“How adult of you.”
I put my hands on the table in front of me and push myself up to stand. “Let me know when you get the test back and have let that woman know she’s mistaken.”
Fiona stands. “That’s fine.”
“And please don’t tell Claire about my six-month plans. I don’t need another lecture.”
Fiona puts her hand on my arm. “Landon, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to lecture. You’re a self-made billionaire, very handsome, and extremely successful in your work and hobbies. People who read about you feel like they know you and feel entitled to your good fortune. You have a target on your back.”
“Tell me about it. Our new partner had something happen this morning along the same lines. It’s exhausting.”
“Let me know if you need me to get involved.” Her face softens. “I hope it works out for both of you.”
“I’ll see you later.” I head for the door.
I can’t get out of Fiona’s office fast enough. I zip down to Greg and the waiting car.
As he drives me home, I stare out the window of the Suburban. People in San Francisco are young and active. They’re outside running, walking dogs, relaxing, and enjoying life. I love this city. Claire and I have made it our home. I miss Vancouver in the summer, but this is where I want to be.
My phone rings, and Jim’s on the caller ID. “Hey, Jim. What’s up?”
“My team went by Mattis’ apartment, and I’m afraid I don’t have good news.”
I sit up straight.
“He seems to have moved out in the middle of the night last Thursday. They found his crushed cell phone on the floor with the battery taken out.”
My stomach drops. “What does that mean?”
“We’re doing some investigating. His employment background check was routine. I want to stop by later today and show you the file and his picture. As you know, we recently encountered someone impersonating someone with another client, so I want to be sure that isn’t the case here.”
“Sure. I’m heading back to The Adams. I’ll let the building manager know you’re coming.”
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
This day keeps getting worse and worse.
Chapter 12
Tinsley
Claire winds her way through the restaurant to a back room with a large, round table. It looks like we’re the last to arrive.
“Caroline, please let me introduce you to Tinsley Pratt. We acquired her company, and I adore her.”
My mind spins. Caroline Arnault is famous. She and her twin brother, Trey, were billionaires before they were ten years old. They’ve grown up under the watchful eye of the paparazzi. Caroline now runs a highly successful cosmetics company, and when someone tried to ruin her a while back, I heard she personally stepped in and paid her employees’ salaries. She’s amazing. I’ve seen her around town—she’s a true local celebrity—but I never expected to meet her.
Caroline brings me into a friendly embrace. “So wonderful to meet you.”
“I’m…Oh…Thanks me.” I turn eight shades of red before I can pull myself together. “It’s great to meet you.”
Caroline turns. “This is my best friend, Emerson Healy, my sister-in-law, Sara Arnault, and three other wonderful friends, Mia Couture, Alyssa March, and Viviana Prentis.”
This room is a who’s who of San Francisco. I’m star-struck and overwhelmed.
We take our seats, and the waiter makes his way around the table.
“I heard you may have figured out a way to translate every language, including slang, as it’s being spoken,” Viviana tells me.
“How very Star Trek,” Emerson remarks.
I blush. “It’s not done yet, but we’re close.”
“This is going to change how we do business,” Viviana says. “Can you imagine putting a hearing-aid-size device in your ear and being able to understand everyone you speak to?”
“Will it work with mumblers?” Mia asks. “I speak Mandarin, but I still can’t understand my grandfather sometimes. I think he mumbles his opinions so I can’t understand. I suspect he doesn’t think much of my clothes or the current non-Asian boyfriend.”
The table erupts in laughter.
“No guarantee on mumblers,” I tell her with a laugh. “Right now, I’m trying to manage basic slang like cool or awesome.”
“Old-school slang. I love it!” Caroline exclaims.
“Where are you from originally?” Viviana asks.
“I grew up in Denver.”
“Me, too,” Emerson cries. “Where about?”
“Wash Park. And you?”
“Boulder. My dad was a professor at CU.”
“Nice.”
Emerson and I talk for a while about what we love and miss about Colorado.
By the end of lunch, I have plans with everyone at the table. We’ve set a date for a weekend up in St. Helena and talked about a weekend in Victoria, Canada. My world has just grown exponentially.
“We’re a small group, and a few couldn’t make it, but each of these women has at least a billion in the bank,” Claire says as we head for the car. “They’re wonderful people, and it’s great to know they’re your friends because of you, not your money.”
I shake my head. “I’m not a billionaire, and despite you paying me ten million dollars, after paying bills and giving the employees their share, I have about half left.”
Claire smiles. “That’s still a lot of money, and one day you’ll be a billionaire. I’ve no doubt about that. For now, though, we have a party to plan in St. Helena.”
Yolanda meets me at Claire’s car, and after we say our goodbyes, she walks with me toward The Adams. I’m excited about the new friends I’ve made and what’s ahead. I just need to get this network connection thing figured out so I can work a regular day in the actual office.
Yolanda and I step into the lobby and wave to Dee. I catch a flash of red hair in my periphery.
As we
