The Lonely Apprentice (The Lonely Girl Series Book 1)

by Autumn Skye

  Chapter Eleven

  I had dinner in my room. It was rude to say the least, but I didn’t care to get into another deep meaningful conversation with my new boarder, and Delia sucked at small talk. The other reason had something to do with my not being able to go near her without a strong urge to take her into my arms again and feel her firm body moving against mine. Determined to follow my own advice, I refused to dwell on that. I sent a message to her via Eva that she should be in my office at seven a.m. sharp the next morning.

  She was there at 6:45, dressed in a pair of black slacks I recognized from my own line and a white oxford shirt buttoned up to the neck. With her she brought the fragrance of rose scented body spray that mingled nicely with my own musky perfume, too nicely, in a distracting sort of way. What could I do, tell her not to smell so damned good the next time she showed up for work?

  “I hope you’re ready to get busy,” I said with a foreboding pitch in my voice, my way of letting her know she’d be working her ass off today and likely every day thereafter.

  “I’m more than ready,” she declared, not appearing at all overwhelmed. What had happened to that little mouse I’d met at Connie’s? She’d gone after what she wanted and gotten it. Now she seemed to think she was all grown up. We’d see about that.

  “You have a lot to learn and I have very little time to teach you, so I hope you catch on fast.”

  “I do.”

  I handed her a sticky note and pointed to the desk besides mine. “We’ll begin with the basics. Keep this where you won’t lose it. It’s the name and password to my business email. Log on and start going through them. Archive whatever isn’t from my New York manufacturer. Show me anything that came in from them in the last twenty-four hours. We’re having a conference call with them at nine. After you finish with the emails start researching industrial properties here in Austin. I’m interested in either leasing or buying one that would be suitable for designing and fabric manufacturing. It must be capable of being easily converted.”

  “You’re going to open your own factory?”

  “Possibly. Probably, if New York keeps dicking with me. It depends on the cost of operation. I don’t currently deal with the overhead associated with running my own factory. It’s a big step I won’t take lightly, but I’m ready to start looking into it.”

  “I’ll get right on that. I think it’s great that you’re open to expanding.” Her expression was that of a child being sent out on a treasure hunt.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves before we see what you can find. I’m glad you’re so enthused about the project, though,” I smiled.

  “It’s a big project.”

  “You seem surprised. Did you think I’d have you doing nothing but pouring my coffee all day, perhaps scheduling my manicures?”

  “I wasn’t sure, but this is definitely an assignment I can learn and benefit from, since I’ll need to find my own factory someday if I ever get that far.”

  “Well, if you form an opinion on whether or not it’s worth the investment, I’d love to hear you weigh in before I make a decision,” I replied.

  I spent the next hour staring at my computer screen, pretending to actually see it as she sorted my emails and started looking for property. Once in a while, I gave her a sideways glance. She sat with her elbow on the table, her chin tucked in her hand as she searched the local real estate websites. I couldn’t help but notice that she licked her lips a lot when she was concentrating on something. It was distracting, for fuck’s sake. I was relieved when it came time for the conference call with New York and I had to force myself to center my attention on something other than my protégé. I instructed her to take notes on anything that was said if it sounded important.

  A video chat with New York, as it would have it, gave me a lot of reason to keep my mind on business. They were nearly doubling my anticipated cost. I gave them my counter offer and cut them off.

  “Find me that factory,” I told Delia with an angry edge.

  “I will,” she said, going back to her browsing, but not appearing quite as excited about the task anymore. She looked apprehensive, to be honest, like she was waiting for me to scold her for not producing my request the second I asked for it.

  “Welcome to the world of fashion,” I said. “How are you liking your first day?”

  “I like it fine,” she answered.

  “That’s a girl. Fake it until you make it.”

  She snickered and I joined in with a dry laugh.

  “I always say that,” she said.

  The smile on my face felt genuine. The girl was going to turn me into a softie if I didn’t watch out, the fury I’d directed at New York already fading. Her company had a calming effect on me I hadn’t anticipated. It made sense. I couldn’t very well rant and rave in front of her.

  “You can break for an early lunch, or a late breakfast, however you choose to see it,” I dismissed her.

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Me either, but do it for Eva. If she can feed you she might stay off my back. That’s one way I don’t mind you being such a distraction.”

  “You find me distracting?”

  Shit, I said that out loud. “It’s always distracting to have another person in the office,” I covered.

  “I can always take my work up to my room if you prefer.”

  “No, I’ll adjust. I don’t want to have to call your cell or run up the stairs every time I need something.”

  “All right, then I’ll go make Eva happy and eat something. She does like to feed people, doesn’t she?”

  “Most Texans love to eat and they like making sure other people eat even more. I’m a rarity.”

  “Well, I’m not. I do love to eat,” she said.

  “Have at it,” I encouraged her.

  She left and with her took that light flowery aroma that had been wafting through the air. It had me longing to bury my head in her neck and breath in as my lips traced it. I could see myself doing that. Normally, I’d have visions of numbers dancing before my eyes, not erotic images of me seducing my assistant.

  I knew what I needed. A night out would help. I’d find a beautiful woman to entertain in the Brownstone suite. I’d return in the morning, satiated and ready to get serious about launching the fall line. It would work. Finding companionship in a stranger’s arms might be a temporary fix, but it had always worked. Of course, that was before Delia had barged into my life.

  Around five o’clock I called it quits. She’d been making notes about potential property all day. She looked mentally exhausted.

  “I might have found a good place. Mind if I go check it out in person tomorrow so I don’t waste your time if it turns out to be nothing?” she asked.

  “By all means, that’s what I pay you for,” I agreed.

  “This looks promising. I’ll let you know.”

  “Good deal, but there’s nothing more to be done about it today. I’m going out, so you have the evening to yourself.”

  “Oh, going to the club?”

  “I don’t usually keep my employees informed of my whereabouts every moment of the day.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be nosy. You’re right. It isn’t my business.”

  Was she hoping I’d invite her along? That would defeat the purpose of my going. She didn’t realize I was running from the outright primal urges she’d been arousing in me all day.

  “I’ll see you in the morning, Delia.”

  “I’ll check on the property first thing and try to be back by early afternoon,” she said. “I noticed you have a lot of old classics in the library. Maybe I’ll spend some time in there this evening.”

  “As I’ve no doubt Eva told you, you’re free to treat this house as your home.”

  “Thanks. She did tell me, but it’s more reassuring coming from you. I don’t want to intrude.”

  It was a little late for that. Her presence had me in a tail spin. I was about to remedy that, though. I glanced over my sche
dule for the month and one date stood out. Stupidly, I opened my mouth.

  “Do you enjoy the arts?”

  “Sure. I spend a lot of time at the museums. Austin has some of the best in the country.”

  “I need an escort for a fundraiser coming up. I donate a hefty sum to the art institutes in this city, so I always get an invite. It’s at the end of the month. Care to join me?”

  “You’re asking? It’s not part of the job?”

  “It is and isn’t. It has nothing to do with fashion, but you can network with possible financial backers. You’ll also learn a bit about your social responsibilities as a successful entrepreneur. There’s no law that says you have to give back to the community, but you might find yourself a pariah if you don’t.”

  “So, that’s why you’re so generous to the city?”

  “I didn’t say that. I love art. Keeping the museums up to standard is a good cause I can get behind.”

  “So, you’re a philanthropist.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, either. Do you want to go?”

  “Absolutely. You had me sucked in at the word network and I do agree it’s a great cause. It’s a date.”

  The hell it was. Why had I asked her to go with me when at this very moment, I was preparing to leave my home just to get away from her? Before I met her, I had no clue I was such a masochist.

  “It’s not a date, Delia.”

  “I know. It’s just a figure of speech.”

  “Think up a different one. Put that on your list of things to do.”

  I was such a bitch. Her face crumpled. She didn’t look merely humbled, but hurt.

  “If that sounded harsh, I’m still pissed off at New York. It’s not really about you.”

  “You were being honest and I really didn’t mean it the way it sounded,” she said. “I’ll go grab my dinner now.”

  “You should. You earned your room and board this morning. You’ve been a big help. I’m glad I hired you.”

  “You are?”

  “Yes, and I’ll be even happier if you find me that property.”

  “I have high hopes for the place I’m seeing tomorrow. If you lease it it’s only $1.48 per Square foot, which comes to slightly under 4 grand a month. That sounds reasonable.”

  “It does. Maybe you’ll have good news for me.”

  I didn’t see her again that evening. I dressed and left the house as quickly as I could, anxious to find someone who could make me forget about her for even just a little while. Of course, I was oversimplifying things. Forgetting Delia wouldn’t be so easy, or even possible.

  “What’s the matter? Someone on your mind?” Christine Harper asked, putting an arm around me as I lounged on the sofa next to her in Connie’s VIP area.

  Christine wasn’t a friend. I didn’t have those, but she was the closest thing to it. I could somewhat confide in her because she was part of Austin’s higher society and had too many secrets to gossip about mine.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You aren’t yourself. The blond over there has been checking you out for an hour and you haven’t even noticed her.”

  “Okay, so I have someone on my mind. It doesn’t matter. There’s a reason she isn’t here.”

  “But you’ve got it bad. I can tell.”

  “I don’t.”

  “You do, so who is she?”

  I sighed. What harm could it do to tell her? Maybe she could offer some insight into how to get Delia out of my every thought. “My new assistant. I can’t have her for obvious reasons.”

  “Not obvious to me, unless she isn’t a lesbian.”

  “She is, but she’s my assistant and she’s younger.”

  “How young?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  “Oh, give me a break. That’s hardly robbing the cradle. And what does it hurt that she’s your assistant? Give it a chance. Maybe she wants to be more.”

  “I think she does.”

  “I don’t understand the problem then. An office fling can be fun. Why aren’t you with her tonight, instead of here trying to pick up women you have no interest in? It isn’t Madeline holding you back, is it? I know what she did to you, but that’s so five years ago, Nadine. You’re long overdue getting over that whole mess. If you aren’t passed it by now, she fucked up your head more than I realized.”

  “Our break up made the tabloids. She publicly humiliated me.”

  “But you came back stronger than ever. The best revenge is success and you’ve far surpassed any success she ever dreamed of, so can’t you forget it? In fact, I hear she isn’t doing so well. The price of her stock is down by a lot.”

  “I don’t want to talk about Madeline.”

  “Then let’s hear more about this new assistant. Is she hot?”

  “I don’t want to talk about Delia, either.”

  “Delia, is it? That name would be befitting of a hot girl.”

  “Your horrible.”

  “I’m right is what I am.”

  “Will you please stop? It’s bad enough I moved her into the house.”

  “She lives with you? Shit, seriously, what are doing here? You should be home cozying up to her.”

  “It’s not so simple. Now drop it,” I snapped.

  “Then back to the blond over there. What about her? Why aren’t you all over her by now?”

  That was a good question. The blond was my usual type. Big tits and other curves all in the right places, stuffed into a dress a size too small. The ever observant Christine was right. The girl had been checking me out, but I wasn’t the least bit tempted. That, itself, alarmed me. Since when did I drag my ass out of the house only to come here and turn down a sure thing? Was this going to become a habit with me? Why did Christine have to ruin the night? Thanks to her, all I could think of was going home and snuggling up on the sofa, sipping wine and chit chatting with Delia. Me, chit chatting. I didn’t even want to fuck her. I wanted to talk to her. That was a bad sign.

  “Honey, you’ve got to get yourself a woman one of these days,” Christine insisted.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do. You say you’re happy alone, but you aren’t fooling anyone. You aren’t happy. You’re scared. Madeline did a number on you. Maybe this Delia is different. She probably is. Cold bitches like Madeline don’t come along every day. Give this new girl a chance. It’s sounds like she’s interested.”

  “Maybe.”

  Christine was making sense. She’d given me something to think about and I resented the hell out of her for it. The evening was ruined. I couldn’t possibly hook up with someone now. I left my drink on the table and said a quick goodbye to her before driving myself home.

  I arrived home to a dark house. Delia had gone to bed. I hadn’t given her much reason to wait up for me. I sat on the sofa alone and had my wine. Somehow, knowing she was just up the stairs made the house seem less lonely and one glass turned into three. I realized that if she were awake I would fill two glasses and invite her to sit with me. She’d no doubt take that as an invitation to start telling me her whole life story and I’d listen. Perhaps Christine was right. Instead of pretending I didn’t want Delia here, it might be time to begin thinking of ways to keep her. Perhaps, but I wasn’t there yet. I realized I might be close, though, closer than I’d felt in a long while.

  Chapter Twelve

  Delia

  I had to redeem myself. On my first day with Nadine I’d broken what seemed to be a cardinal rule and started an honest to God conversation. On the second day, one slip of the tongue had given her the idea I believed we were on the verge of dating. Not off to a brilliant start. If I could find the perfect property for her factory, however, I stood a high chance of regaining any ground I’d lost.

  I got up early and dressed, refusing Eva’s offer of a hot breakfast, earning me a stern look of disapproval, which I ignored for the sake of time. I got the real estate agent on the phone and got him to agree to meet me immediately. When you tell s
omeone you’re shopping for Nadine Robertson it gives them a sense of urgency. I was on the highway heading East towards downtown before Nadine made her way into the office.

  After walking the property, I became positively convince I’d found what I was searching for on my first try. It was spacious, yet small enough not to overwhelm Nadine, who was apparently on the conservative side when it came to her business. This place would yield a relatively low overhead while providing her the chance to grow her business on her terms by eliminating the necessity of outsourcing.

  “I love it and I’m sure Ms. Robertson will, too. I’ll be in touch,” I told the agent.

  When I returned to the mansion I made a beeline into the office. “I think I found it.”

  “You’re referring to the factory?”

  “Yes, it’s perfect. A good price and available immediately. We might even get the owner to come down some on the price. From what I understand she’s in a hurry to downsize. Her name is Madeline Parker.”

  Nadine hesitated and sucked in her breath. Her eyes widened in surprise while a look of utter repulsion contorted her face. Not the reaction I’d be anticipating and certainly not one I’d hoped for.

  “Is something wrong? I thought you’d be happier.”

  She recovered an expression of neutrality before giving me a curt reply. “No, find another place.”

  “But don’t you want to see it before you turn it down? It has everything you’re looking for and more. I won’t find a more practical choice for you.”