Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

J uly 27th

Sometimes you set a goal. You work so hard to accomplish it but find a new goal along the way. Suddenly, the old goal doesn’t seem quite so important. The question then becomes, do you forget about that original goal or not?

“One month until the release of Mimi’s book. The press is in full force, preorder numbers are fantastic, and advanced reader copies are getting ninety-five percent positive feedback,” Paige reported to Jack.

Jack sat back in his chair, looking at the report Paige had handed him on Mimi’s presales. “With these numbers, it’s already a bestseller. But we have to wait until her name is in the paper to make it official. I’m impressed, Paige.”

Eight months. That’s how long she’d been working to prove herself to Jack and she was doing it. Not only that, but she could actually call him a friend. Even his mother had backed off Paige, but that was because Jack hadn’t told her that moving to his new penthouse was Paige’s idea. If Mrs. Griffin knew that, Paige might be dead.

“I’ll see you all tonight?” Jack asked as he closed the folder with her reports on Mimi’s book inside.

“Yes. We’re looking forward to it.”

Tonight, Jack was hosting them at his penthouse now that he’d moved in. It was beyond nice of him, but Jack had a nice side. He just didn’t show it to many people. No one at work would ever believe Paige if she told them that.

“I’m going to check on the caterers. I’ll see you in an hour.”

Paige’s eyes shot up to where Jack was standing. “Caterers? You could have just had some Chinese delivered.”

The horrified look on Jack’s face made her laugh.

“Girl, hurry that cute ass up,” Leah called from where she was leaning against the office door. Amelia was peeking inside as well looking impatient.

“I’m coming. I just have to send this email to Timothy.”

Amelia’s nose crinkled. “How’s that going after your little make out sesh?”

“We just pretend it never happened. However, we are being nicer to each other. Where is Felix?” Paige asked as soon as she hit send.

“He and Eli are meeting us downstairs,” Moxie called out. Paige hadn’t even seen her behind Leah and Amelia.

Paige picked up her tote bag, turned off her office light, and joined her friends as they headed to the elevator.

“How are Roman and Griz doing?” Paige asked Moxie as they rode the elevator to the lobby.

“Good. Roman has grown his wolf pack. Griz and Gina are going strong. They’re doing some gym competition together.”

“Aw, that’s sweet,” Amelia said as they walked out into the lobby.

“Noah! You made it.” Leah hurried past Paige and placed a kiss on Noah’s lips. A kiss that said it was not the first one she’d given him.

“I guess we’ve all been busy these past three weeks,” Paige whispered to Amelia, who was smiling a very intimate smile at Felix. Apparently, it wasn’t only Leah who was finding love. Amelia and Felix were well on their way to a long-term relationship.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Eli said as they all began the walk to the penthouse. “I wonder what we’re going to eat because you know Jack isn’t going to order takeout.”

“It’s catered,” Paige laughed. “Hey, how are things going with Kenneth?”

Everyone was quiet as they were jostled on the busy sidewalks.

“He asked me out,” Eli admitted.

“A date!” Paige was so excited she screamed it.

Eli frowned, but it was still hopeful. “Not exactly. He invited me out with his friends after the next show this weekend.”

“That’s a good sign, bruh,” Felix said encouragingly.

“Here we are. I can’t wait to see what Jack did with it,” Moxie said, giving their names to the doorman.

Jack had turned the penthouse into a swanky bachelor pad. Leather couches. Mood lighting. Soft fabrics mixed with rich leather. It was Jack. Seriously sexy. A room with BDSM equipment that had Eli giggling, Amelia eyeing a whip, and Leah whispering to Noah .

“So, who is this for?” Eli asked bluntly.

“No one specific. Paige is off limits since we work together. So it’s whoever I meet that might want to play.”

Paige rolled her eyes at Jack. Still the flirt, even though they were the perfect friends and worked exceptionally well together since she wasn’t intimidated by him and he was no longer trying to sleep with her.

“I’d totally play with you, but you’re now a client. Not only a client, but the client that has made my career,” Moxie said with a sigh.

Jack smiled and Paige really did enjoy seeing this more relaxed side of him. “I take it my phone call to your boss helped?”

Moxie rose up and kissed his cheek. “Made me a full agent, and I’ve been super busy with all the clients you’re sending my way. I can’t thank you enough. A blowie just wouldn’t do my gratitude justice.”

“I mean, we could find out. Don’t underestimate a good blow job,” Jack teased.

“Speaking of blowing things,” Leah turned to look at Paige, and Paige suddenly got nervous. “Paige sure is blowing her resolution. We’re almost to August. Tick tock.”

“Damn, Paige. As your boss, I order you to get laid. I can call up at least a hundred guys who could fix that status in the next twenty minutes,” Jack said, opening a couple of bottles of wine before filling the glasses the catering company had lined up.

“Eww, no,” Paige said before reaching for her glass. “I’m not having my boss play pimp for me.”

“At least try again. I know you’re seeing Fraser, but come on, make a move,” Leah rolled her eyes and everyone else nodded their agreement.

“We’re not seeing each other. We’re just casually talking. We haven’t had time to even go on another date to see if dating is what we want to do,” Paige explained. “It seems wrong to move forward with the virgin deflowering mission when I don’t know where Fraser and I stand.”

“Wait,” Felix said, sharing a look with Noah, Eli, and Jack. “You mean you kissed after the date, right?” Paige nodded. “And you’ve been talking, but you haven’t been out on another date. And you haven’t had any discussion about a relationship?”

“Right. We’re just getting to know each other. Besides, with his job, he doesn’t have much time to date,” Paige pointed out and frowned at the look the men shared. “What?”

“Babe,” Eli said gently, “he’s not looking for a relationship. He’s just keeping you on the back burner for when he needs an emergency hookup.”

“Exactly,” Noah said, shaking his head. “It’s a dick move.”

“Yeah, I’ve done that plenty of times. I know it when I see it, and that’s not the kind of woman you are, Paige. Even if you are just trying to lose your virginity, that should be on your terms, not his,” Jack said with more kindness than Paige expected.

“You’re totally angling for that blowie, aren’t you?” Moxie asked with what looked like worship in her eyes.

“The day I stop wanting a blow job is the day I’m dead,” Jack replied seriously.

Suddenly, Leah gasped and everyone turned to stare at her. “I got it! I’m doing PR for the Jane Austen Regency Gala event next weekend at the Devonshire Plaza. You love Regency romance and Jane Austen. It would be the perfect place to meet a guy.”

“A real man doesn’t dress up like that. It’s embarrassing,” Jack told her. “Just come to The Red Door with me. We’ll have that virginity taken care of in no time.”

Paige shivered. “No, thank you. I don’t know if I can ever step back in The Red Door after what happened last time. But I’ll let you know if I ever change my mind. Regency sounds perfect. All those gentlemen with impeccable manners and chivalry? Yes, please.”

“A sexy rake will do nicely,” Eli said, winking at her. “And I know the perfect place to get a costume. I’m going to look so dashing.”

“I’ve always wanted to wear one of those dresses,” Amelia said with a sigh before looking at Felix with hunger in her eyes. “And yes, real men do wear those costumes. They have easy access,” she said, dropping her eyes to Felix’s zipper.

“Wait, you’re all going?” Paige got nervous. She didn’t want her friends to see her fail. It made her nervous because they made sure she didn’t back out.

“Not me. I’ll be at The Red Door.” Jack didn’t look sad about that at all.

“I’ll have to skip too.” Moxie did look a little bummed, but then she smiled. “We have a small gathering planned at someone’s house outside of the city,” she said with a wink. Ah, a furry orgy. Maybe Paige should think about going to that instead.

“Perfect. Tomorrow, we’ll get our costumes.” Eli clapped his hands together, and then the conversation flowed back to what life was like for Jack in his new place, how his mother was handling it, and what his favorite part of being in the building was.

“There’s rumors about some really powerful people living here,” Jack told them after dinner.

“You’re in the penthouse,” Eli pointed out. “They must not be as powerful as you.”

“Oh, the two floors below the penthouse are one giant apartment. Whoever owns that is seriously rich and powerful, but it’s owned in a company name,” Moxie told them.

Jack nodded. “Rumors are he runs the New York mafia. ”

Eli leaned forward and dropped his voice as if he were afraid of being overheard. “I bet it’s Nikolas Luciano. I heard he lived around here. He’s a major donor to the arts, including funding many Broadway shows.”

“They take his money?” Paige asked incredulously.

“Of course they do. Do you know how hard it is to fund a show?” Eli asked as if taking dirty money was a no-brainer. “Besides, by the time it gets donated to us, it’s been cleaned.” As if that made it better.

The rest of the evening flew by. There were tons of laughter and talking. When they left, Paige realized how lucky she was. She might not be lucky in love, but she was lucky in friendship, and that was just as special.