Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Elle came by after work for a fashion show. “I can’t believe she just sent you all of this. Ray, this is like thousands of dollars’ worth of designer clothing.”
“Please don’t tell me that.” That sort of money was nothing to the Davenports, but to me it was the difference between a dependable car and the current death rattle I drove on a daily basis. “Now I feel bad. Do you think I should send them back?”
“No! That would be insulting.”
I bit my lip. “Fine.”
“Try on the green dress.”
As I modeled each outfit, Elle gave me her opinions, but she kept glancing at her phone. “Are you texting someone?”
“No, I signed up for this dating app.”
“What?” In that moment, nothing else mattered. “Why? What about Barrett? Are you guys okay? Did something happen? Why didn’t you say something?”
“Ray, relax. Everything’s fine. I’m just checking my options.”
“But…why?”
She shrugged. “You never know.”
Did Barrett know? Signing up for a dating app seemed extreme. “Are you just looking or are you actually talking to other guys?”
“I literally just opened an account this morning. So far, I’ve only gotten immature DMs. It’s like tinder-garden out there.”
I nodded. “So maybe just stick with Barrett. You two are great together.”
She looked up at me but said nothing.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Ray, you know how guys like Barrett are. They never stay for long in one place.”
I frowned. “You’re not just some random chick, Elle. Barrett knows you’re my best friend. He would never do anything to hurt you.”
“Because I won’t let myself get hurt. It’s wise to have options.”
Everything about this seemed like a bad decision, but she had to have her reasons. “Just don’t make any hasty decisions without talking to him first, okay?”
She sighed. That was the most I would get out of her in terms of agreement.
In the end, we both agreed the cream jumpsuit looked best with my eyes and hair.
“That, with those emerald earrings—stunning.” Elle gave a chef’s kiss to the air.
I chewed on the corner of my thumbnail, debating. “It’s really white.”
“So don’t eat or drink while you’re wearing it. It’s a photo shoot and an interview, Ray. You’ll be fine.”
She was right. I could keep an outfit clean for an hour or two.
“Those earrings make the look. Does Hale have a matching tie?”
“Probably.” He had ties and cufflinks in every color.
I grabbed the emerald earrings and headed into Hale’s dressing room.
“Whoa.” Elle stopped at the door and stared. “I’m getting heavy Fifty Shades vibes.”
I snorted, no longer phased by the impressive French architecture, stunning glass cabinetry, dark wood, and ambient lighting. “His ties are over here.”
I slid open a wide, shallow drawer and found a selection that would make Gucci himself swoon. Holding out the earrings, I tried to find a green tie in the right shade.
“How about this one?” Elle lifted a deep aquamarine that was more teal than green, but it looked great against the earrings.
“Perfect.”
“Oh, look! He even has a pocket square to match.” Her gazed scanned the masculine dressing room. “He’s so organized.”
“I know. Put everything back the way we found it.”
“You should find a shirt that matches the cream of your suit.”
“Good idea.” I went to get the jumpsuit while Elle looked for cufflinks. When I returned, she was sitting on the upholstered ottoman reading something. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know. It has your name on it.”
I hung up the jumpsuit and crossed the dressing room floor. “Where did you find it?”
“In that drawer. I was looking for cufflinks.” She held the thick sheaf of papers out to me and I took them.
Flipping the document open, I lowered to the leather club chair. This agreement is between Hale Davenport and Rayne Meyers, collectively the “parties” or individually a “party”…
“It looks like some sort of contract.”
I scoffed. “It’s a fucking prenuptial agreement.” My stomach soured as I realized he’d hidden this from me. “Why would he have this?”
“Isn’t that self-explanatory?”
I shook my head. “But I’m not after his money.”
“And I’m sure he knows that, Ray. This is just a precaution. More weird stuff rich people do.”
I frowned and closed the packet. My stare locked on the cover page where both our names were typed. I slid it back into the manilla envelope. “Where did you say you found this?”
She pointed to a drawer. “In there. Are you going to tell him you saw it?”
“I don’t know.” Forgetting about the cufflinks and shirt, I left the dressing room.
Elle followed me down to the kitchen where I proceeded to rip into a tray of Oreos. My thoughts spiraled as I chewed through my emotions.
How long has he been hiding that?
When was he planning on springing it on me?
Should I read the whole thing before he comes home?
A cold sensation settled in my chest and I closed the cookies. “I think I need sleep.”