The Two Week Arrangement (Penthouse Affair, #1) novel Chapter 19

Dominic

I can tell Fran’s in a mood today before she even opens her mouth.

“Why haven’t I seen you with a woman lately?” she asks, hanging up her coat in the front hall closet.

It’s a great fucking question, but I don’t have time for this. It’s Friday morning, and I have to leave in less than five minutes to head to the office.

I bring my mug of coffee to my lips, taking a sip in order to buy myself some time. She’s great with my kids and I love her, but damn, is she nosy.

“Did you hear me?” she asks, reaching for the teakettle, and turns the heat on high to make herself a cup of tea.

I’m starting to regret giving her a key. I’d like a little warning before I get scolded.

“Maybe I’m not into women.”

“Then why haven’t I seen you with a man?” she asks without missing a beat.

I roll my eyes, tightening my tie around my throat as I stand up from the table. Damn. I rub my temples. I haven’t had near enough caffeine for this yet.

“It’s been three years, Dom,” Fran says, as if I needed reminding.

Her tone is maternal, low and soft, but her words still sting. My hand clenches around the drawer handle for a moment before I open it and pluck a spoon from inside.

Goddamn, Francine. Cut me some slack.

“I’m not looking for anything serious,” I say, keeping my tone casual and light. I learned that lesson when I very seriously gave my heart to a woman who saw no issue with crushing it under the heel of her boot.

“That’s absurd.” Fran sighs and reaches for a mug in the cabinet before fixing her tea. “I just think you should think about your daughters.”

“I am thinking about my daughters,” I respond coolly. “I’m only thinking about them.” They get all of my free time and attention without having to share me with someone else.

I place my yogurt and spoon into the side pocket of my laptop bag and head for the door. “I’ll be home late tonight,” I call out, and hear Fran make a disgruntled noise.

Fantastic. As if I don’t have enough to worry about.

The week has flown by, and tonight I have plans to meet with Roger to discuss the stipulations of our agreement. He’s expecting Presley to be on my arm. Unfortunately, she hasn’t committed to our little agreement yet. Instead, she’s been avoiding me, spending all her time in front of her computer or surrounded by the other three interns.

When I arrive at the office, I intend to confront Presley, but I’m stopped in the hall by my finance director and spend nearly an hour in an impromptu meeting about next quarter’s earnings. After that, I have two meetings back to back, one with a city council member, and then my staff meeting. Oliver sticks around after the meeting, briefing me on the beefed-up cyber security plans we were forced to create after a system breach last year.

“Everything looks good,” I tell him, but I’m distracted, and I’m pretty sure Oliver knows why.

By the time I’m through, I spot Presley chatting casually with Jordan at the coffee bar. He’s telling her some story about his evening, showing off, trying to be funny. Presley doesn’t seem to mind at all. She laughs softly into her coffee, her body language relaxed and open. She seems to like him.

What a prick.

I take a deep breath. Now isn’t the time to get aggravated with my employees—especially not some immature frat boy. This has to be resolved . . . now.