Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“Hey Grandma Hattie,” I answer.
“Hey there, Georgia Bee.” Her voice sounds like a warm hug. “Am I catching you at a bad time?”
“No, I’m just hanging some ornaments.”
“I bet your decor is breathtaking as always. Send me some pictures.”
“I will,” I say. “Did you get my emails about the best way to dress up the top suites and the grand lobby this year?”
“Of course, I did.” There’s a smile in her voice. “The staff has been implementing those suggestions all week. I’m calling you about something far more important, though.”
“I’m listening.”
“I told him yes, and I’m very proud of you.”
“Huh?” I ask. “Yes to what? Better yet, who is he?”
“Very funny.” She laughs. “I’m super excited for you two.”
“Can you tell me what you’re talking about so I can be excited, too?”
“Your boyfriend, hun,” she says. “Well, your fiancé. Dante called to ask if I would approve of him asking for your hand in marriage.”
WHAT? “Um…” I swallow, resisting the urge to ask if he sounded drunk. “That’s quite shocking.”
“It is! It also means that whenever you’re ready to come back to where you belong, we can discuss you becoming the executive manager of The Grace Estate.” She pauses. “No one handles hospitality quite like you do, and I can’t imagine ever leaving this place in someone else’s hands.”
“What exactly did Dante say to you?”
“Mainly that he knew you were the one after a few dates,” she says. “He said he’s also looking forward to meeting us at Christmas.”
“He told me that he wanted to come home with me to make a sales pitch to the estate.”
“From what you’ve told us about him, he’s quite the accomplished young man.”
“Yeah…” I glance at Dante’s stack of “about to be bestselling” books and “Learn to Be a Boss” business manuals that clutter our couch.
“Your cousin Taryn also tells me that he’s a great kisser?”
“Seriously, Grandma?” I regret ever mentioning that. The truth is, Dante is an average kisser, and our sex life is pretty nonexistent.
“Wait a minute…” I suddenly rewind her words. “Did you say that you’re ready to make me manager of The Grace Estate?”
“Now that you’re finally learning what it means to be ‘well-rounded,’ yes.” There’s a smile in her voice. “I know you hate surprises, so please don’t tell Dante that I told you about the proposal. I’m sure you knew it was coming, though.”
I didn’t.
“Thanks for the heads-up, Grandma. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I slump onto the floor and shake my head.
Unless I’ve been living in an alternate reality over the past several weeks, I’ve felt like Dante and I have hit a stalemate in our relationship. We haven’t been on a date in what feels like forever, and with him hopping on every podcast on the planet, he’s been “saving” his voice for other people.
He has yet to notice any of my decorations around our apartment. When I asked him if he wanted to stay up last night and drink twisted eggnog over a “Truth or Dare game,” he said, “Do you honestly think that’s something that an aspiring billionaire would do?”
In desperate need of a distraction, I call the first person who crosses my mind.
No, wait.
Scratch that.
I call the second person who crosses my mind.
“Hey Georgia!” Savannah answers on the first ring.
“Hey. You got a second?”
“I always have plenty of time for you. What’s going on?”
“I need some boyfriend advice.”
“Of course!” She gasps. “This is about Dante, isn’t it?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, Grandma Hattie already told me everything, so before you start, let me give you some advice.” She pauses. “You need to make sure you have every work assignment done to perfection before you come home.”
“What?”
“There’s a new organizational app I’ve developed that can make sure that you’re at least three weeks ahead. Also, be sure to ask your boss if there’s anything extra that you can—”
I hang up and call the person I should’ve called first, after all.
“Yes, Miss Grey?” Dominic answers on the first ring.
“I think there was a mixup with me being off today.”
“I believe you mean, fraud.”
“Most normal people don’t leave their email passwords out on their desk…”
“They also don’t trespass into the boss’s office by stealing the building engineer’s keys.”
“That’s why I used a bobby pin.” I clear my throat. “I mean, oh no. I believe I was breaking up just then. Did you hear me?”
“Every goddamn word.”
“Oh, well, um…” I sigh. “I’m sorry I falsely gave myself off days.”
“Are you really?”
“No, but I’d like to come in and finish all the work I’ve missed, so I need access to one of the overtime suites. Can you please tell security to let me in?”
“I’m spending the night here already,” he says. “I’ll let you inside. Would you like me to send a car for you?”
“Yes, please.”
“Do you need dinner, too?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”