Fifth Avenue Devil

Chapter 25

Twenty-Five

Annalise

I run through the gleaming lobby of my penthouse, my heels clicking tip-tap tip-tap on the polished marble floor. Waiting on the elevator to reach the top floor is an anxiety-inducing activity.

My mom wouldn’t say exactly what the nature of the emergency was.

But she said that word, emergency .

Is my father dying?

Why is my mom in my apartment again?

So many unanswered questions ring through my mind. The elevator doors open, and I burst into my apartment, almost in tears.

But when I run into the living room, I find my mother reclining on a leather couch, laughing as she talks to a pretty young woman. Mom has been at work in this room because it’s completely bare. The sofa and a single matching chair are the only pieces of furniture in the vast living room. There’s nothing on the walls, and no sign of where all the stripped art and furniture went.

Fuck . Mom’s been in my penthouse unattended for hours .

My fears are confirmed when Mom spots me and calls out. “We’re in here!”

I walk into the room, looking for somewhere to put down my purse. I swing left and right, and then growl in exasperation. “Mom! Where the hell did my furniture go?!”

Mom doesn’t skip a beat. Her smile remains wide and unbothered. “Annalise, language . I stopped by a little early to tidy up for Scarlet.”

I drop my purse on the empty floor and grit my teeth. “You said that you were having an emergency! You know that I thought that Dad had another stroke, don’t you?”

My mother pats the chair opposite herself. “Sit down, Annalise. You’re being rude to our guest.”

I turn my attention to the young brunette. She’s poised and polished, wearing a strapless, flamingo-pink, knee length dress.

Scarlet is absorbed in her phone. But at the word ‘guest,’ she looks up at me with a diplomatic smile.

“Scarlet Espinoza,” she says. She extends a hand to me, showing off a fluorescent pink manicure. I shake it, uncertain of who this person is. “Matchmaker. My motto is Making Matches, Creating Magic .”

She waves her hand in a flourish, smiling.

“I’m sorry. Why are you here, exactly?”

Scarlet’s smile falters. She looks at my mom for help. “I can come back at another time if you’d prefer?”

“No, no!” Mom says, squeezing Scarlet’s hand. She turns to me. “Darling, you know that Scarlet here is the best matchmaker in the country. She helps young people from good families find suitable matches. Isn’t that right, Scarlet?”

“Well…” Scarlet hesitates. “I have a knack for pairing up soulmates.”

“Soulmates who are wealthy enough to pay for your services.” I sit down primly, folding my hands in my lap. “I can’t imagine you would have great luck with people who aren’t looking for that connection.”

Scarlet smiles. “Women in my family have been matchmaking for a hundred years. It’s in my blood. Literally .”

She says the last bit as if it’s a joke and laughs at herself to boot. I stare at her, perplexed. Who is this crazy person that my mom brought into my house?

Mom cuts in. “Scarlet’s going to find you the perfect man."

"Mother, I already told you, I don't need that," I try to protest.

But Scarlet interrupts me with a dismissive wave. "Annalise, listen. I know what you want in a partner." She looks dead into my eyes. "You're a strong, independent woman. You’re not just a pretty face. And you’re not looking for the first rich guy you see. Otherwise, you would have found Mr. Right already." She tilts her head. “Am I getting warm?”

“Well… I– I–” I stammer. My mind flashes back to what Nate just told me on the drive over here. You’re just a piece of ass . My face contorts. “I guess…”

Scarlet reaches out to me and touches my hand with gentle fingers. “Let me walk you through my process. Maybe show you some photos of potential matches. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I promise.”

I throw up my hands. "Fine," I say. "If it will get you both off my back, I’ll look at some pictures."

“It’ll be painless. I promise.” Scarlet begins to talk brightly about how her service works.

I lose interest after a few moments and look at my mom, who is gazing at Scarlet like she’s got the solution to end world hunger.

Serious eye roll.

I cross my arms, my frustration mounting. I stare at the iPad that Scarlet confidently thrusts in front of me. The sleek device displays a gallery of potential suitors, each one impeccably dressed, each one posing with practiced charm. On any other day, I might have been intrigued. But today, it feels like an insult.

I grit my teeth and force myself to swipe through the profiles. Each man is more generic than the last.

My mind drifts to Nate, the infuriatingly smug businessman who has somehow worked his way under my skin. In comparison, these men seem bland and utterly forgettable. I flip through a dozen profiles before handing the iPad back to Scarlet. "I don't need a matchmaking service to find a man."

"Annalise, darling, just give it a chance," my mom pleads. "You never know who you might meet."

"Is there something wrong with them?" Scarlet asks. She seems genuinely perplexed.

"Of course not," I reply. "They're all just so… predictable. Predictably rich, predictably handsome, and predictably boring."

"Annalise, don’t be ungrateful." Mom looks nonplussed. “Just pick a few.”

“No! Mom, this is my life we're talking about. It’s too much! Be a CEO! Find a husband! Have kids! I can’t do every single thing all at one time."

Mom narrows her eyes and leans toward me. A threatening look blooms on her face. "You will look through these profiles. You will choose someone appropriate to date. And you will do it with a smile. Or else."

“All right.” I stand up, putting my hands on my hips. “I’d like you both to leave now. Please.”

“Oh!” Scarlet’s eyes widen. She turns bright pink. “Of course. I didn’t mean to cause you any offense.”

She scoops up her iPad and shoulders her purse. I reach out and touch her arm. “There is no way you could’ve known. My mom is a witch. She enchanted you, I’m sure.”

My mom huffs. “I did no such thing!”

“That’s great.” I start shooing them out of the living room. “Mom, before you leave. Where the fuck is the rest of the living room?”

“ Language , Annalise.” She scowls at me. “I removed the excess furnishings for you. You’re welcome.”

“I’m going to fire whoever let you in this building,” I say mildly.

Mom hustles toward the front. I stand back and watch Scarlet open the door, only to be stopped by the tall man standing in her way. My eyes widen.

Nate glares at Scarlet. “What are you doing here?” he asks.

“We’re just leaving.” Scarlet grabs my mom’s arm and waits until Nate steps back to let her through. Then both women vanish toward the elevator.

Nate runs his hand through his hair and turns back to me. “You had a matchmaker here?”

I turn on my heel and walk to the kitchen, calling, “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Did you invite her here?” I hear him shut the door and his footsteps following behind me.

“Would it matter if I had?” I grab a wineglass and pour myself a glass of chilled wine. “If you care to remember, we’re not even a couple.”

“Wow.” Nate shakes his head. “It took you like an hour to throw my words back in my face.”

He’s so full of shit. “You said it, not me. I’m just a piece of ass.” I take a long sip of wine.

Nate purses his lips. I am ready for him to tell me why it’s my fault. Or even to yell at me. But he doesn’t do either of those things.

No, Nate Fordham actually apologizes .

“I’m sorry, Annalise. I was all stressed out about seeing my parents, and I took it out on you. It was unfair.” He moves closer, his gray eyes glinting. “That’s why I came here. I felt like shit after you got out of the car.”

His admission knocks the wind out of me for a solid few seconds. “What world is this?” I look to my left and right, feigning distress. “You admitted that you were wrong about something? Unbelievable.”

“So you accept my apology, then?”

“Saying that I’m nothing but a hot piece of ass was pretty harsh.” I tap my chin. “Tell you what. I’ll think about it.”

His lips twitch with humor. “Fair enough. Who was the other woman that was with your mom?”

“Oh, my new bestie? She’s a matchmaker. My mother texted me 911, then she showed up with Scarlet as a surprise.”

“Ah.” Nate seems to digest that. “So we both had unpleasant run-ins with our parents today.” He grimaces. “Nice.”

“Real nice.”

He pulls me close. “You can think about accepting my apology while I eat you out, if you want.”

“Oh yeah?” My lips twitch with humor. “Well, if you think it will help…”

He chuckles as he kisses me again.