Page 9 (1/2)

I hit the spacebar on led the location of "Stella & Sumner"

I couldn’t help but smile "Of course"

Thirty Rockefeller Plaza

Stella & Sumner took up half of the seventy-second floor of the GE Building, one of the nized it from blocks away

However, for such a well-known venture capital firain, it took very little to run a company that basically just raised and invested money: Max, Will, some junior executives, and assortedso fast I had to count ten deep breaths, and then duck into a bathrooether

I checked each stall to ensure it was eht in the eye "If you’re doing this with his, Sara One, he wants what you want Sex, no strings You don’t owe him more Two, don’t be afraid to ask for what you want And three"--I stood up straighter, taking a deep breath--"be young Have fun Turn the rest off"

Back in the hall, the glass doors to Stella & Sumner opened autoreeted enuine s it She had a falanced down and read her name placard: BRIGID STELLA

Holy crap, did his mother work as his receptionist?

"Do you have an appointment, love?"

Her accent was just like his I jerkedI could just get a minute"

"What’s your na smile, thank God--looked at her co up the phone "I’ve got a Sara Dillon here hoping for a chat" She listened for barely three seconds and then said, "Right"

When she hung up, she was already nodding "Straight down the hall to the right His is the office at the end"

I thanked her and followed her directions down the hall When I drew closer, I saw that Max stood in his doorway, leaning against the fra such a self-satisfied sood ten feet short of my destination

"Get over yourself," I whispered

He burst out laughing, turning and walking into his office

I followed hi the door behind me "I’m not here for what you think I’ "Okay, maybe I am here for what you think I’m here for But not really I ht out there! Oh my God--who hires their , that da word I unleashed he seeh harder Goddaass!

"Stop laughing!" I yelled and then slapped a hand over my mouth as the words echoed back to hten his expression, walked over to ot for a beat what I was here for

"Sara," he said quietly "You look beautiful"

"You always say that," I said I closed le instance in the last three years where Andy had co other than the wine I chose for dinner

"That’s because I’?"

I opened my eyes and looked down at my white blouse, pleated navy skirt, and thick red belt Max was staring directly at rinned He could tell

"I’hty schoolgirl done right"

"I’ a pervert by checking outHe acted like every bit of infor on a necklace "How many days is that?"

I narrowed my eyes at him "What? It’s" I looked up for a few seconds "About nine thousand, eight hundred fifty But ust About ten thousand"

He groaned and pressed a dramatic hand to his chest "Fuck Nuainst your charm"

I couldn’t help but smile back at hiiven ash, Sara Depressing Move on

He looked , "Well, I certainly can’t wait for you to tell me why you’ve blessed me with your visit today But let me answer your most recent question Yes, my mother is my receptionist and it does seeet her to leave that desk I assure you, you’ll walk aith one ear pulled from your head"

He took a step forward, and suddenly he was standing so close Too close I could see the tiny stripes in his tailored suit jacket, see the shadow of stubble on his chin

"I came here to talk to you," I said I must have sounded minuscule, and I needed to find soive him I didn’t want to be hoith Andy initially: easily bulldozed After six years, I realized the proble

He sured as much Do you want to sit?"

I shookto drink?" He walked over to a small bar in the corner and held up a crystal bottle filled with alasses

Handing it to ers today, Petal"

I surrendered to h "Thank you I’ atfurther innuendo into the moment "Likewise"

"I feel a little out of hed, but not rudely "I can tell"

"See, before what happened in the club? I’d been with the sauy since I enty-one"