He laughed at this. “Who am I, Saddam Hussein?”
“My parents aren’t sophisticated,” she said, as the waiter brought over two mugs of dark coffee and the pot with them.
Red glanced at him. “Thanks very much,” he muttered, distracted. He held the cream toward her. “Would you like some?”
“Yes, just a splash, thanks.”
He poured cream into her mug, which she found endearing, then just about the same amount in his own. “So your parents are worried. It happens.”
“It’s not that simple,” she said, a little frustrated that he didn’t seem to get how serious this really was. But then again, why would he? Red Jameson was a billionaire who was far removed from needing his parents to help him make rent every month.
“So explain to me what the problem is. Nicole. Look at me.”
She met his gaze, and he reassured her with a kind look. His large hand reached out and covered hers.
“I’m an intern in New York City,” she said. “Think about it.”
She saw his expression change as he realized what she meant. “They’re threatening you?”
“They’re not just threatening. My mother follows through on her threats. She’s already taken every dime out of my checking account, some of which wasn’t hers to take.”
“She can do that?”
“It’s a joint account,” Nicole said, ashamed to even say it. She felt like such a child.
“Then you have absolutely no money left.”
She sipped the coffee. It really was the best coffee she’d ever tasted, though she could barely appreciate it under the circumstances. “I have some cash that I keep under my mattress for emergencies.”
“And how long will that last?”
“Maybe five or six days if I stretch every penny. I’m finished in New York unless I stop seeing you.”
Red’s expression darkened. “That’s ridiculous. What do they even know about me? They’ve never met me.”
She had to smile at his indignant reaction. “They know you’re my boss—well, you’re everyone’s boss. You run the entire company and I’m just an intern.”
“I suppose there’s an imbalance of power there,” he allowed reluctantly.
“And they know you’re older than me.”
“A ten year age difference isn’t exactly mind-blowing these days.”
“Also, my mother did some sort of web search and saw all the ladies the tabloids have you associated with. It’s quite a list.”
“Christ.” He sat back in his seat, somewhat taken aback. “I guess it looks pretty bad from that angle.”
“Pretty much from every angle.” She smiled at him.
“Not funny.”
“I’m sorry. I just—“ Her eyes teared up. “I don’t want to leave the city. Or you.”
“And you don’t have to.”
She sniffled. The waiter came back and asked for their breakfast order, oblivious to the crying girl at the table. Red ordered for both of them, of course. Eggs Benedict for him and the stuffed French toast for her. She was happy with his choice.
After the waiter left, she managed to get herself together. “I think I’ll go stay with my friend in Ithaca. It’s not that far from here.” She looked at him, trying to discern whether the move meant the end for them in his mind.
He shook his head. “No way. I’m not going to lose you. I want to meet your parents.”
***
“My house is a little different from the mansions and luxury apartments you’re used to,” she said to Red as they neared her parents’ neighborhood just outside of Syracuse.
“I didn’t grow up wealthy,” he said. “I probably had less money than you growing up. In fact, I know I did.”
“Still, you’ve gotten used to the good life.”
“I can rub elbows with the commoners too,” he joked. He was definitely taking it seriously though. He’d dressed down completely, wearing loose fitting jeans, work boots, and a light gray sweater that he could have bought at Target (but probably had purchased for $300 at Burberry).
It was strange to be back home, especially under these circumstances, with someone like Red as her date.
Everything looked so small now, so desperately in need of upkeep and repairs. All of the houses looked the same—ranches side by side with just a little bit of lawn, sometimes a chain link fence separating them. Old used cars in the driveways. Roofs needed new shingles and chimneys had bricks falling off them. Cars were up on blocks in the middle of lawns.
But Red didn’t care, or so he claimed. He had his game face on.
She’d warned him that her parents—particularly her mother—would refuse to like him no matter how charming or gracious he was today. In fact, the only reason her parents had agreed to host this little cookout was because of Nicole’s dad.