Cold Feet novel Chapter 23

RICK

I’m working late again and feeling guilty. It’s the nature of my job but I feel as if I’m neglecting Christine. I decide to call it a night and make a mental note to recruit another paralegal to help with the workload.

There’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow. I decide to surprise Christine but I need to know where she is. She also works late hours being a successful as she is. She might still be working too. I give her a call and she answers quickly.

“Hey honey. Where are you?”

“I’m still in the office,” she says. “What about you?”

“Same. Another late night. Are you still going to be long?”

“Maybe another hour and a half at least.”

“Okay, I’ll see you at your place later?” I say.

“Sure. You’ve got a key. I’ll see you there.”

We end the call and I pack up immediately. I call my favorite Chinese take away restaurant and order to go. I lock the office and head for Christine’s office. I stop by the Chinese restaurant on the way, pick up dinner and make it to Christine’s office all in thirty minutes.

Her office is in an old converted warehouse with three floors. She’s leased the top floor and converted it into everything a wedding planner needs. Clients have practiced their ceremonies here, she stocks dresses, stationery, just about everything you can think of. The showroom is state of the art.

Her office is elevated above the showroom floor so she can see the whole floor at any given stage. Except the exit to the lift that is. It’s perfect for me to surprise her.

I greet Waldo the guard. He’s in his forties and overweight. He’s got an easy job and sees little action. I doubt he could chase a dog or a cat never mind a burglar. He’s nice though and I like him. He always makes me smile with his friendly attitude and smile.

I tell him I want to surprise Christine and ask him not to buzz her. He smiles and agrees to play along. I hand him the takeaway meal I bought for him and his face lights up even more. I probably shouldn’t be giving him any more unhealthy food judging by his weight but it’s not something I do every day.

I get in the elevator and press the button for the third floor. The elevator hums upward noisily. Aside from having the elevator’s exit hidden from view on the third floor, the noise of it’s motor gives away any arrival. I can only hope that Christine is listening to music in her office and doesn’t hear the elevator stopping on her floor.

The elevator grinds to a halt and I open the grill door as softly as I can. Outside the elevator I wait out of sight, listening for Christine. There’s no sound and after a few moments I leave my cover at the elevator lobby and enter the showroom. Minimal lights are on since it’s after office hours and the mannequins dressed in wedding gowns cast shadows across the room. I dart from shadow to shadow feeling like a secret agent as I approach the office. I can hear music playing and I sneak up the stairs to the office.

I turn the handle as slowly as possible and then yank the door open.

“Surprise!” I say.

Christine jumps at her desk and a scream escapes her lips as he looks at me. “Are you crazy?” she exclaims.

“No,” I reply laughing. “I just wanted to surprise you.” I enter her office and place the dinner on her desk as I bend and kiss her.

She kisses me quickly. “Dinner? You brought my favorite?”

“I did but I think it’s a bit cold already so best we eat it quick.”

“Plates are on the table over there,” Christine says pointing. Since I’m standing I don’t mind getting them. I get forks and chopsticks as well and I share the food into the plates for us.

“Mmm, delicious!” Christine says. “I’m starving!” She wolfs her food down hungrily as I watch her.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I’ve stuck with her. Often I find myself wondering why I’ve stuck with her and broken my rules about women and dating. I guess it’s because she’s unpredictable. Just when I think I understand everything about her, she surprises me again. It could be with a bit of knowledge I didn’t know before, or something new she does for me. It’s almost as if she knows exactly how to keep me on my toes. Perhaps she doesn’t just do it with me. Perhaps she does it with her clients. Perhaps its what draws them in and makes them trust her. Perhaps its what makes her so successful.

She catches me looking at her at brushes a strand of blond hair aside.