Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 442(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Sure,” I say.
At the same time, Zoey says, “No.”
“No or yes?” The woman who couldn’t care less about our argument looks back and forth between us, and I’m sure she’s counting to ten before she gives up and walks away.
I look over at Zoey, who just stares at me. “Sure, one.” She holds her finger up, her nails square and perfectly manicured to a soft pink. The woman walks away from us, stopping at another table before I hear the sound of the beads as she steps into the back.
“What do you recommend?” she asks, looking down at the menu.
“I usually go with the chef’s creation,” I say, “the Dragon Komodo and the Moonlight.”
Her eyes roam the menu. “I’ll have the same, then.”
I don’t have a chance to say anything because the lady comes back with a little white-and-blue bottle with matching little glasses. She pours half in each glass before she grabs her pad. “What can I get you?” We order the same thing, and the woman nods before turning and walking to the back.
“So tell me about your company,” Zoey says, and I shake my head.
“Nope, we will get into all that tomorrow at the office.” I grab my glass of sake, holding it up. “For right now, I’ll toast to you coming to LA to meet with me.”
“Um.” She grabs her glass of sake and holds it up. “To coming to meet with you, and you eerily stalking my Instagram.”
I laugh, clinking my glass to hers before she takes a sip of the sake, and I follow suit. “I don’t eerily stalk your Instagram.” I put down my glass while she takes another sip and then licks her lips. I want to change seats and sit next to her, so I can pull her seat closer to mine and lean over and see if her lips taste like sake or heaven. Either way, I would win. “I was just observant.”
“I think that’s what stalkers usually say.” She shakes her head as she laughs. “It was a very nice thing for you to do.”
“It was my absolute pleasure.” I take a sip of water. “I’m not going to lie. I thought you would say no.”
She puts her hands on the table in front of her, folding them and almost leaning on the table. “Since we are being honest”—she sort of smiles—“I was going to say no, but—”
“I don’t care.” I hold up my hand. “Whatever the but was, I don’t care. The only thing that matters is you are here, and we’ll be working together.”
“Maybe.” She points at me. “I said I would check it out.”
“And I’m going to persuade you to take the job, and if that doesn’t work—” I start to say when I see the server coming out from the back. I stare right into her eyes. “I’m not afraid to get on my knees and beg.” I wink at her as I see her cheeks get a bit pink.
The server puts down the plates in front of us. “This looks amazing,” she says, picking up her chopsticks. “Which one should I try first?”
“Either one is good.” I grab my chopsticks, pick up a piece, and put it in my mouth.
I am mid-chew when she moans, and I just glare at her. “This”—she puts her hand in front of her mouth—“is amazing.”
My cock—no, my whole body—suddenly wakes up with that moan. “You’re welcome.” I wink at her. “But if you really want to thank me…”
“This next part is going to be fun.” She points her chopstick at me. “Well, fun for me to say, not fun for you to hear,” she gloats. “If and I said if I decide to work for you, there are stipulations.”
“Oh? I like this already.” I put my chopsticks down and clap my hands.
“One, no flirting.”
“Okay, well, a rebuttal is coming in.” I pick up my chopsticks and point them at her before grabbing another piece of sushi. “I don’t flirt. It’s just my charm.”
“You want to know the funny thing?” She picks up another piece of sushi. “I think you believe that.” I shrug. “Let me ask you this. If someone else was on your list and you wanted to hire them, would you fly her here in a private plane and pick her up?”
I avoid looking at her because there is no way in fuck I would do any of that. I would hand it off to my assistant, and she would do it all. I would not go out of my way to order her favorite fucking bagel. I would definitely not go and pick her up myself. “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, Zoey. You’re in a category of your own.”
“See.” She picks up another piece of sushi, avoiding looking at me. “You can’t say stuff like that.”