want wine or whiskey?”

“Wine.”

I like having her here in the cottage. With Dani, everything feels so easy. As I prepare the popcorn and open a bottle of pinot noir, I think about how different this is from my life in Chicago. Here, in this small kitchen where I can stretch out and touch every cupboard, life feels simpler. There’s no staff, just Dani and me.

Then stress creeps in again. I’m still wondering about the silence after her meetings. Is Greg blocking things? The last I heard from him was a text confirming she was no longer with Shirts. I glance at my phone, tempted to call him, but that could turn tonight in a different direction if he is blocking her from getting work. I’ll deal with him later.