“Are you busy today?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Want to go to Hayes & Koslov Holdings with me? They’re almost done with the renovations.”
It’s the new company I started with Alexei when I took over Ballmer’s imports and exports business. Once I leave Indie Ink, Christopher, my brother, and Dash, Ryker’s cousin, will handle my workload until Jade graduates, and she can take over.
“Sure. What time?”
“One.”
He nods. “Catch you then.”
As Ryker leaves, Mark, my personal assistant, comes in with my coffee, and placing it on the desk, he takes a seat. “You have two meetings, and there’s the visit to Jinglin.”
“Is that all for today?” I ask as I pull up the contract between Jinglin and Hayes & Koslov Holdings. I forward it to Mark.
“So far,” he answers.
“I’ve emailed you the contract. Get everything ready.”
“Will do.” He gets up and walks to the door.
Enjoying my coffee, I check the stock market and international business news.
Letting out a sigh, I get started with work. The sooner I’m done, the sooner I can get back to Hana.
HANA
Tristan’s been busy at work, moving into the new premises, the past month, and I haven’t gotten to see him as much.
On the plus side, I’ve been able to spend more time with my friends and family.
But I miss him. It feels like half of me is gone when he isn’t with me.
At least I’ll see him tomorrow.
I walk to the living room with a bunch of facial masks and place them on the coffee table.
“Damn, I need this pamper session,” Mila says as she comes to sit on a couch. “We’re watching Smallville, right?”
I grin at her. “Yes.” We’ve been binge-watching the series with her.
Fallon and Jade bring the snacks and drinks, and when the four of us are seated, and Mila presses play, I hand the facial masks out. “They’re hydraulic acid ones for super moisture.”
We put them on, and I try to get into the show, but my thoughts keep going to Tristan.
I wonder what he’s doing right now?
Noah walks into the living room and takes one look at us before he turns around and heads back down the hallway.
“I have an extra one for you,” I call after him.
“Hell no,” he shouts back, making us all laugh.
Fallon glances at Jade. “How are things with you and Hunter?”
Jade grins, and it crinkles the mask, making me chuckle.
“I’m so happy,” Jade practically coos.
That makes eight of us. I’m glad they sorted everything out between them.
Fallon’s eyes turn to Mila. “What’s up with you and Jase?”
Mila shakes her head. “You need to ask him.” She lets out a sigh. “As far as I know, we’re just friends.”
My eyebrows lift slightly.
Mila’s gaze locks on mine, and then she tilts her head. “What about you?”
“Me?” I’ve only told Fallon and my parents about Tristan and me. For an unexplainable reason, I just don’t want to share how serious things have become with anyone else.
“Yeah,” Mila smiles. “You and Tristan. What’s happening there?”
As casually as I can, I shrug. “We’re dating.”
“And?” Jade asks.
“Just dating,” I repeat myself. “We’ll see where it goes.”
Fallon jumps in to save me. “Hopefully, Kao will ask me on a date soon.”
“God, that would be awesome,” Jade says.
My phone vibrates, and I quickly pull it out of my pocket.
T: Miss you.
H: Miss you more.
T: Then put me out of my misery and come down.
Excitement bursts in my chest. I glance at my friends, and not wanting to just leave, I ask, “Tristan’s here. Is it okay if I go.”
“Sure,” Fallon answers.
H: 5 minutes.
I get up, then Mila laughs. “Just take off the mask first.”
“Crap,” I chuckle as I pull it off and dispose of it. I dart to my room and quickly change into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Slipping on my shoes, I hurry out of my room.
The girls wave at me as I head out the front door. When I step out of the building, and I see Tristan, I break into a run. He catches me and locking me to his chest, he lifts my feet off the ground. His mouth finds mine, and then everything around us fades away.
Finally.
When he breaks the kiss, he sets me back down. His eyes caress my face, and then he opens the passenger door. “Have you had dinner?”
I shake my head as I climb in. “Not yet.”
“Good,” he murmurs before he shuts the door.
When Tristan slides in behind the steering wheel, he says, “I want to show you the new offices, and then I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” I ask as I pull on my seat belt.
Tristan winks at me as he starts the engine. When he doesn’t say anything by the time we leave Trinity, I ask, “What kind of surprise?”
He lets out a burst of laughter. “The good kind.”