The sun was starting to set when Nicole pinched her arm to wake herself up for the hundredth time that day. She’d been working since she arrived, not having time to take a break to eat. She leaned back in her chair and ran a hand along her neck, massaging weary shoulder muscles. Her bed now seemed like a far-off dream.
“Hey, I’m going to head out,” Bahir’s face popped into her doorway, startling her, as he often did. He had a way of just appearing out of nowhere. Or maybe he moved normally and her constant jetlag just made her slow to react. Tough to tell.
As the fog in her brain cleared, she was able to process his words, and frowned—Bahir never left the office before the sun went down.
“Heading out? Where?”
“I’ve got something I need to address in Seattle, so I’ve got to head back.”
Nicole’s frown deepened. “Are you serious? I just got here,” she said, trying not to sound annoyed and failing.
Bahir put up his hands, placating her. “I know, I know, and you’re doing a great job, but this is something I have to handle, Nicole. Look, you don’t have to come back right away. Why don’t you work from here for a couple of days and then we can meet up again in Seattle? Sound good?”
Nicole stared at him. She desperately needed to sleep. There wasn’t room in her brain to process any of this, never mind argue. With a weary shake of her head, she answered him.
“All right. Have a safe flight, Bahir.”
Bahir grinned, and moved to disappear back out of the office, but then he stopped. He looked at Nicole, and a little frown appeared above his eyebrows. He turned and walked back into the room, sitting across from her.
“You look exhausted,” he said.
“Did you miss the part where I haven’t slept in two days?” she said, not caring how rude she sounded. She was tired and overworked, and now had to get on yet another flight back to Seattle.
“I’ve overworked you. I’m sorry. I forget sometimes that not everyone has the passion for this business that I do.”
“I’ve got plenty of passion. I just need to be allowed to sleep everyone once in a while.”
Bahir glanced at her computer. He reached over Nicole and clicked Save on the document she was working on, before shutting the system down. She couldn’t help but notice how good he smelled, his face inches from hers.
“Go to bed, Nicole. I’m going to be unreachable anyway, on a plane. Get recharged and we can get back to it in the morning, OK?”
“Sounds like a dream,” she said, standing and stretching her tired arms.
Bahir lifted her briefcase and handed it to her, placing a gentle hand on her elbow as he escorted her out the door. Together they made their way down the elevator and through the lobby. Bahir’s car was already waiting at the curb.
“Do you want a lift?” he asked, and Nicole laughed.
“It’s a two-minute walk. I think I can make it, even in my state.”
“Then get home safe, and get some rest. I need you at your best, Nicole. There are some big deals coming up, and I need my right-hand woman on this.”
“Mmhmm,” she said, unable to come up with any more words. Her brain was officially fried.
She waved farewell as he slid into his car, and before she knew it she was face to face with her beautiful, glorious, comfortable bed. Kicking off her shoes, she didn’t bother to change, but plopped face first onto her pillows. Within seconds, she was blissfully unconscious.