Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
I really should have some compassion.
He’s probably a victim of the same nightmare plaguing the family after his brothers turned out to be such monsters. I’m sure he’s struggling with the full horror of what Ulysses and Aleksander did while still grieving them as lost brothers.
“So you’d like to change something in the house?” I venture.
“I want you to change the manor,” he growls. “Every piece of furniture, every tapestry, every statue, every pedestal, every drape, every fixture—I want them all replaced. A full interior redesign from the ground up.”
Holy shit.
For a second, I forget how to breathe.
My vision clouds with black stars before I catch myself with a gasp.
“The whole house?” I whisper, wondering if I even heard him right. My voice sounds tiny. “But we’re a small business. My grandfather and I are only two people, and this house—I’m sorry, but it must have like fifty rooms?”
“Sixty-eight when you include servants’ quarters, as well as outbuildings like the stables and gardener’s cottage,” Xavier says sharply. “I want the Grey touch on all of them.”
My mind spins.
“That would take years for just the two of us. Not to mention the colors, the draperies—we’re not interior designers. We bring in consultants for that sort of thing. We’re really just furniture people. We don’t—”
My throat closes off.
Xavier pivots to face me again, fixing me with a penetrating stare. “Then it takes years, Miss Grey. Consider it a lasting partnership. I’ll consult you on every detail. We’ll be working very closely together.” He arches one sharp, mocking blond brow. “Is that why you’re so ruffled? Since being alone with me makes you so uncomfortable.”
“What? No, it’s not that at all!” Like I said, I’m such a bad liar. It’s mostly that for sure. “You just caught me a little off guard. We’ve never had a project this large before. We’ll have to finish out our current client orders, put off any new ones, possibly hire contractors, not to mention the expense…”
“Spare none,” he barks back. “I’m prepared to spend seven figures on this, Miss Grey.” He smiles his cold, thin jackal’s smile. “I know you’ve grown up in this town. Surely, you know that money is no obstacle for an Arrendell.”
Am I dreaming?
That’s almost enough money to send me reeling again.
Seven. Flipping. Figures.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
I’ll need to do a real tour of the mansion. Get a feel for things and what he wants if I’m going to prepare a cost estimate without laughing myself silly.
Seven figures, though—even if it’s the lowest end—would leave more than enough to help Grandpa.
Nerves war with dizzy hope until my chest flutters.
“Are you sure you want us?” I raise my leatherbound folio. “I brought our project portfolio—”
He waves one long hand—and that’s when I notice his fingernails are surprisingly thick and yellow, maybe a bit too long. Is his hand shaking, too?
Grief, maybe?
“I’m familiar with your work,” he snaps. “I make it my business to be familiar with everything that happens in Redhaven. You don’t need to sell yourself. You only need to tell me if you’ll take the job.”
He glares at me.
“…can I have a day or two to think it over? I’ll bring this back to my grandfather, of course, and we’ll see what we can do.” My voice sounds like it’s coming from down a wind tunnel. “We just need to figure out if we can do this, realistically. If we’re only going to let you down, it wouldn’t make sense. Ethically, I mean.”
Something odd crosses his face when I say ethically.
Then he sighs with clear irritation, his nostrils flaring as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yes, yes. Take all the time you need. But I’ll need an answer soon.” He leans over his desk, plucks a business card out of a glossy wooden holder, and passes it over. “My personal number.”
I wonder if my face is weird now at the way he says personal, but I take the card anyway, careful not to touch his fingers.
“Thank you.”
“Miss Grey.” He nods cordially, and that’s when I realize I’ve been dismissed.
Ouch.
Part of me wants to be offended, but I’m happy to escape.
My skin thrums with goosebumps. The air feels ten degrees colder than it should, and I think it’s just my nerves but maybe it’s him.
Do I really want to deal with this? Spending years working in close collaboration with a man who makes me so uneasy?
But there’s big money on the line.
There’s Grandpa’s health.
I can do it for him. I think.
“Thank you again, Mr. Arrendell,” I say hollowly, grabbing my purse and speedwalking away.
When I open the door, I almost shriek.
The valet who escorted me before materializes like a phantom. He gives me the same dry look, his dark eyes knowing, right before he reaches past me to close the door.