CHAPTER 55
I halt mid-step at the knock on the front door. Aggie left for work hours ago, and I’m not expecting anyone. They knock again, more insistent this time. I tiptoe to the peephole, but before I can even determine who it is, a voice speaks from the other side.
“It’s Linden.”
I look down at myself and grimace. It’s a miracle I’m showered but...
“Open up,” he says.
I groan. He knows I’m here. I release the clanking chain and locks and open the door to face him. He’s dressed as he always is, a trim suit, a silk tie, and three-thousand-dollar shoes. Today he has a long black wool coat folded over his arm, which is dusted with snowflakes.
When he sees me, he throws his head back in a deep laugh. My arm circles my stomach to hide my shirt even though I expected his reaction.
“Don’t cover up on my account. I love big sweatshirts with cats shooting lasers from their eyes.”
With an eye roll, I step aside and allow him in.
“I ran out of clothes and you know Aggie’s closet is a preteen’s wet dream. It looks like Katy Perry exploded on it.” I close the door.
“So does her apartment.” He glances around and pauses to scowl at the shiny and hot pink balloon animal sculpture in the corner. He drops his coat over the sofa.
“What are you doing here?” I take a defensive stance.
“I saw you on the schedule for a meeting today but I thought it would be better to talk outside of the office.” He’s pacing the apartment and stops to grimace at Aggie’s giraffe collection.
“So you could explain the very unprofessional way you tricked me into accepting a job in Chicago? And the very calculated way you set me up in an apartment building with an old boyfriend you knew I wouldn’t remember?”
His attention returns to me. He appears shocked. “Trick? No. Calculated? Very much so.”
He finds the least offensive place to sit, a chair at the kitchen table. I take the seat across from him. For once, even in my pajamas, I’m not afraid of him. It’s him who’s in the hot seat. I tap my finger on the table, waiting for him to explain, but I can’t wait.
“It’s like you’re proud of yourself,” I bite.
“I am. Very proud, actually.” He gets comfortable and settles his foot on the opposite knee.
He’s preening, which makes my temperature rise.
“Clarify how you have no remorse? I’d like to understand how you justify giving me a fake job, a fake apartment, and fixing me up in a fake relationship with your brother.” My hand swings.
“Fake job? No. You graduated at the top of your class. You had an excellent resume with superb interning experience at the best agency in DC. You’re the most qualified candidate I’ve ever interviewed. So I hired you, and you’re great at what you do. That’s not fake.”
I relax a little, settling into my seat. “So you’re not here to fire me?”
“Of course not, but I do need your ass back in the office on Monday. Lakeman’s on hold, but Rosemary Cosmetics is looking for a space and I need you on the deal.”
“I’ll think about it. Go on.” I roll my lips in on themselves to hide my relief.
“And as for the Evan part of the equation, that’s more complex.” His foot drops to the floor and he leans forward. “But I’ll tell you this, he didn’t ask me to bring you here. I did it on my own. In fact, the morning you moved in was the exact moment he found out what I did.”
“Why?” I shake my head.
“I thought it would fix things. Fix him. It may have been calculated but I stand my decision.” He drills his finger into the tabletop.
“Does he stand by your decision?” My brows rise.
“Hell no.” He laughs. “Don’t misunderstand, he was beside himself with joy to see you but at the same time, he wanted to kill me. I didn’t exactly give him a chance to react. I told him to act like he didn’t know you. I think he was in too much shock to think for himself.”
I recall the day I moved in and the fight I overheard between them. I never knew what it was about, but now I do. It was about me.
He continues, “So it was done. I set him up in the same way I set you up. Think of it as a really unconventional blind date.”
I lean back in my chair. “How can I get your apology if you don’t think you’ve done anything wrong?” I complain.
“I want to see one of the most important people in my life happy. Blame me if you want, but my intentions weren’t malicious. I didn’t force you to talk to each other. You did that all by yourself. I simply made sure you lived in the same zip code.”
“More like a petri dish.” I fold my arms.
“And look what it grew.” He leans back with a shit-eating grin. He’s proud of himself.
“So you think it’s okay that you lied about knowing me?”
“I had faith that if something happened between you and Evan, he’d tell you the truth. He’s a good guy like that.”
“Is he?”
“Cait, he’s the best. I promise. Ask him yourself. See what he says about all this.” He glances at his watch and stands, pushing the chair back. “So Monday, I can expect you back?”
“With a thirty-thousand-dollar raise.” I stand to meet his eyes.
“Damn, I love the way you think, but no.” His eyes twinkle. “I can do twenty. That’s it.”
“And I want your office and an expense account.”
“When you close the Rosemary deal, I’ll personally make both of those things happen.” He reaches out and I shake his hand, keeping my grip as firm as his.
I lead him to the door. He picks up his coat on the way. Before he leaves, he reaches out and presses a piece of cold metal into my palm. It’s a key.
“You should visit his apartment. You did live there for several years. As far as I can tell, your room hasn’t changed since you were there. See if it helps, you know, remember anything.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I try to give the key back, but he won’t accept it. He waves me off.
“Evan’s not there. He’s staying somewhere else for a while. He doesn’t want you to feel like you can’t go home.” He glances around and shrugs. “I mean, unless you like living in Aggie’s clown house.”
“It’s not what the apartment looks like, it’s who lives here.” I open the door.
“And I’m glad you have her, Cait. Aggie’s good people.” He pats me on the arm.
He steps over the threshold to leave but hesitates. He turns and says, “About you and Evan—if it helps to know—you were good together. The best, actually. You were the couple everyone wanted to be. You guys had the relationship I wished I had with Viv. It seemed so effortless. And after everything you’ve both been through, it would be a damn shame not to see if something was still there.”