The Pitch: City Love 2 Read Online Free Page A

gave her a firm look. “But if I go and it doesn’t work out, do you promise you’ll leave me alone?”
    Cate nodded quickly, trying to look chastised but not really succeeding. “Even if there’s no spark, you’ll still really like him. He’s that kind of guy.”
    I couldn’t take any more build up for fear it might actually set my expectations at a reasonable level. I picked up my menu, making it clear the conversation was over and we should order, even though I already knew exactly what I was going to have.
    We were at our favorite noodle bar in the center of Sydney. We met here after work at least a couple times a month, if not weekly.
    I put the menu back down and looked at Cate, because Dillon was her idea. I supposed it was only fair after four years of building my business and not one notable male in my life during that time, they’d decided to get involved.
    Cate wore her usual conservative business suit, her corporate uniform of sorts. The way she dressed always struck me as plain, but she’d built her career as a business accountant and the look came with the territory, I figured.
    She put down her menu too and grinned at me. “What?”
    I couldn’t help myself and grinned back in response. “How’s the new job?”
    “Wonderful! Best thing I ever did. If the next three months go as well as the last three, then I’m definitely going to consider it long-term.”
    I nodded, genuinely happy for my friend. She’d had a disastrous previous year. In a moment of weakness, she’d fallen for a married partner at her accountancy firm. Distraught at becoming the “other woman” – Cate was one of the most moral people we knew – she had dumped him, her job, and left the country for six months. On her return, she’d opted for a career shift and taken a role as a financial planner.
    “It sounds just as boring as business accounting if you ask me,” Scarlett said.
    Cate shrugged, used to Scarlett’s blunt opinions. “To an outsider it would, but it’s much more interesting. And rewarding.”
    Scarlett still didn’t look convinced, but Christa nodded at me. “She’s so much happier.”
    Christa would know, since the two of them shared an apartment together. They’d lived in Milsons Point overlooking Lavender Bay for the last four years.
    “Shouldn’t we be trying to find you a man, Cate?” I suggested, with just a hint of mischief. I laughed when she screwed up her face dramatically.
    “You’ve had your sabbatical from all things man-related thank you very much. Now it’s my turn,” she replied pointedly.
    I didn’t push her on it and noticed Scarlett and Christa didn’t either. We were just glad to have our happy Cate back. If she was content to be man-free, so be it.
    “Oh, wow,” Christa interjected, as if suddenly remembering something. “Speaking of men, you should see Maddy’s mentor, girls.”
    I raised an eyebrow at Christa. I hadn’t realized she’d seen him.
    Scarlett turned and stared at me intensely. This was her way of asking for more information.
    I sighed and shot Christa a look. “Don’t remind me. He really was something, wasn’t he?”
    “And this is a problem why?” Scarlett’s low voice was serious.
    “We all know it wouldn’t be a problem for you, Scarlett. For the rest of us, mixing work with pleasure isn’t a good idea,” I told her.
    Scarlett shrugged, while Cate looked excited. “Who is he and what’s he like?”
    “Paul Neilsen, owning partner of NTRtain Media in North Sydney. He’s big business. He’s agreed to mentor me and now he wants to help with a big pitch I’m working on. The offer was too good to refuse.”
    I’d done some of my own research since our first meeting earlier in the week. Paul hadn’t been lying. NTRtain Media had been in operation just over ten years, employed one hundred and five people and their annual revenue was enough to make me choke on my coffee.
    “That’s exciting,” Cate agreed. “Is he cute?”
    While I