Hollywood Flirt - Alexa Aston Page 0,4
to speak to you.”
He turned. “Sure, Sydney. Have a seat.”
“It won’t take that long.” She closed the door for privacy, not knowing how he’d react to her next words.
He cocked his head, waiting for her to speak.
“I’m resigning, Simon. Effective today.” She paused when she didn’t get a reaction. “Did you hear me?”
He crossed his arms. “I wondered why you didn’t want to sign a contract. I chalked it up to your recent divorce and moving to Boston. Not knowing if you’d want to stay or not. Are you getting back with your ex? Heading to Manhattan again?”
Sydney laughed. “That’s the last thing I’d do. Actually, I’m leaving for the west coast. I have family there. I need . . . I need to go home.”
Simon sighed. “You’ll be missed, Sydney. I’ve never seen anyone with your work ethic.”
“I appreciate hearing that. You’ve been terrific to work for.” She pulled her badge from where it was clipped to her skirt’s waistband. “I won’t be needing this anymore. I do want to thank you for the opportunity you gave me. I wish the circumstances were different but I’ve decided I need a bigger change than I first thought.”
He smiled. “If you ever choose to come back to Boston, this better be your first stop.” He offered her a hand. “Good luck to you, Sydney.”
“Thanks for being so understanding, Simon.”
She left his office and returned to her own, giving Brenda a thumbs up as she passed. Brenda repeated the gesture as she spoke into the phone.
Sydney closed her office door and decided to make one more call before she left for the airport. She scrolled through her contacts and paused at a number she hadn’t called in a long, long time.
Dad.
She touched the name on the screen before she chickened out and brought the phone to her ear. Very few people had Monty Revere’s private number. Sydney hoped he hadn’t changed it.
After three rings, she heard, “I’m only answering this because I recognize the area code and I have a friend in Boston who owes me dinner and beers. How ya doin’ today, Terry? When’d you get a new number? And when the hell are you coming to LA?”
Sydney’s throat closed in emotion. It had been so long since she’d heard this voice.
“Terry? You there?”
“Dad?” she got out.
A long pause. She was afraid he might hand up. She tried to get words out, but none would come.
“Syd? Is that you, baby?”
“Yes,” she squeaked out as tears swam in her eyes.
“I’m . . . I’m glad you called, honey. How . . . how are you?”
“Dad. I’m coming home.”
“Really?”
In that one words, she heard wonder. Hope. Love.
“Today.”
“For real?”
“For real,” she said. “For good,” she added.
“I’ll meet you. Where? LAX? John Wayne? Burbank?” He threw out several airports.
“I’ll Uber over. Do you still live . . .” Her voice cracked.
“Same place, baby. Just hurry home, baby.”
“I’ll be there by six,” she got out.
“I’ll be waiting,” he said softly. “I love you, Syd.”
“I love you, too.”
She disconnected the call and fell back into her chair. Then she opened the bottom drawer of her desk and dug out a handful of tissues. Blew her nose. Rested her glasses on the desktop as she mopped her eyes.
“Guess it’s a good thing I don’t wear mascara,” she told herself, though she was ready to wear makeup again. Ready to see who Sydney Revere really was.
She threw the used tissues into her trashcan and then tossed her oversized glasses in, as well. They hit the can with a clang. Sydney started pulling the pins out of her hair. Those, too, went in the waste bin. She’d finally grown it out after law school, back to shoulder length, but she always wore it up. Never down. She ran her fingers through the long locks and felt liberated to have it falling around her again, like a comforting blanket. The first thing she’d do once she got home was make a hair appointment. She wanted to go back to her natural auburn hair.
Sydney pulled a mirror from the inside of her purse. She rarely looked into it except to check after a meal to see if she had any food in her teeth.
Puffy eyes and all, she still liked what she saw.
Sydney stood and reclaimed her briefcase and purse. She opened the door and stepped out. Brenda gawked at her.
“You look so different, Sydney,” her assistant said, her baby blue eyes round with wonder. “I’ve never seen you without your hair