“What do you mean?” Nathan went to the bottle of Dom and popped the cork. He offered the bottle to Gregory, but the bodyguard shook his head. He was working.
“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, Boss,” Gregory said slowly. “When you deal with RentTech, you’re short tempered. You don’t joke with the boys. You don’t smile as much. That week the board made someone else handle things, you wouldn’t stop whistling and humming. Drove poor Hal bonkers.”
Nathan poured himself a glass of champagne and sipped thoughtfully. “It drove Hal bonkers?”
“You were off key. The guy has perfect pitch.”
Nathan chuckled.
“I’ll try not to hum this time.”
Gregory grunted again.
“What?”
“Don’t do this again.” Gregory frowned. “You work too hard. You need a girl. Or a guy. But someone. You need more in your life than just work and money.”
That was more work advice than Nathan had ever heard from Gregory. The man must really be worried about him.
“Here.” Nathan handed Gregory his phone.
“What do you want me to do with this?” Gregory asked. The phone looked tiny in Gregory’s massive hands.
“Throw it in a snowbank. Give it to the less fortunate. Melt it down and make art. I don’t care.” A sense of freedom started to wash through him. “It’s my weekend off.”
Gregory set the phone on the ground and stomped it with his heel. The entire thing shattered.
“Wow. I didn’t think you were going to take me literally.” Nathan took another sip of champagne. “I feel better already.”
Gregory grunted.
This time, Nathan just shook his head and poured another glass of champagne. He was definitely on vacation now.
Chapter 4
Holly
“Is that your stomach?” Holly asked. A low grumble filled the elevator.
Aliyah shifted her feet uncomfortably. “Yeah.”
“Are you okay?” Holly asked. Beads of sweat popped out on Aliyah’s forehead and she looked pale. Her beautiful skin was usually a rich milk chocolate, but right now, she looked like she’d been Photoshopped into black and white.
“My stomach,” Aliyah whispered. She swallowed hard and stared at the elevator buttons, willing the elevator to get to their floor faster.
When the silver doors opened, Aliyah bolted, leaving behind her bags as she sprinted down the hallway. Holly put Aliyah’s bag over her shoulder and followed behind at a much more human pace.
“Wow,” Holly said, coming in the front door of their hotel room.
It was bigger than her apartment.
The style was elegant western. Wood furniture with rustic accents decorated the living room, but the main appeal was the huge windows overlooking the ski slope. It was too dark to see the full view, but Holly could tell it would be impressive in the morning.
The bathroom door to Holly's right slammed shut and Holly could hear Aliyah inside. It did not sound like a pleasant time.
“You okay?” Holly called through the door.
Aliyah just moaned and Holly shook her head.