was silent during the ride to the airport. He didn’t even want her to consider the job in Seattle. The idea of being so far from him hurt Grace too, but she had to at least go have a look at the place.
The long flight to Sea-Tac gave Grace too much time to think about her coming visit to Artifex, and more specifically the time she’d be spending in close proximity to Jack. After mulling over and over her choices, Grace decided that Jack was correct, she couldn’t make a truly informed decision without making the effort to investigate Artifex firsthand. She would have full access to the company’s financial records and anything else she wanted to review.
Her initial internet search was very promising. So Grace went to the executives and informed them she was going to actually use some of her massively accrued vacation time to think about the junior executive position and inform them of her decision upon her return to New York. Mr. Watson seemed truly confused by her hesitance to accept the position without further ado, and rightly so. Anyone else in her position would have accepted before they even left the executive suite the day it was offered. But Grace had been feeling worn out and unfulfilled for a while now. She needed to give Artifex some serious consideration. A fresh start might be just what she needed to get her life moving again.
This trip was also going to be her trial run at dealing with Jack’s constant presence in her life, at least in her professional life. Since the day she’d met with Jack and Rachel, Grace had been dealing exclusively with Rachel. She still had no idea if they were a couple, but Grace was working on the pretense that Jack was in a relationship with someone. She had to put all thoughts of them as a couple out of her mind and discover if she could work with Jack in a strictly professional environment without losing her mind.
Grace collected her luggage and made her way to the main concourse. Memories of the last time she’d been here came rushing back. Seven years was a lifetime ago but as soon as she set foot on the sidewalk to hail a cab, it felt like not a day had passed. On arrival she’d been the protagonist of her story, moving mountains to stand by her man’s side in his time of need, rushing to make it to the funeral of Jack’s father. On her departure she’d felt like the greatest fool who ever lived for racing across the country uninvited and unwanted.
Taking a deep breath Grace made effort to let go of all of those old hurts and disappointments. The past was where it belonged, in the past. The future needed to be decided now. Before Grace could hail a cab, she saw Rachel jogging toward her.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” she exclaimed breathily. “Traffic was awful!”
Grace was surprised to see Rachel. She’d planned to make her own way to the hotel Artifex had reserved for her, not wanting to inconvenience anyone with the chore of coming to fetch her from the airport. Rachel was flushed but smiling as she grabbed one of Grace’s suitcases. And damn if Miss America 1950 wasn’t equally sexy and alluring in jeans and a tank top as she was in her elegant dress. Rachel’s thick, rich brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her face scrubbed clean of make-up and it made her look much younger than Grace knew her to be.
“Let’s get you out of here and settled.” Rachel hustled ahead of Grace. Grace tried to feel uneasy about being alone with Rachel. They’d been exchanging emails for the past two weeks and even had a couple phone conversations, but seeing the beautiful woman and wondering if she was with Jack had her on edge. Again, this was something Grace would need to get past if she took the partnership they’d offered her.
They reached Rachel’s car and it was all Grace could do not to laugh out loud. She’d imagined the co-owner of Jack’s company would drive a luxury vehicle of some kind. When Rachel hit the button in her key fob and the
The long flight to Sea-Tac gave Grace too much time to think about her coming visit to Artifex, and more specifically the time she’d be spending in close proximity to Jack. After mulling over and over her choices, Grace decided that Jack was correct, she couldn’t make a truly informed decision without making the effort to investigate Artifex firsthand. She would have full access to the company’s financial records and anything else she wanted to review.
Her initial internet search was very promising. So Grace went to the executives and informed them she was going to actually use some of her massively accrued vacation time to think about the junior executive position and inform them of her decision upon her return to New York. Mr. Watson seemed truly confused by her hesitance to accept the position without further ado, and rightly so. Anyone else in her position would have accepted before they even left the executive suite the day it was offered. But Grace had been feeling worn out and unfulfilled for a while now. She needed to give Artifex some serious consideration. A fresh start might be just what she needed to get her life moving again.
This trip was also going to be her trial run at dealing with Jack’s constant presence in her life, at least in her professional life. Since the day she’d met with Jack and Rachel, Grace had been dealing exclusively with Rachel. She still had no idea if they were a couple, but Grace was working on the pretense that Jack was in a relationship with someone. She had to put all thoughts of them as a couple out of her mind and discover if she could work with Jack in a strictly professional environment without losing her mind.
Grace collected her luggage and made her way to the main concourse. Memories of the last time she’d been here came rushing back. Seven years was a lifetime ago but as soon as she set foot on the sidewalk to hail a cab, it felt like not a day had passed. On arrival she’d been the protagonist of her story, moving mountains to stand by her man’s side in his time of need, rushing to make it to the funeral of Jack’s father. On her departure she’d felt like the greatest fool who ever lived for racing across the country uninvited and unwanted.
Taking a deep breath Grace made effort to let go of all of those old hurts and disappointments. The past was where it belonged, in the past. The future needed to be decided now. Before Grace could hail a cab, she saw Rachel jogging toward her.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” she exclaimed breathily. “Traffic was awful!”
Grace was surprised to see Rachel. She’d planned to make her own way to the hotel Artifex had reserved for her, not wanting to inconvenience anyone with the chore of coming to fetch her from the airport. Rachel was flushed but smiling as she grabbed one of Grace’s suitcases. And damn if Miss America 1950 wasn’t equally sexy and alluring in jeans and a tank top as she was in her elegant dress. Rachel’s thick, rich brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her face scrubbed clean of make-up and it made her look much younger than Grace knew her to be.
“Let’s get you out of here and settled.” Rachel hustled ahead of Grace. Grace tried to feel uneasy about being alone with Rachel. They’d been exchanging emails for the past two weeks and even had a couple phone conversations, but seeing the beautiful woman and wondering if she was with Jack had her on edge. Again, this was something Grace would need to get past if she took the partnership they’d offered her.
They reached Rachel’s car and it was all Grace could do not to laugh out loud. She’d imagined the co-owner of Jack’s company would drive a luxury vehicle of some kind. When Rachel hit the button in her key fob and the
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