CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

NOAH

The only way my life could be any better is if Amber had a ring on her finger, and that’s about to happen. The ring is nearly complete.

A friend of mine hooked me up with a friend of his who has a buddy with close ties to the lead designer over at Harry Winston—purveyors of the most spectacular diamonds in the world and the ultimate New York Jeweler—and he has designed for Amber an engagement ring and wedding band that are nothing short of spectacular. Can’t wait until Amber sees them. Hope she says yes. Maybe I should have asked before doling out that kind of money, but then again, where’s the excitement in that?

* * *

Lunch today with my brothers and Tom.

It’s been some time since my good friend and I have been in the same room. We’re busy people. It’s hard to connect.

“Sorry I’m late.” I pull out a chair and take a seat. Point at the drink in front of me. “Whiskey Coke?”

“Of course,” brother Rob answers.

Though I’m tempted to toss the nectar back and order another, I place it in the center of the table instead. “Better not.” I drink the water that’s in front of me.

Tom looks at me funny.

“Been one of them fuckin’ days,” I comment. “Need to keep my wits about me if I’m going to make it through.”

“I hear you,” Tom replies.

I get a server’s attention and mouth, “Coffee.”

She nods and gives a thumbs-up.

“We ordered for you,” Rob states.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“How are things, Tom?”

“Busy. Busy, like you. Swimming amongst the sharks.”

I sip my water.

“Thanks for recommending Amber to us. She’s working out well. Smart girl. Hard worker.”

I’m sure she is. And I know she likes it there a lot. Still hasn’t stopped me from mentioning—numerous times—that I’d like her to quit and enjoy life. She points out that boredom would come, and then what? “Long-term boredom never leads to anything positive,” she said. “I’ve seen the shows, and if anything, it can be a relationship ender. We don’t want that… do we, Noah?”

I told her to forget I ever said anything.

“She enjoys working there,” I tell Tom.

“That’s good.”

The server brings my coffee, and I thank her, squint, and sip. Hot as expected. I put the cup down and tap my fork and knife and napkin. “The rings are finished.”

Tom looks at me funny again.

I pause before saying anymore because our food has arrived. When it’s on the table and the waiter leaves, I tell Tom what is going on. “I’m going to ask Amber to marry me.”

“You’re kidding?”

“No.”

“Awful fast.”

“When you know, you know.”

“Guess you’re right.” Tom picks his glass up and salutes. “Congratulations.”

“Yes,” my brothers chime in.

“When are you going to ask her?” Tom inquires.

“Soon. I’m looking for the best way to go about it.”

“Carriage ride,” Rob promptly responds with a grin and a nod.

Blake shoots him down. “Done to death.”

Rob’s grin disappears. Blake is right.

I take a bite of my steak. We all got T-bones, potatoes, and corn.

Rob tries again. “Empire State Building?”

Blake shakes his head.

Rob: “Put the ring in the dessert. Women love that.”

“Cliché,” Blake sing-songs.

“Fuck you, Blake. Don’t hear you coming up with anything.”

Tom smiles. Need to have these get-togethers more often.

We eat in silence for several minutes, enjoying our food and looking around. An idea comes to Tom, and he puts it out there with a swagger: “Picnic at the park.”

“Hey.” I point my fork at him. “That’s not a bad idea.”

“That’s good,” Blake says. “Don’t you think so, Rob?”

“I guess.”

“Come on. You know it’s good.”

“All right, it is. Now leave me alone.” Rob polishes off the last of his drink. A whiskey Coke, the same one I declined upon arrival.

With that out of the way, we finish the rest of our meal. “I need to be going,” I say.

“Can’t stay any longer?” Tom asks.

“I’ve got to get back. Like I said, been one of those days.”

“One of them fuckin’ days. Wasn’t that what he said, Blake?” Rob winks.

Blake makes the fake gun with his fingers and shoots. “You are correct, sir.”

I shake my head. “You two want a ride back to the office?”

Blake: “We’re going to visit with Tom a little longer, so you go ahead.”

My brothers. They’re both good at what they do and are major cogs in the company. But sometimes…

“Of course.” I shake Tom’s hand. “I’ll be in touch.”

“All right. And again, congratulations.”

“Thanks, Tom.”

I turn and head for the exit.

Three steps into it, Blake hollers, “Hey. I forgot my wallet. Can you take care of the check?”

I pause, knowing Rob’s about to join in. “Forgot mine, too.”

I shake my head. These fuckin’ guys.

* * *

I return to the office in a much better mood. Lunch with my brothers and Tom was precisely what the doctor ordered.

“You look breezy,” Judy observes. And adds, “Lunch must have treated you well.”

“It did, thank you.”

I feel a jig coming on until she glances at my office door and cringes.

“What?”

“Miss Conner is in there. I tried to stop her, but she insisted.”

“She just get here?”

“Two minutes ago. Security is on the way.”

“Tell them to forget it.”

“You sure?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Judy scrutinizes the top of her desk. “I’m sorry.”

“You wouldn’t have been able to stop her.”

“Still.”

I rap her desk with my knuckles. “Don’t worry about it.”

“All right.”

Before stepping into my office to deal with the devil, I add, “Have security put Miss Conner on the no-admittance list, would you? After she leaves today, I don’t ever want to see her in this building again.”

“Yes, sir,” Judy agrees and gets on the phone. I go to face the demon.

* * *

Farrah is sitting in my chair behind my desk.

“What are you doing? Get out from behind there.”

“Nice place.” She steeples her fingers. “How come you’ve never invited me here before?”

I jerk my thumb toward a vacant chair. I’d ask her to leave right away, but we need to talk.

Farrah ignores my thumb, leans forward in my chair, and picks up a pen, caresses her lips. “Haven’t seen you in a while. I’ve been thinking of you.”

“That’s nice.” I walk over and take her arm and help her up.

She travels the office taking things in. “The amfAR Gala’s coming up, and I thought we should go together. What do you think?”

What do I think? I think that you’re out of your mind.

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Farrah. And another thing. Leave Amber alone.”

“Leave Amber alone?” she repeats mockingly.

“Don’t play stupid.”

“I’m not.”

“I know what happened.”

She raises her brows, shakes her head, and shrugs.

I nearly lose it. “Goddammit, Farrah. I’m going to marry that girl, and I don’t need you messing with her anymore, you hear me? Now get the hell out!”

Farrah’s gaze grows flat, and her lips tighten and curl. She treads for the door and spins. “You’ll regret this,” she warns. “Mark my words, you’ll regret it.” She stomps off, saying to Judy on her way by, “What the fuck you looking at?”

Judy hurries into my office. “What happened in here? I glanced up as she walked by, and she took offense.”

“It was nothing. What do we have going on next?”

“Conference call in half-hour with Keith Jones.”

The call with Keith is a bi-weekly thing. He manages three of the hotels we’re involved with.

“All right, thanks.”

Judy turns and leaves.

I holler at her.

She comes back.

“Can you shut the door, please?”

“Sure.”

“Let me know when it’s time?”

She nods and closes the door.

I lean back in my chair and put my feet up on the desk. Think about what a nut job Farrah is and how angry she was when she left. Too bad. She can find somebody else to obsess over. Then I think about proposing to Amber. The ring will be ready for pickup in the next few days, so I think I’ll do it then. We’ll have to see.

The conference call goes well, and so do the meetings that follow. At the end of the workday, Judy reminds me of my flight tomorrow. “Flight AA289 out of LaGuardia. Eight a.m.”

“Thanks, Judy.”

This is a business trip I wish I didn’t have to take, but it’s important, and I can’t trust anyone else to do it.

“You need anything else?” Judy asks before heading out.

“Not that I can think of.”

“Have a productive trip.”

“Thank you.”

Judy leaves, and I straighten up and put things away. Have a date tonight with Amber, and I want to spend as much time with her as possible before I leave. I’ll sure miss her when I’m gone.