Part 26 (2/2)
Taddy muttered a quick prayer that Neve would get some common sense. Then she picked up the other line. ”Kiki, how's Utah?” She closed her eyes.
”Miss Brill, my folks and I have been talking about whether or not I should come back to New York City.” Her a.s.sistant's voice sounded shakier than usual.
”And?” After they'd talked in the car, she thought the air had been cleared. Now Taddy realized her parents were influencing her. d.a.m.n Blake and his on-the-money a.s.sumptions about her a.s.sistants.
”We think it's in my best interest if...I do return to New York.”
”YEAH!” Taddy cleared her throat. ”I mean I do too.”
”But there's one condition.” Kiki spoke as if her father had put her up to this. Perhaps he was listening in on the other line.
Sweet Jesus Jersey White Corn. ”What's your stipulation?”
”Dad, stop-” Kiki covered the phone and hushed a voice in the background. ”My folks want me to leave Jersey City and move into Manhattan. They want me within walking distance of the office.”
”Agreed.” She opened her eyes and sat back in her chair. ”You'll receive a raise. We'll retroact your paycheck so it goes into effect for the next pay cycle. I've got a great broker who can get you an apartment in midtown. I'll even make your first month's rent.”
”Honest-Miss Brill?” she asked in a choked voice.
”Tell your father I appreciate him coaching you.”
”Thank you.” Kiki sniveled over the phone.
”Please don't cry.”
Hearing that, Kiki seemed to cry harder.
”I'll see you back at work, next Monday.”
After several sniffs, her a.s.sistant's tears subsided.
”I'm glad to you're coming back. Please give your family my best.”
”Bye, Miss Brill.”
Taddy PR'd her way through lunch at her desk and listened to Neve's song. To her surprise, ”I'm a Reality” was good. It reminded her of ”Tardy for the Party” and you could dance to it. That's all that mattered. Taddy agreed to let her perform at her Candy Land Ball. She glanced at her cell phone once. After two p.m. she elected not to check it again until her dinner arrived. She ate a tuna salad at her desk and didn't hear a peep from Warner. At six p.m., she gave in to temptation and called his cell phone. It went straight to voice mail. Either he wasn't answering or he'd turned off his phone. Screw him and the having-a-man-in-her-life fantasy.
She wasn't sure if she grew angrier at herself for having expectations that what they'd shared could lead to something, or for buckling under and calling him. She didn't leave a message when his sweet voice came on the line and promised herself she wouldn't ring him again. Taddy couldn't help but reflect back on her emotions from a week ago when she'd thrown his number away over the misconception that he was engaged or, at that stage, married.
After swallowing another shot of Farnworth Firewater, Taddy dialed her mother's number. She kept the trashcan by her desk in case she heaved.
”Brillford residence,” a man's voice answered.
”h.e.l.lo...is Countess Irma there, please?”
”Whom may I say is calling?”
”Mr. Constance, is this you?”
”Yes, who is this?”
”Taddy.” Her voice sounded childlike. ”I mean...Tabitha Adelaide, Irma's daughter. Is my...mother there?”
Chapter Nineteen.
Dom Perignon Rose Countess Irma was shopping downtown when Taddy called. Mr. Constance had been left with instructions to make sure Taddy stopped by tomorrow between ten and noon. She agreed to meet Irma the next morning at Irma's apartment, the home she'd grown up in.
Taddy texted Vive and Lex, thanking them for the support, but tonight she needed to be alone. She feared if she hung out with them, they'd put ideas in her head. Angry thoughts based on resentment. Over the years, the Manhattan community had grown to despise Irma for her choices. A desire to see her mother with an open mind would be hard. Taddy would do her best. Her friends agreed to be on standby after her visit.
She canceled Jose's car service for her usual late-night ride home. Slipping on a pair of sneakers she kept in her workout bag, she walked from her office at Forty-second Street and Eighth Avenue to Seventy-first and Park Avenue. The distance was just over two and a half miles. It was a stroll she didn't take often, but when the moon was out like it was tonight, it was a wonderful way to clear her head. She was elated that Kiki was coming back to New York and also confident Lex would learn to enjoy her fas.h.i.+on empire's success. Blake could work on Neve's account. Money aside, tiara-wearing beauty queens were something she didn't have the patience for-not at this stage in her career.
After turning the corner, she stepped up to her building. The graveyard-s.h.i.+ft doorman greeted her as she went into the elevator and pushed the b.u.t.ton for the penthouse floor.
When she entered her residence, she spotted a large pink suitcase. Huh? It read Dom Perignon Rose Champagne on the lid. Taddy opened the case, recognizing its exclusivity. Designed by Karl Lagerfeld, it was used in the short 1996 film t.i.tled by its namesake. Aw, Warner must've sent this.
Unfastening the latches, Taddy saw six amber bottles of bubbly. An envelope inside was addressed to ”My Red”. She opened the seal on the letter and a ticket stub fell into her palm. She flipped the tag over to read ”Barth/Red/Dec30/Vajazz”. Taddy recognized the paper. Its icon and logo came from Secrete de St. Barth. On the back, the tagline read ”A Warner Truman Property”.
Dima came from the kitchen to greet her. ”Your guest brought the champagne. I'd put it in the fridge, but we don't have room for all of these bottles.”
”Guest?”
”He's waited for you for a few hours.” Dima pointed into the living room.
”Who is it?”
”Mr. Truman. He lost his phone charger.” Dima held his hands up in possible frustration. ”We did not have one to lend him. I told him I'd go out and buy him one but he said he'd wait 'til you came home.” A smile on her butler stretched practically ear to ear. ”Maybe he just wanted to surprise you, Miss Brill.”
Taddy walked in to the sitting room to see Warner sound asleep on the chaise lounge. His long legs, the ones that had carried her and supported her while he made love to her, were stretched out as if he owned the room. The arms that he'd used to hold her at night and that had taught her how to be respectful to him hung down at his sides. Those strong hands, which had cupped her face, caressed her body and excited her s.e.x, rested against the floor.
She looked back to see her butler staring in on her with a grin. ”Thank you, Dima. Throw out whatever is in the fridge and stock it with the champagne.”
”Yes ma'am.”
”And Dima...why don't you take tomorrow off?”
He whispered a thank you and added, ”I've put the dogs in the kitchen for the night.” He headed to his quarters. Taddy took the envelope and walked over to Warner.
You're here.
You came for me.
You kept your word.
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