Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Are you jealous?” I smile.
“We’re curious,” Vance interjects with a stoic expression.
“He asked. I accepted.” I stand, hoping to end the conversation there.
“This is a ploy to get him to sell Azelius to us, right?” Baden lifts his chin. “I heard he’s been putting out feelers.”
What the actual fuck?
“Randall owns Azelius Spas?” I question. “Azelius? The spas that have an appointment waiting list of two months?”
“More like three months.” Baden winks. “I tried to get my mom booked in for Mother’s Day last year, but it was a no go.”
Stunned that Randall owns that business and he’s considering selling, I suddenly see an opportunity to use the best man role as a stepping stone to a big payday.
“Why are you acting like you didn’t know this?” Vance leans forward on his chair. “You’re making it seem like you agreed to be his best man because you’re a nice guy.”
“I am a nice guy.”
“No,” Baden says decisively. “You’re not.”
“Go to hell,” I bark at him with a broad smile on my face.
“I’m on my way.” He turns toward my office door. “I’ve got a meeting to get to.”
Vance pushes to stand. “Me too.”
I round my desk to follow them out into the corridor as I check my phone for any updates from Miss Starling. The only notification waiting for me is an alert about a text message from a man I’ve known for years. Kevin Dalca helps me with a few routine tasks outside the office when needed. I pay him well, but since I don’t require his services at the moment, his text message will sit unread until I do.
“Where the hell is she?” I mutter.
“Who?” Baden looks over his shoulder toward me.
“My assistant,” I say succinctly.
“Give that woman a raise.” Vance slows to glance at me. “Evie is a valuable asset to this company, Reid.”
He’s right. She’s worth her weight in gold, but a raise is out of the question until her contract comes up for renewal in a few months. She’s already earning a high five figure annual salary, and has the perk of enjoying some fresh air while running around Manhattan handling everything I don’t have time for.
CHAPTER FIVE
Evie
Mr. Hunt’s apartment is about as charming as he is.
In other words, it has no charm.
The walls are painted a light shade of gray. The artwork is all one note. At least a dozen black and white prints of mountain scenes in silver frames hang in his home.
Boring.
The leather furniture in the living room is as comfortable as a rock quarry, and the sink faucet in the main bathroom is a brainteaser I’ve yet to figure out. I wanted to wash up when I got here since I had to hold tightly to a pole on the subway.
That wasn’t as easy as it sounds because, with my other hand, I had to balance the suits and keep my purse tucked against me since it contained the expensive watch I picked up from the jeweler and the black socks Mr. Hunt sent me to get at a Berdine location clear across town.
The menswear store sells suits and ties and all the essentials a jerk like my boss could possibly need, but he prefers to get on an airplane and fly across an ocean to order a suit.
I’m suddenly struck with the idea of faking a robbery that leaves him suit less so he can skip town for a few days to replace his wardrobe.
I’m sure the church on the corner near my apartment would welcome all of my boss’s suits since they have a sign on their community pantry box asking for clothing donations.
I chase the idea away with a shake of my head.
I’d get caught and likely end up with a mug shot that doesn’t do me justice and no justice overall since people like Mr. Hunt always seem to come out on top.
I glance at his bed, which is covered with pristine white linens.
Does he like it on top, or maybe he prefers it when a woman climbs on top of him and…
My phone saves me from that thought when it rings.
Even before I glance at the screen, I know it can’t be my boss. He’s at lunch and hates to be disturbed when he’s eating.
My gaze wanders back to the bed before I finally focus on my phone.
“Hey, Mom,” I say as I answer. “What’s up?”
“The temperature here.” She follows that with a round of giggles.
That sound brings back the best memories of my childhood since my mom was always the most joyful person in any room. She would often say that putting smiles on the faces of her kids and their friends was her mission in her life.
When I started kindergarten, she volunteered almost daily at my school. Even when I moved on to middle school, my mom still went back to read to the first graders. She made a life-changing decision when I was sixteen. She enrolled in nursing school because it had been her dream forever. The day she graduated was one of the best days of my life.