A Good Friend

Just like the romantic part of the plan turned out to be more complicated than expected, so did the career part.

Later that day, Emily tried to look for more jobs. She had searched through hundreds of listings and applied to several jobs in the last week, but she had still not received any requests for interviews. Maybe she had underestimated the competition. This was a big city with many bright young designers who either had to be exceptional or know the right people to get a job.

Emily was writing yet another cover letter when her phone rang. She hoped it was a potential employer but didn’t feel too disappointed when she saw it was Byron Pomeroy.

Her lips curved into a playful smile as she answered the phone. Byron’s voice was seductively low and smooth.

“Did you have a good sleep?” he asked.

It was not going to be easy to be friends with him when he talked like that.

“How could I not with a cute Great Dane wishing me ‘good night’?” she said.

“If you want to meet him in person, you could come over today,” Byron offered.

“Uh... I would like to,” Emily said, “but maybe it’s better if we meet somewhere else, more public.”

“Are you scared of me again?” he teased.

“No. It’s just... I thought about how we should proceed, and I want to be friends.”

Just like his mother, he didn’t seem to like this since there was a bit of a pause on the other end.

“Friends?” he asked. “And what made you decide this?”

“We both have our issues,” she said carefully, “and I’m still dealing with mine, as you know.”

“What do you mean?” he asked. “I know you have that stalker, but he’s the crazy one, not you.”

“He’s been putting a lot of stress on me lately,” Emily admitted, “He came to my workplace, I got fired.”

“What?!” Byron’s voice came across much more loud and harsh, “Clearly, I’m going to have to deal with him.”

“No, you don’t have to get involved. I went to the police.”

“How did he know where you work?” Byron asked.

“I’ve been asking myself that question too,” Emily said. She was beginning to wonder if Delsie had something to do with it. Other than Pam, Delsie was the only person from back home she knew here. But her being in Vancouver was not a secret, and any number of friends and acquaintances could have known about it and told Josh.

“Well, if you’d like a distraction from your stalking drama, I’d be happy to help,” Byron said, “And if you need a friend, that’s what I’ll be.”

“Really?” Emily felt her heart beating faster, which didn’t seem like the right reaction to an offer of friendship. Byron had that effect on her. Only now she realized how worried she had been about him saying no and not wanting to see her anymore.

“Yeah, I think friendship is a great thing,” he continued, some wicked notes coming through in his voice, “I’ve heard it’s not uncommon for friends to visit each other.”

“But not this time,” Emily said, trying not to laugh. “Your dog probably needs a walk anyway.”

“He does,” Byron said. “We could meet at Stanley Park. I’ll send my limo for you. Think you can be ready in half an hour?”

“Okay,” Emily said. “Thanks.”

She felt a bit ostentatious agreeing to the limo, but it was better than going all the way to the park alone when Josh was still lurking about.

Byron Pomeroy looked over the downtown cityscape from the balcony of his penthouse suite. His company’s stock was going up, and he should have been feeling on top of the world, but he hadn’t, until this phone call.

He could have gone sailing in his yacht at a moment’s notice, won or lost thousands at high-stakes poker, or flown away for a weekend in Jamaica, but it all had seemed boring until now.

He would finally see Emily, the woman he couldn’t forget since their meeting on the bridge. She seemed both innocent and mischievous, sweet and sexy. There was always something playful about the way she approached him. He wanted her all to himself, and he couldn’t wait to bring her here, to be alone with her, but a walk in the park with her was the next best thing.

Even if she had suggested something ridiculous like lawn bowling, he would have gladly agreed.

He was okay with being her friend.

After all, a good friend was someone who helped their friend get what they wanted, even if they didn’t know they wanted it yet.