“Good morning, Mr. Mulligan, your schedule has been updated as requested,” my executive administrator, Lisa, greets me as I walk by her desk.
“Thanks, Lisa, hold all my calls for the next thirty minutes.” I stop at the threshold of my office, at the sight of Bradley lounging back in my chair with his feet stretched out on my desk.
“Get your fucking feet down.” I slam the office door behind me and stroll around the desk to take my vacated seat.
I now reside in the office my dad once called his. I happily made a few changes, getting rid of the bulky brown furnishings and redecorating with furniture that has clean, sleek modern lines aiding to inspire my creative sense.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing your smug face so early?” My left brow lifts. Bradley unbuttons his Tom Ford jacket as he walks around my desk, laughing before taking a seat in the white chair in front of my desk.
“You’re late today.”
My eyebrows furrow, then release at his statement as if I answer to Bradley about my comings and goings. Yes, we’re partners in The Island but that’s where it begins and ends.
“Am I?” I stare into his eyes, swallowing laughter.
“Yeah, you’re normally here by seven, and today you walked into the office at nine.”
My eyes narrow as we exchange knowing looks with each other. “Shut the fuck up. Did you not read the email I sent last night about the issues at Avec Amour?” I turn to my computer and log in, needing to conquer the laundry list of shit the inspector found.
“I glanced at it.”
He glanced at it.
My brows furrow. Bradley’s hands-off approach is wearing thin. He wants to concentrate on the financial aspect of the business and leave it at that. He’s great at that shit. Although outside funding wasn’t necessary, we decided not to invest only our funds in the project, which is smart.
When we presented the proposal to Dad, it was with Bradley taking on some of the day-to-day operations whenever Parker was in Singapore. That still hasn’t come to fruition.
“If you must know, boss,” I say with a snarky voice, “I had to go to the site and do a quick walk-through.” I turn to face him full on, my expression hard as stone. “I understand April is pregnant, but you have to pull your weight. When we agreed to do this, we understood the demands and agreed to share the load. Time for you to lace them boots up and conduct more check-ins at the site. Take the initiative.”
Bradley lets out a harsh breath and runs his hand over his face. “I hear you, and I appreciate you stepping up, brother. Pregnancy is no joke. This baby needs to get here. Wait until you’re going through this.” Bradley points at me with a smirk.
Good luck with that thought. Being a parent is not something written in the cards for me. It’s a nice idea, but first I would have to find a woman I love and want to have a family with.
I shake my head from side to side at the thought of Simone. Yeah, that boat took sail and sank.
April works as the interior designer for the company. I was worried about the working relationship between Bradley and his wife. I wasn’t sure they would be able to handle and separate work and life. They surprised me. When April arrives in the office, she’s no longer Mrs. Jameson, Bradley’s wife. She becomes April, the interior designer. It also helped that we hired her as a contractor instead of a full-time employee.
April is due in seven weeks. There’s a laundry list of furnishings and decor we still have to get ordered and hopefully installed before she goes on maternity leave. Although, Deborah, her assistant, will take point when April leaves; I think about the worst-case scenarios, unable to get comfortable with the thought of Deborah completing the job to our liking or on time.
“Nick has the ninth floor being rewired tomorrow. Hopefully, we can get the inspector back in by the end of the week.”
“I’ll stop by there tomorrow to make sure everything is on track. April has been picking out paint samples, cabinetry, and finishings for the meeting. We need to make a decision and get those ordered. Customization takes time which can push back our timeline.”
I nod.
Bradley rises from the chair and buttons his jacket. “I know you’re busy, but April wants you over for dinner Friday night.”
I hold my hand up and roll my eyes. “Who’s the girl this time?” April has been trying to set me up with her friends or cousins for over a year, determined to find me someone. April believes my life is empty and she needed to help me fill it. I need a woman to call my own. I have met and dated a few attractive women, but none of them held my eye for more than a night.
A boisterous laugh leaves Bradley. “I don’t know, but you better not bail and have my wife in tears. April cries over anything these days.” He lets out a loud breath. “We went for lunch yesterday and she burst out in tears after she ordered steak and salad because she felt for some damn French fries.”
I snicker.
“I call the waitress back over and ask for a side order of fries. My fucking luck. They didn’t have it on the menu. April’s cries grew louder, tears streaming down her cheeks, snot and all. The other patrons watched the spectacle with amusement. I almost fucking burst into tears.”
Loud laughter escapes me. This feels good. I needed a good laugh. I can always depend on Bradley to bring me to tears.
“So, what happened?”
“What do you think? I’m fucking Bradley Jameson. The waitress takes pity on me and got April the fries.,” he shakes his head. “You laugh at me now, but one day it will be you brother.”
Me with a family? An image pops into my mind, but the woman I see is someone I cannot have. A wife and a family aren’t in the cards for me. I’m destined to be the forever bachelor.
“See you at the meeting later and think about dinner.”
“I’ll be there,” I say as he walks toward the door.
I walk up to the brownstone and ring the doorbell, a fake smile plastered to my face. Staying at home browsing over last month’s profit and loss statement would have been the ideal way to spend the night. Instead, here I am on Bradley’s doorstep.
It’s not a secret, April invites me to these dinners hoping to set me up on a date. I could have made up an excuse not to attend, but it would have caused Bradley misery, which trickles back down to me when he shows up at my home or office bitching.
The front door opens. “Hey, come on in.” Bradley greets me with a smug smile.
Whatever fucker. I’m ready.
I follow Bradley through the foyer into their open living room; I glance around and see a few familiar faces. April waddles her way around the kitchen island with a basketball protruding out of her belly.
“Ryan,” April says as she tries to wrap her arm around me to give me a hug, but is unable to.
I chuckle, then lean down and place a kiss on her cheek. “How’s my godson doing?”
“He’s causing a ruckus like his dad, never keeping still.” She clasps her hands together and rests them on her stomach. “I can’t wait for him to get out.”
My smile widens. “Have you chosen a name as yet?”
A server walks around with glasses of champagne and asks if I would like anything to drink. At that moment, Bradley walks up to me and hands me a tumbler filled with brown liquid. I take to it my mouth. It’s scotch. My best friend knows me well.
April shakes her head. “It’s a fight. I want Jonah and Bradley wants Wilson.”
“Ryan would be a good name.” I raise my hand in the air. “Look at me. I turned out pretty well.”
“Over my dead body, bro,” Bradley says as he wraps his arm around his wife’s shoulder, then pulls her back against his chest.
April has had an ever-present radiance on her face since she became pregnant. Envy consumes me at the picture they create, of what being in love could be. I’ve dreamt of it. My arms wrapped around Simone; her belly filled with my child. But destiny had different plans for us.
From the corner of my eye, I spot a brunette walking toward us. April enthusiastically waves her over with a Cheshire grin on her face.
Here we go.
“Ryan, I don’t believe I’ve introduced you to Emily,” April says with a wink.
“No. I don’t believe I’ve had the honor of meeting such a beauty.”
Emily’s cheeks flush with a welcoming smile. The first thing I see is her large sapphire eyes fringed with long lashes, a narrow nose, and smooth round face.
She’s a beauty.
I release an appreciative sigh.
This may be worthwhile. Let’s see how the night goes. It could be a good matchup. I’ll stay open-minded.
April ushers her guests into the formal dining room at the twelve-seat table. It’s a semi-formal evening, but still lavish. Bradley sits at the head of the table his wife to his left, me on his right, and Emily to my left.
We’re served crown of lamb, mashed potatoes, and asparagus paired with a delicious bottle of red wine.
April pouts as she watches Bradley bring the glass of wine to his mouth. “I can’t wait to drink again.”
“It’s going to be a while, babe,” Emily reminds April.
April snaps at Emily, “You don’t have to keep reminding me. I’m rethinking breastfeeding.” April looks toward Bradley and rolls her eyes. “It would be nice if Brad would stop drinking in solidarity with me.”
“Why should I be punished?” Brad gapes at April.
April points her index finger to her pregnant belly giving him a hard look.
Bradley lets out a breath, pushes the glass of wine away, then picks up the glass of water and lifts it in the air. “To solidarity.”
Everyone at the table snickers.
As the night continues, I learn Emily is one of April’s friends who she met while attending UCLA, where April met Bradley. Emily attended med school at Columbia and is in the final year of her obstetrics and gynecology residency program. Emily plans to open her practice after she graduates.
A snort of laughter escapes Emily. I turn my head toward her on my left, and my eyes squint as her head bends in laughter. I look to my right at Bradley. He lifts his shoulder in a half shrug. A sneaky smile on his face.
“What about you, Ryan do you like rom-com movies?” Emily asks.
I fucking hate them. Simone enjoyed rom-coms and had me watching them with her.
I don’t want to be thinking about her now.
“Not my cup of tea. I’m an action guy.”
“You have to see this movie; you’ll love it.”
“Hard pass.” I bring the glass of wine to my mouth.
Emily’s creamy skin flushes as she turns her face away.
I study her lean body in the dark jeans, white shirt, and black jacket. Her long manicured fingers, and her sleek, sable hair is cut in a serious bob. Emily gives off a vibe of simplicity when she’s anything but. The way she looks today was meticulously planned.
Still, I’m intrigued.
Emily angles toward me and whispers. “Would you like to grab dinner sometime?”
My face stays stoic, keeping my emotions harnessed. It’s a valuable tool I’ve learned to use in business and my personal life over the years. I wasn’t expecting this. She’s forward and not as shy as she seemed.
I’m not seeking a relationship, but I can have dinner and get to know her. Open up and see where this could lead.
I smile. “That’s something we can do.”
“That will be nice.” Emily’s hand reaches below the table and comes back up with a vibrating cell phone. She pushes her chair back and stands. “If you’ll excuse me.”
My eyes follow her out of the dining room.
Five minutes later, Emily walks over to April and whispers in her ear, then hugs her shoulder.
“I got to go, duty calls. Wish me luck I’m bringing twins into the world tonight,” she says out loud. She looks at me and smiles, waves, then turns to walk out of the room.
I push my chair back, stand, and rush to meet up with Emily. I pull open the half-glass front door for her. We step outside into the chilly fall air, the whipping wind swirling the fall leaves around us.
We walk together side by side down the sidewalk to the end of the block, where a red BMW is parked. Emily presses the button on the key fob in her hand and stands next to the driver’s door.
“So, dinner sooner rather than later,” she says.
A woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it.
I’m going to live in the moment.
“I’ll get your phone number from April.”
“Looking forward to speaking with you soon,” she says as she pulls open the driver side door, and elegantly slides into the car.
She doesn’t wait for a reply. I nod and laugh as she pulls away from the curb.
I walk back into Bradley’s home and find everyone scattered around the living room, engaged in various conversations. April looks at me, hope blooming in her eyes.
I shake my head and smile.
Will she ever give up?