THE ASSISTANT

EMILY

Day Twenty-Nine

––––––––

I can’t believe he hasn’t called.

My phone didn’t ring once after we returned to New York. A part of me knew that was a possibility, though. Whenever Nicholas closed a deal, he threw a celebratory party. The deal immediately became ‘old news’ the second the party began, and he started looking for a new pursuit.

I’d read reports of how happy he was at the closing celebration, how he told everyone there that his fiancée was unable to come due to “personal reasons.” So, I took that as a sign to keep my distance. I’d even considered showing up to the party, but I changed my mind at the last minute.

“Cheer up, Em.” My sister placed a mug of hot cocoa in front of me. “At least you got to fuck him. It was amazing every time, right?”

“Is that all you think about these days, Jenna?”

“No.” She smiled. “Yes.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, every time.”

“Well, treasure those memories until you find someone else. I’m sure he’s moved on to someone else by now. He is Mr. Page Six after all.”

“Remind me to never come to you when I need to be consoled again.”

“I don’t understand why it’s that big of a deal.” She took a cupcake out of the refrigerator. “You’ve worked for him for two years. You were attracted to him, but not enough to cross the line. He invites you to do a new, temporary contract—one where he’s basically letting you off the hook for the final few days, and you’re moping about it. It’s not like you’re in love with the guy. Right?”

I didn’t answer. 

“Oh my god ...” She plopped down in front of me. “I guess I should’ve seen that as the reason why you refused to go out and date new people after your last breakup.”

“That had nothing to do with Nicholas.”

“I think it has everything to do with him. Why else would you spend all that extra time with him before the arrangement?” She looked as if she was about to launch into one of her “deep” and not-so-insightful spiels, but there was a sudden knock at the door.

“I’ll get it.” I rushed over to the door and found myself face to face with our mother.

“Mom?” I said. “I thought you weren’t getting in until this weekend.”

“When were you going to tell me that you were engaged?” She looked hurt. “I had to read about it in the Financial Times. I had to fly here earlier than I originally planned because I just knew you wouldn’t hide something like that from me for this long. Would you?”

“Let’s talk about that.” I sighed and let her inside. “Coffee or tea?”

“Vodka.”

I walked into my kitchen and poured her a shot. I made myself a cup of orange juice.

“Your boss is a damn good catch,” she said, taking the glass from me. “I’m just surprised you went for him after all the complaining you did during your first six months there.”

“It’s not a real engagement, mom,” I said. “It never was.”

“Well, of course, it’s a real engagement. You don’t have to get married within a year like your dad and I did to make it a real thing.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean we were never—”

Someone knocked on the door mid-sentence, before I could finish.

“Give me one second,” I said, getting up to answer the door. I opened it and found myself face to face with Nicholas.

“Yes?” I said.

“Are you going to invite me inside?”

“Yes.” I blushed at the sight of him in his trademark black suit, and motioned for him to come in.

“Emily, is that him?” My mother called from the kitchen, but she didn’t wait for me to answer.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Johnson.” Nicholas extended his hand to her as she walked into the living room. “I’m Nicholas Wolf, Emily’s fiancée.”

My mother looked at him, then at me. She mouthed, “WOW” to me and shook his hand before returning to the kitchen.

“I didn’t know you had company tonight,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

“You would if you’d answered my text messages and stopped ignoring me.”

He raised his eyebrow. “You ordered me a new phone and a new service before we left for Blue Harbor. I just switched it over the other day. My apologies for not calling you, but I’m definitely not ignoring you, Emily.”

We stared at each other.

“I was just thinking about you and wanted to stop by,” he said.

“For sex?”

“Not just for sex.” He smiled. “Can you come into the office tomorrow and clear out your desk? Brenton is starting to get antsy about moving into your office. If you come back to work, I’ll let you keep it.”

“I don’t think so.” I laughed as his lips landed on mine. “What time do you want me to come?”

“Eight o’clock,” he said. “And I want you to stop by my office first.”

“Okay.” I kissed him again, and he walked to the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.” I returned to the kitchen and sat across from my mother.

“Now, what was it you were saying about this engagement to your fiancé not being real?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I smiled. “Nothing at all.”