“You do?” Michael cocks a surprised eyebrow. “Can I meet him?”
“Her,” I correct him. “I don’t know if she has any plans this evening, but I can give her a call, see if she has the time to meet with us.”
He seems even more eager to meet the copywriter now that he knows it’s a woman, but I won’t let that bother me. I mean, this is work related. This isn’t going to be one of those awkward situations of flirting, even if Michaelisfree and far more age appropriate for her…
But Isabella isn’t going to likehim, right? I can’t imagine her falling for his bullshit. No, it’ll be fine, I’m sure of it. I’ve already dialed Isabella’s number anyway.
“Elijah, hi…” she whispers conspiratorially, like this is going to be a call about our secret. That makes my pulse pound that little bit harder. “What’s up?”
“Erm, I’m actually with a business associate right now who wants to meet a great copywriter, so I recommended you for the job. If you have time to come and meet me and Michael now for a little bit, just so he can get to know you.”
She pauses for a beat too long, leaving me wondering if I overstepped a boundary here.
Shit, this is going to make things really awkward all around…
“Err, well yeah. I guess I can come.” Relief floods through me as she agrees. “I’m only in the cabin anyway, working. Olivia is out on another date…”
Of course she is. She’s with Benji all the time. But I’m not resentful, I can’t be. I have my own stuff going on anyway, like tonight with my business. And Isabella as well. Not that anything will happen with her, I just like being around her.
Very pleased, I give her the details of where we are, and we wait for her.
“So, this copywriter of yours…” Michael starts with a suggestive twinkle in his eye. I need to shut that thought way down before he gets carried away with it.
“She’s here with my daughter. She’s my daughter’s best friend.”
Since Michael is only someone that I’m about to potentially start doing business with so there is no way he has a clue about my personal life. Thank goodness because I donotwant to start talking about my complicated family life today.
“Oh my goodness, isthather?”
I spin around in my chair to see who Michael is running his eyes over like he’s just spotted a supermodel on all fours, crawling towards him.
“Yeah.”
Fuck, I didn’t think this through properly, did I? “That’s Isabella.”
She is wearing a plain black summery style dress. Smart and casual all at once. Nothing too sexy, certainly nothing like the teeny tiny bikini I first saw her in, but somehow she might as well be naked.
A sight I know all too well, and one I’m sure Michael is trying to conjure up in his filthy, arrogant mind. How can I stop this shit before it gets out of control?
“Isabella, right?” Michael turns on the charm, I can actually hear the change in his voice. “It’s very nice to meet you, I have heard a lot about you.”
Bullshit.
I’ve said nothing aside from her being a copywriter, but I suppose that doesn’t matter now. He will wing it. I’m sure he has enough experience. Already I have to ignore the bitter ball of bile that forms in my throat. I don’t like this, not one bit.
I lean back in my seat, but don’t feel like my ass is connecting with the chair anymore. I feel like I’m floating but in a really bad way. Michael guides Isabella to sit beside him and as soon as they start talking, I immediately feel left out.
Disconnected from them both.
Isabella might be trying to keep things on the right track, and only talking about business, but the glint in Michael’s eyes shone bright with excitement. What he had in his mind wasn’t pure at all.
Fuck.
Panic hits me hard. It’s worse than jealousy. IknowIsabella and I have already decided not to go near one another again, but that doesn’t mean I want to see her with anyone else. Especially when I think about the way Olivia is with Benji.
Dear God, they are all over one another. It’s sickening, but I won’t fight that because he’s making her happy.
There is no fucking way that I will be able to act so cavalier if Isabella is the same with Michael. Urgh, even the idea makes me so sick I can’t stop my nose from screwing up in disgust.