I looked back at my apartment building only feeling a small amount of nostalgia for my little home. It was strange for me to think I wouldn’t be coming back to my apartment for five whole months and that I would be living somewhere else entirely. It would be worth it, I knew but it was still jarring for me to move to somewhere new. It would be worth it if we won the entire contest, at least. Nora nodded warmly at me as I got into the car, welcoming me into what was becoming a familiar sight. I slid over the leather seat, and I watched the old brick apartment building fade out of view from the tinted back window.
Nora cleared her throat loudly from the front seat, catching my attention. “I always liked that Jack Everly, he’s been good for Connor.”
“Yeah, he seemed like a nice guy to me,” I agreed with her, letting my head fall back against the seat. Even though I didn't know much about Jack, he did seem like a good guy. If someone like that could be friends with Connor, I couldn’t imagine that Connor was that terrible of a person.
Nora drove in peaceful silence until we were finally back in busy Upper Manhattan at Connor’s apartment, surrounded by the cold blur of buildings and far-reaching skyscrapers that touched the clouds above them. The street around the building was even more packed than it had been before we left and a car that reminded me of my brother’s made me remember that I needed to text him later, both to tell him about Connor and ask about the baby.
I wondered what he would say about my relationship. Not that it mattered, I supposed, though I needed him to think it was real. Rose was more than likely going to figure it out before Oliver ever did and I wondered what she would think of my little lie. She had always been quicker to realize things than Oliver. One day, maybe, I would find a man to be with and show off to my family. Not that I had ever really wanted a boyfriend, but still. Though now, I didn’t know if their reactions mattered at all except to help me win the competition.
Would Elias Lennox believe us enough that he wouldn’t question the nature of our relationship? I couldn’t say that I knew enough about Connor’s father to know how he would take it. I knew that Connor had already told him, but Elias didn’t seem the type to take things at face value. No, he would need to see us, which was why he was coming for dinner tonight. I was almost sure that it wasn’t for any sort of appreciation of his son’s accomplishments, or support of our fake relationship. Elias was the type of man to only care about someone’s life when it benefited him in some way. I imagined that he applied a similar mindset to his son.
Well, at least I would have a few hours to prepare and psych myself up enough to talk to and be around him. Nora whistled lowly as we parked and I looked up around the seats, curious. Oh no.
Elias Lennox was getting out of his car.
Chapter 6
Sadie
Time seemed to slow down at the same time as it sped up as I raced across the street, my duffle bag heavy in my hand. My lungs ached terribly as I ran up the stairs and I nearly tripped on the raised landing, catching myself at the last moment before I fell.
“Son, who is this?” I heard Elias ask in irritation at the door. “She isn’t the help that I hired for you. Where is the other one? You haven’t fired her already? She seems incompetent.”
I heard Connor sputter from where he stood on the other side of the open doorway, wearing pressed slacks and a soft blue sweater now. “No, dad, she’s not.“
I looked up slowly, meeting the cold, pale eyes of Elias Lennox. I dropped my duffle on the floor and bit the inside of my cheek. I had promised myself I would be on my best behavior and I planned on keeping that promise, for myself and for Connor too. “I’m Sadie Harlow. I’m Connor’s girlfriend.”
Elias looked between us, calculating. He coughed, trying to discreetly cover it, and the sound was awful and painful. I could see recognition bloom behind his eyes after that and his mouth twitched a little as if he wanted to smile. “You?”
“Me, yes,” I nodded, raising my chin in my own defense. He definitely remembered me from Oliver’s shop, then. I could see it on his face. Despite the obvious awkwardness of the situation, I gritted my teeth and ground out a happy, “It’s so nice to finally meet Connor’s father that I’ve heard so much about.”