As exhaustion overwhelmed me I gave in to sleep.
***
My cell phone buzzed after what felt like a brief moment. I looked at the screen realizing it was my alarm and it was morning. I trudged out of bed and put on my flip-flops, not wanting to touch the grungy floors still. I slipped into the shower and began to ready myself for the purpose of my trip to New York City – to meet Bryce Andrews. We had some unfinished business to hash out and maybe I would find some peace along the way. I had to shower fast, not wanting to breathe in the mold growing along the grout. I knew enough to understand how unhealthy that was. I used the same towel as last night thankful I brought a towel from home. I wrapped my hair up and headed over to my duffle bag. I brought church clothes for my meeting. I figured I needed something nice and professional to walk into that building because from what I read online he owned an empire.
I slipped on the dark grey pencil skirt and button up my fitted short sleeve white blouse. I don’t have the fanciest of wardrobes. After brushing out my dark straight hair and putting on some light pink gloss, I was ready. As my nerves went into overdrive my shirt stuck to my skin, as I imagined the very different reactions Bryce Andrews would have. With my heels on, I gazed into the hazy bathroom mirror to see how I looked. Then I chided myself for caring.
***
It’s a relief to leave the motel and breathe in some fresh air, although the New York air is definitely not as fresh as Thunder Bay. It was a grey fall day, and the wind was blowing as I walk down the sidewalk in search of the bus stop or maybe a cab. My stomach gurgled as I smelled the sensuous smell of fresh bread wafting out of a nearby store window. I entered the small bakery and purchased a warm croissant. I couldn’t remember the last time I ate. Yellow cabs swiftly buzzed by and I contemplated how I could snag one for myself. Paying closer attention to others catching a cab, I followed their routine of stepping out and hailing one down. I must be doing something wrong because they continued to zip by, not understanding my gesture.
“Here Miss, you gotta do it like this.” A young handsome guy wearing a suit and overcoat came up behind me and waved his hand. A cab stopped in front of him instantly and he stepped inside the backseat. I crossed my arms over my chest and rolled my eyes at him, big help he was.
“Where are you headed?” he asked with a smirk.
“Manhattan,” I replied.
“Get in, so am I.”
I figured it would be okay. He looked professional. I entered the cab feeling very much out of my element.
“I’m Brent Barron by the way,” he said extending his hand and holding a briefcase on his lap.
“Vicky Molino,” I replied curtly.
“Nice to meet you, Vicky,” he smiled kindly. He was good looking with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was clean-shaven and his suit looked snug, revealing a fit body.
“Thanks.”
“So where in Manhattan are you headed?”
“I need Tyson Towers please,” I said to the taxi driver in the front seat. He nodded looking back at me in the rearview mirror.
“I’m headed over to Tyson also,” Brent said with his eyebrows arched up. “What are you going there for?” He caught me off guard with that question and I didn’t respond, I thought to myself that I had better come up with a story. “Okay, well then.” Brent shrugged his shoulders when I didn’t respond. “I’m Director of Accounting for Tyson Pharmaceuticals,” he explained and I tugged my lip up on one side. This is awkward. Fuck. I’m starting to shake.
The cab stopped in front of Tyson Towers; there was a huge stone sign in front of the building with the name. I reached into my purse to give the cabbie half the fare.
“Don’t worry about it, Vicky, we had the same stop,” Brent said with a soft smile.
“Thanks.” I shrugged, feeling like I should give him a full wattage smile now that he’d saved me the cab fare.
“You really are stunning,” he said while fixated on my face. Then he flinched a bit and said, “Here maybe I can direct you, you don’t seem like a New Yorker and this place has two connecting towers.” That would be great, Brent, if I knew where I was going.
“Oh, thanks,” I responded, feeling my stomach flipping on me. My jaw dropped as I gazed at the towers and I started to get cold feet. Maybe it was a big mistake coming here.
“Hey, are you okay?” Brent asked with a concerned tone. “You look a little pale.”
“What, uh, uh…” I took a deep breath and steadied myself knowing that I must have turned green. “I’m fine, thanks.”
His brows met together as the air between us grew more uncomfortable by the second. “Where did you say you were headed?” he asked again. I’m not even sure what he was still doing here standing with me, he must think I’m crazy. I don’t answer half his questions and I’m disoriented.
“To Bryce Andrews' office,” I replied, squaring my shoulders.
His mouth dropped open, I didn’t think he was expecting that. “He’s the boss, you know that right? He usually doesn’t meet with just anyone. I’ve been working here for three years. I head one of his departments, and I just met him last year for the first time,” he explained sympathetically. I could tell Brent was a nice guy, he meant well, and he had a good job. He was clearly interested in me, but I had nothing to offer to a nice hometown boy like him.
“I know, I need to interview him,” I said wondering where that lie erupted from. Brent shrugged his shoulders and said, “Follow me.” I followed him into the tower on the right. There were two young women working at a front desk and they smiled at him. We both passed through security together. I got stopped a moment longer when the security guard riffled through my purse. I followed him to the elevators, and I waited beside him as my eyes fixated on the numbers lighting up as the elevator made its way down to the ground level. There are forty floors in the building. Holy fuck. I tapped my heel nervously, when Brent looked down to my foot then back up to my face I realized what I was doing, so I stopped.
“Oh, sir.” Brent turned around to a tall man. He was over six foot with dark brown hair and grey eyes. He was wearing a very expensive dark navy suit with a red tie. If I didn’t know whom the president was, I would think this guy was him because his aura leaked power. The man nodded at Brent in return.
“Vicky, this is Bryce Andrews,” Brent explained motioning to Bryce with his hand. I’m caught off guard. I’m not ready yet. This was not how I pictured meeting him for the first time. My breath hitched and my heart skipped a beat. Get your shit together, Vicky, you have one chance and this was it. He looked different in real life than he did on the Internet.
“Very nice to meet you, Vicky,” Bryce said with a genuine smile, extending his hand politely. I extended my hand in return but I’m tongue-tied, not a word left my lips.
The elevator door dinged then opened up and we all walked into the elevator. Brent looked over to me warily. “Do you actually know him?” Brent whispered quietly.
“It’s a long story,” I whispered back. Fuck I needed to calm down. Bryce was standing off to the side and a few more people had entered the elevator, all of them addressing their boss as they entered. Brent gave a knowing nod. He got off the elevator on the fortieth floor along with Bryce and I. Bryce walked past his secretary, a young blonde with long hot pink nails typing away at her desktop. She smiled at him seductively then continued her work.
Brent motioned for me to follow him, so I do. The floors were all white marble, the walls pure white with mahogany wood trimmings and planters lined against a wall with a quaint waterfall. The place had a feng shui feel to it.