Chapter 114
I got up and went to Alanna's office, opened her office door, but knocked on the door frame. "Well, it's about time you got here!" I teased.
She laughed as she motioned me in. "Yeah, well, not all of us come in before the crack of dawn!" she joked as she shuffled the contract in front of her and slid it into a file folder. "So, what's up?"
I sat down in the chair in front of her desk and let out a deep breath.
"Don't tell me that you're leaving me," she said, almost reading my mind.
I smiled. "Just to New York."
"So, you're leaving me?" she teased. "What am I going to do without you? How will I find another partner that will put up with me like you do?"
I laughed. "Well, that might be a hard one," I joked. "But no, we can still be partners, if you like. I'm just opening another branch."
She huffed. "If I like? Of course I like!" She walked around her desk and pulled me in for a hug. "You know what this means, don't you?"
I pulled back to look at her, shaking my head. "No. What?"
She placed her hands on my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes as if in shock. "I'm going to have to start getting here on time!"
I laughed as I pulled her in for another hug. "I have a feeling that you can handle it."
She smirked as she sat on the corner of her desk. "You don't know me."
I laughed. "I know you more than anyone on the planet."
She nodded, raising her eyebrows. "Yes, you do." She let out a deep breath. "So, when are you moving?"
"As soon as possible, which means " I said as I moved toward the door, " we need to talk about appointments and clients."
"Will do," she said, and then stood. "Alyssa?"
I turned around and raised my eyebrows.
"I heard what happened with Craig," she said, biting her lower lip. "That was great! He had it coming for a long time. And don't worry about his contracts. We have enough business without them."
I shook my head. "No. I don't think he's taking his business elsewhere."
A crease formed between her eyes. "What do you mean?"
I smiled. "I just finalized one of his contracts this morning."
"Really?" she asked as she clapped her hands. "Well, all the better! But we'll keep things strictly business with him."
"Agreed," I said, and then added, "Thanks, Alanna. I've enjoyed working with you."
"Stop. Stop that right now!" she said, waving her hand in front of her eyes. "Do not say your goodbyes right now! Besides, we're still going to be business partners."
I nodded as I fought the lump in my throat, knowing that it wouldn't be the same. But it was time to move on. I needed a change. I just hoped it was the right one.
***
Later that night after work, I took the elevator and walked into the lounge downstairs.
"Well, it's about time you got here!" Frank said as he pulled me in for a hug.
I gave him an air kiss over his cheek. "Sorry I'm late, but thanks for meeting me here on such short notice."
"For you? Always!" he said as he pointed to a drink that he had ordered for me, setting on the same table by the door that we had sat at
last week.
"For me? Thanks, Frank!" I said as I slid into what was becoming my seat. "So, are you going to ply me with drinks the way you did last week?"
He laughed. "Hey! You were the one who invited me here today!" he replied as he slid into the booth across from me. He folded his hand atop the table, ignoring his beer as his face became serious. "So, what's up?"
"Take a sip of your beer."
He laughed. "Now, who's plying whom with alcohol?"
I smiled. "Just take a sip of your beer."
Without taking his eyes from mine, he picked up his beer and downed half of it. Then, he folded his hands on the table again. "Now, what's up?"
I shook my head as I smirked. "You're unbelievable."
He laughed. "I know." He looked into my eyes and suddenly became serious. "Stop changing the subject. What's up?"
I let out a deep breath as I leaned against my seat. "I'm leaving."
"You're going to New York?" he asked, concerned.
I nodded.
"Does this have anything to do with Curt or Logan?"
"I need a change, Frank," I said as I bit my lower lip. "I think New York will be good for me."
He nodded. "What about Curt?"
I cocked my head to the side. "I told him that I'd like to be friends and business partners, but nothing more than that right now. Not until I can talk to Logan."
A broad smile spread across his face. "Now, that's my girl!"
I laughed. "Since when did I become your girl?"
He laughed. "You've always been my girl." He looked away, and then looked back. "Somehow, you've always been family to me."
I smiled as I squeezed his hand. "You will always be family to me, too, Frank. No matter what."
He let go and smiled, then took a sip of his beer. "So, when's the big move?"
I shrugged. "As soon as I can iron out the details. I'm going to finance it myself, but Curt is going to help me find an office."
He raised an eyebrow as he set down his beer. "So, he's not financing it?"
I shook my head. "No. Not unless we decide to be business partners. But I don't think Alanna would like that very much."
He laughed. "You might be surprised."
I almost spit out my drink. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged. "Well, Alanna likes Curt and respects him as a business man. I just don't think she'd mind if you take on a business partner. Who knows? She might take on one here, too."
I let out a deep breath. "I don't want to feel obligated to him."
