The Boys of Blueberries

4

It's not an easy job—being Sabina Kyle's secretary.

"You were able to reschedule with Shin Ji-won?"

"Yes," Tristan says from the font seat, tablet right in front of him, the tap of his fingernails on the screen sounding like music to Sabina's ears, "It took a fight with her secretary, but you're meeting with her tomorrow at two. I booked reservations already."

Sabina takes a long sip of her coffee. Today is a good day—Tristan has been back at work for three days, and already, she feels better. Heavenly. "And the invitations I've asked you to follow up with?"

"I RSVP'd for the events that didn't withdraw—there's still a good number of four. Our creatives team wants a meeting before lunch today to go over some unfinished shoots; they want you to come to the location this afternoon, and we already have a draft for this month's layout on your desk. Design already contacted the next artist for next month, and they need your approval."

"And our status with Miller?"

"Circulation is doing well—it's hitting the distribution goals. Advertising wants to make a story out of you—"

"No story."

"—and your PR and legal teams agreed to come in at three for some last few crisis management strategies."

Sabina leans back against her seat and closes her eyes. Her shoulders slump when she asks, "And my cover shoot and interview for Horizon? Out of the question?"

Tristan is quick to answer. "No. Friday at eight."

"Thank fuck." The model grins. And then, without thinking, she blurts out, "What does my lunch look like today?"

He falters for a second, scrolling through his screen. "No plans. Do you want me to schedule something? Call someone?"

"No. Shut up. Do you like Italian?"

Tristan's eyes snap up to the rearview mirror. Sabina raises an eyebrow and stares back at him.

"The food?"

"What the fuck else?"

His eyes stay on hers. "Yes."

"Good. Reserve a table at Bellini's for two," she says, digging through her bag for her phone. "We'll be out of the office at eleven thirty."

Tristan doesn't question it anymore, thankfully, and stays at his desk. Sabina's morning is filled with dragged but productive meetings, and she is back in her mojo—she's working through files as quickly and as efficiently as she can, slowly but surely keeping track of their progress through the editorial calendar. When her intercom buzzes, she frowns, presses a finger to it and mutters, "What."

"It's Ms. Chaucer on the line," Tristan's voice says.

"Connect her."

Her phone has been turned face down—maybe that's why the orange head is calling through her office.

"What? I'm busy," Sabina snaps.

"I run a hotel empire, I'm busy, too, so answer your fucking phone when I call, okay?" MJ snaps just as snarkily, and then she sighs. "I was just calling to see if you were free for lunch. I know you're packed with meetings, getting your rep and career back together, but Andy asked if we could stop by and check her bakeshop for a bit. We could have lunch there."

Sabina dumps the papers on her hand on her desk and runs a hand through her forehead. "Darling. I'm freaking out."

MJ's laugh is a single, loud, ha! "You're freaking out? I thought everything was fine when Tristan agreed to come back to work."