First tuxedos, then the opera, and now being all concerned about me and my needs? Mmm, I like this new Jesse.”
“Keep that thought in mind for tonight, babe.”
The new and improved Jesse was here in front of me, but what about at the training camp? I knew he’d got off to a bad start with one of the team members. I wasn’t convinced that he had made a transformation on all levels and I dared to ask, “How are things going at the track? Any more hard feelings between you and that guy, Ice?”
Jesse shrugged. “It is what it is. I can handle it.”
I hoped he could. I didn’t want anything to go wrong for Jesse and his team.
He snatched his rental car keys from the small wooden desk where the hotel phone sat and headed for the door. “Okay, babe, hate to cut you off but I've gotta get going.”
“Alright, sweetie, see you later.”
I followed him to the door. He brushed his lips across mine and dashed out the door.
The bed, with its crumpled white sheets and puffy pillows, looked inviting and I plopped down on it, wallowing in the bliss I felt inside. I was happy here with Jesse. I lay back, relaxing, and thought about my life. I was enjoying Milan. Yesterday had been an amazing experience, but not a word or text from Gio since. I had run out of there last night, without even a word, in the middle of the shoot. Maybe he’s mad at me about that and now the whole assistant thing is off. But I did tell him I had to be back by the evening.
My phone lay silently on the nightstand next to the bed. I sat up and checked it for any messages or calls I may have missed. Nothing. Damn . I should have stayed. I checked it again. Still nothing. I screwed up, big time.
I hadn’t said anything to Jesse. I had kept my mouth shut about it, because I didn’t want him to think he was making me miss out on an opportunity and feel guilty.
My blissful feeling began to wither, like an old party balloon, as I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at my cell phone. Although I had just checked it, seconds ago, I reached my hand out to pick it up again. I stopped in midair. This was ridiculous. My hand rested on the wooden nightstand and I rapped my nails rhythmically on its hard surface. Crap . I really had blown it.
If I want to make it in this business I need to be more aggressive. I can’t let personal circumstances get in the way of my career. Isn’t that what my dad would do? But in reality this had nothing to do with business, as far as Gio was concerned. This was just a horny Italian guy trying to get in my pants. Chalk another one up to experience. I placated myself with the thought that other opportunities would come my way.
Just when I decided I wasn’t going to ruin another beautiful day in Milan by beating myself up over this stupid Gio thing, my cell phone chimed out its familiar ring tone and I snatched it up, a little too eagerly.
“Hi, Niki.”
“Hey, Gio. What’s up?” I said as casually as possible. I bit my lip, trying to read the tone of his voice to see if he was mad at me. “How did the photo shoot go last night after I left?”
“It appears a certain someone had to leave early.” His voice sounded playful. At least that was a good sign.
“I know, I had to get back. I told you, remember?”
“I do, but you left without saying goodbye. I was looking for you and you were gone. Anyway, I forgive you, this time. Do you want to come over and see the shots we did?”
“Um...” I wanted to shout out, “absolutely” but I hesitated.
“I tell you, Niki, you missed seeing some of Franco’s amazing dress designs. If this won’t inspire you, nothing will. Franco Delmonte is a genius, you have to come over and see them.”
“I don't know...”
“Don’t you want to come and see his latest designs before anyone else? You could be the first to see his new spring collection, before the photos hit the fashion magazines.”
Damn him; he was right and I was chomping at the chance to have a sneak
“Keep that thought in mind for tonight, babe.”
The new and improved Jesse was here in front of me, but what about at the training camp? I knew he’d got off to a bad start with one of the team members. I wasn’t convinced that he had made a transformation on all levels and I dared to ask, “How are things going at the track? Any more hard feelings between you and that guy, Ice?”
Jesse shrugged. “It is what it is. I can handle it.”
I hoped he could. I didn’t want anything to go wrong for Jesse and his team.
He snatched his rental car keys from the small wooden desk where the hotel phone sat and headed for the door. “Okay, babe, hate to cut you off but I've gotta get going.”
“Alright, sweetie, see you later.”
I followed him to the door. He brushed his lips across mine and dashed out the door.
The bed, with its crumpled white sheets and puffy pillows, looked inviting and I plopped down on it, wallowing in the bliss I felt inside. I was happy here with Jesse. I lay back, relaxing, and thought about my life. I was enjoying Milan. Yesterday had been an amazing experience, but not a word or text from Gio since. I had run out of there last night, without even a word, in the middle of the shoot. Maybe he’s mad at me about that and now the whole assistant thing is off. But I did tell him I had to be back by the evening.
My phone lay silently on the nightstand next to the bed. I sat up and checked it for any messages or calls I may have missed. Nothing. Damn . I should have stayed. I checked it again. Still nothing. I screwed up, big time.
I hadn’t said anything to Jesse. I had kept my mouth shut about it, because I didn’t want him to think he was making me miss out on an opportunity and feel guilty.
My blissful feeling began to wither, like an old party balloon, as I sat on the edge of the bed and stared at my cell phone. Although I had just checked it, seconds ago, I reached my hand out to pick it up again. I stopped in midair. This was ridiculous. My hand rested on the wooden nightstand and I rapped my nails rhythmically on its hard surface. Crap . I really had blown it.
If I want to make it in this business I need to be more aggressive. I can’t let personal circumstances get in the way of my career. Isn’t that what my dad would do? But in reality this had nothing to do with business, as far as Gio was concerned. This was just a horny Italian guy trying to get in my pants. Chalk another one up to experience. I placated myself with the thought that other opportunities would come my way.
Just when I decided I wasn’t going to ruin another beautiful day in Milan by beating myself up over this stupid Gio thing, my cell phone chimed out its familiar ring tone and I snatched it up, a little too eagerly.
“Hi, Niki.”
“Hey, Gio. What’s up?” I said as casually as possible. I bit my lip, trying to read the tone of his voice to see if he was mad at me. “How did the photo shoot go last night after I left?”
“It appears a certain someone had to leave early.” His voice sounded playful. At least that was a good sign.
“I know, I had to get back. I told you, remember?”
“I do, but you left without saying goodbye. I was looking for you and you were gone. Anyway, I forgive you, this time. Do you want to come over and see the shots we did?”
“Um...” I wanted to shout out, “absolutely” but I hesitated.
“I tell you, Niki, you missed seeing some of Franco’s amazing dress designs. If this won’t inspire you, nothing will. Franco Delmonte is a genius, you have to come over and see them.”
“I don't know...”
“Don’t you want to come and see his latest designs before anyone else? You could be the first to see his new spring collection, before the photos hit the fashion magazines.”
Damn him; he was right and I was chomping at the chance to have a sneak
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