felt more secure.
More real.
More us.
29
English
Starting my own company sounded impossible. When Lark had suggested it a few months ago, I’d laughed at her. Called it ludicrous. But when Court had suggested it, somehow, it hadn’t sounded quite so crazy.
I was actually contemplating it. Not just contemplating it, but I was also figuring out how to put it in action. Planning for it, looking into office space, and designing what I’d want my own company to look like. The twenty-year long-term goal had just become the right-now, get-the-fuck-to-work job.
Which meant, while Court was busy at work each day, I had so much extra stuff to do. So much to do and so little time to do it. Especially since I needed to figure out what to do about Court… like yesterday. He wasn’t my client anymore. Which was good, considering how unethical it was that we were fucking… and how little I wanted that to stop.
Together.
He’d said we were together.
Fuck, I didn’t know what to think about that. Was it too soon? Should I care if it was?
I didn’t know. All I knew was that I didn’t want to overthink it, and I was too damn busy to stress it.
I’d just gotten off the phone with Carmin, a business real estate agent Court had recommended. She’d promised to get together a list of possible locations for the new office, and we could tour them this weekend if all went as planned.
I checked that off my list and was about to move on to the next item that I had to tackle when my phone started ringing.
“Anna English,” I answered automatically.
“Anna, hello. This is Mayor Kensington’s office.”
“Oh, hi. How can I help you?” I asked, straightening in my seat.
“The mayor wants to schedule a meeting with you this afternoon. She’s at the campaign office at four thirty. Does that work for you?”
“Yes,” I said before even checking my schedule. I’d rearrange if I had to. “That works. Did she say what we’re discussing?”
“She did not,” he said amicably. “I’ll mark you down. Thanks, Anna.”
I hung up the phone with a frown. Just what I needed to take up my afternoon, a meeting with Court’s mother.
I flopped backward, sighing heavily. It was overdue, to be honest. I had to tell her that I’d quit the agency. I would honor the next two weeks up until the election, as per my commitment, but I couldn’t after that. She’d have to find someone else. It wasn’t a conversation I was looking forward to. Hence why it had been at the bottom of my to-do list.
Still, I changed into a suit, braved the rapidly decreasing fall temperatures with my winter coat even though Court made fun of me for it, and headed to the mayor’s campaign office.
With the temperature change, the traffic was brutal. I was used to it coming from LA, but it was still a pain in the ass. Especially as my nerves hit me fresh. I usually varied heavily between extreme self-doubt and unwavering confidence. As long as the confidence hit when I needed it to, I could fool anyone into believing the self-doubt never existed.
The cab finally pulled up in front of the mayor’s campaign office, and I headed inside about twenty minutes early. Thank fuck I’d left well in advance.
I pulled off my jacket as soon as I stepped inside, slung it over my arm, and went in search of Lark. Her assistant was seated at her desk and smiled brightly at me.
“Hey, English,” she said cheerfully.
“Hey, is Lark in?”
“Sure thing. Go ahead.”
“Thanks, Aspen.”
I passed her assistant and strode into the room to find Lark piled under mounds of paperwork up to her ears. With empty coffee cups littering every free surface.
“Is Lark under there somewhere?” I asked with a laugh.
Lark popped her head up. “English, hey! I didn’t know you were coming by.” She checked the time. “Did we have plans? I swear I didn’t forget. It’s just been crazy, and you know… it’s less than two weeks until the election.”
I held up my hand. “We didn’t have plans. Breathe.”
“Thank god,” she said with a sigh.
“I have a meeting with Leslie.”
“What about?”
I bit my lip. “Probably because I quit Poise.”
Lark’s eyes bulged. “You did what?”
I explained to her what had gone down between Josh and Margery and how I’d left Poise behind for good.
“What are you going to do?” she gasped frantically.
“Uncertain. Court kind of suggested I should start my own company.”
“Wait, we’re giving Court credit? I said that months