“Not a problem. What can I do for you?” I gave Anderson a quick smile and returned my attention to Graham. He’s dead if he asked Graham to work with me.
“Please come in and take a seat.” He gestured for me to sit at the table that was in the corner of his office. Both he and Anderson waited for me to sit before they each took a seat at the table.
“Anderson and I have been speaking about your project this morning.” He looked down at a folder that sat to the left of him on the table. I glared at Anderson when Graham wasn’t looking. He laughed.
“What were the two of you talking about?”
“Well, Anderson reminded me that the signing bonus hadn’t been issued. Which I’ve corrected.” He pulled an envelope out of the folder and slid it over to me.
“He did, did he?”
“He has some interesting ideas on locations that I think will escalate this project to another level. I’d like you to consider working with Anderson on the front half of the project and having Alan pick up once the first group of stores open.”
“Graham, whatever you think is best.” Anderson met my glance and had the decency to look embarrassed.
“Perfect. He also thinks he can get this whole project up and running a lot faster than Alan. You should look at relocating to the city sooner rather than later.”
“Interesting.” I sat back and alternated my stares between the two men that were changing my life far faster than I had thought possible.
“Oh,” Graham put his hands into the air. “Anderson, you should tell Jurnee about those apartments of Eric’s you mentioned. He may have solved your living situation.”
A loud buzz interrupted my response, “Graham, Soraya’s here. Should I ask her to wait?”
“NO!” Soraya tossed the door open, and we could hear Sadie giggling at her desk.
“Yeah, like my wife would wait for one second.” He made his way over to her. Her tips were blood red, and she didn’t look too happy to see him.
“Really, Baby. Red?”
“Don’t even try it. I’m not speaking to you right now.” She pivoted and looked at me. “Ready.”
I looked at my phone. “It’s only 11:45am. I told Alan I was taking lunch at 1pm.”
Soraya crossed her arms and stared at Graham, not saying a word. When he said nothing, she placed her hands on her hips and glared at her husband.
“Jurnee,” Graham cleared his throat. “Please join my wife for lunch. I will let Alan know that you are leaving early.”
Soraya cleared her throat and shifted her weight to the other foot, and Graham continued, “In fact, I’ll tell him you will be taking the rest of the day off.”
“That’s unnecessary. I don’t want to create any problems or delays. I’ve already missed most of last week with my ankle.”
Soraya interrupted, “You are taking the rest of the day off. Mr. Morgan will make the necessary adjustments.”
Graham sighed and tossed his head back. “Anderson, Jurnee, could you excuse us for a few minutes? I need to make up with my wonderfully beautiful wife.”
“No need–”
“Soraya.” The gravelly tone of his voice when he said her name seemed to melt the anger off her face.
Anderson leaped out of his seat and gestured for me to head out the door first. “We’ll be in my office when you’re ready, Soraya.”
“What the hell was that about?” I asked as I fell into the chair on the other side of Anderson’s desk. He lowered himself into the chair.
“Not sure, but it’s better to give them the space they need. Besides, I want to talk to you about a couple apartments that Eric has vacant in his buildings since you don’t seem interested in moving into my house.”
“I’m not thrilled that you went to Graham behind my–” Sadie appeared at the doorway but paused for Anderson to nod his approval to enter. She handed me the envelope I’d left on the table and disappeared back out the door. “I told you at dinner last night that I didn’t want to ask to work with you again.”
“And I didn’t. I respected your wishes. After looking at the bigger picture, Graham rethought you and Alan picking sites. Anyway, the apartments–”
“That is not really respecting my wishes, though, is it?”
“Okay, it’s respecting your wishes with an asterisk. These apartments–”
“As I mentioned, I can’t afford to lease one of Eric’s apartment–.”
“You did, but that was before they gave you the signing bonus. There are