For Fortune and Love
Chapter Eight
The next morning, I got up early, showered and stuffed myself into the best conservative suit I have. It is a gray two button jacket, sensible skirt that hits below the knee and a blush-colored blouse. I dried my hair, put on concealer and swiped some mascara on. I used my favorite lip stain and then stuffed my feet in sensible low-heeled black pumps.
I went downstairs, looked around for creepy stalkers and then got in my car and drove downtown to the law offices of Simon, Martin and Roseburg one of the biggest law firms in Trenton. I had an 8:30 AM interview.
I was ushered in by a plain looking woman in a brown tweed suit with no make-up. She said the managing partner would be with me shortly and left.
A few minutes later the door opened and a short, rotund man in a blue suit and red tie came in. He had ruddy skin, thinning hair and a pleasant smile. He introduced himself as Ralph Simon, one of the managing partners. He looked over my resume and then back up at me squinting. "You're not the bombshell bounty hunter in the paper that burned down the funeral home, are you?" he inquired.
I thought well shit there goes this job. "It was an accident" I mumbled and started to gather my bag to leave.
Simon started laughing so hard he was crying and put up his finger gesturing for me to wait. "No, no, no this is perfect. This will piss off my dickhead partners. You're hired" he wheezed between laughing fits.
I wasn't going to lick a gift horse in the mouth so I thanked him and told him I could start in about a week. I figured that gave me plenty of time to be Ranger's fiancée and for Connie to hire someone else. It was going to be hard to tell Connie and Lula I was leaving. We had become good friends and I was going to miss them, but I knew if I wanted a life with Morelli, I needed to do this. I got a doughnut and a cup of coffee from the shop next to the law offices. I got in my car to head back to my apartment. As I drove, I reassured myself Morelli was what I wanted.
I got to my apartment and parked. I looked at the time. I still had half an hour before I had to meet Tank so I pulled my phone out and called Morelli.
He answered on the third ring sounding cautious and a little pissed off. I couldn't blame him. I hadn't talked to him since I stormed out of his house.
I took a deep breath and launched right into to it. Nothing like ripping off the Band-Aid. "Look" I said "we need to talk. You were right. Not about the Ranger relationship thing but about the job thing". I bit my lower lip and snuck a peek out the side window of the car. I was looking for dark clouds that might mean I was about to be struck by lightning.
I trudged on "I got a new job. An office job at Simon, Martin and Roseburg that I start in next week. I love you and I choose you". There, I'd done it. So why didn't I feel elated? Why did I feel sick?
I heard Morelli's voice soften and I pictured his dark chocolate eyes going all soft. "Really" he said "and you're done with Ranger?".
My throat closed-up and I felt hot tears well up in my eyes and spill down my cheeks. "Yes" I croaked "I'm done with Ranger. I have one more small job I need to do with him and then yea, I'm done". I wasn't about to tell Morelli that job was to pose as Ranger's fiancée 24/7 at a swanky resort in Miami.
I could feel Morelli weighing that information. Finally, he said "OK, then let's do this thing. Bob misses you".
I smiled. "I miss Bob" I said with just enough inflection to sound like sex. "Maybe I can come over and say hi to Bob". Given Morelli's hot Italian libido I figured this was the fastest way to make-up. Morelli had once proposed to me during a libido attack so I knew this idea had merit. Don't get me wrong. Morelli is hot and outstanding in bed. The difference is sex is at the top of Morelli's list. Sex is maybe second or third on my list behind paying rent and cake. Unless of course it's sex with Ranger and then I'm the idiot blithely chasing the doomsday orgasm.
I heard Morelli sigh loudly "look I can't I'm on this out-of-town assignment for a few days, but when I get back, we will sort it out".
Sort it out. What the fuck was that supposed to mean? I felt my temper starting to rise.
"And set a date?" I prompted. Morelli seemed less eager to claim his victory than I would have expected. I was doing exactly what he wanted. Giving up my job and Ranger.
"Sure, we can do that" he said. Not exactly a halleluiah chorus.
"I can walk Bob while you are away" I offered.
"No, Bob's taken care of" Morelli said. "Look I have to go I'll call you in a few days" and Morelli hung up.
I sat there staring at the phone. Something was off. Morelli's answers were vague and he didn't seem thrilled he had won the long-standing battle between us. I decided I'd go by later and check out Morelli's house. I still had a key. I didn't want to be one of those women that caused men to drink and drive off bridges, but I also didn't want to give up my life for a guy that wasn't sure. Now that I was putting a stake in the ground, Morelli was the one that seemed unsure.
But right now, I had about fifteen minutes to splash water on my face so it didn't look like I had been crying, change my clothes, and meet Tank. I heaved the door open and headed into my apartment.