Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 21057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21057 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“Nah, you’d still fuck it up.”
He laughs. “Yeah, probably.”
I put on my black tie and smooth it out in the mirror as Shawn sits on the leather couch and watches me.
“There’s gotta be someone,” he says. “What about that Andrea chick? She’s a little uptight, but she’s got a great ass.”
I give him a look that says you can’t be serious.
He rolls his eyes. “Fine, dude. Enjoy all of your success and money and awards and all that hard work, for what? You’re not even going to cash in on the booty.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Nope,” he says with a big smile as he lays down on the couch, hands behind his head, dirty shoes on the armrest. “That’s the benefit of only working eighteen hours a week.”
Shawn works the cash at a video rental store. Apparently, there’s still one left in the world, and Shawn works at it. Leave it to him to pick the deadest of the dead industries to make a career in. I’d make fun of him, but he does get paid to watch movies all day. Maybe he does have it all figured out after all.
“There’s got to be someone,” he says as he looks up at my high ceiling.
My mind drifts over to the little black square.
Colleen Campbell.
I’ve never seen her face, but there’s something about that voice. It’s sugary-sweet. It grips my core whenever I hear it.
Sometimes, at the end of a long day when the sound of vacuum cleaners can be heard in the hallway and all of my workers are at home in bed, I open my tie, close my heavy eyes, and think about that soft innocent voice. There’s just something about it that always gets me.
I know she’ll be there tonight. That’s why I made this party mandatory. I wanted to see her. I needed to see her.
It’s probably just my imagination going crazy, but tonight, I’ll finally have a face to put to that intoxicating voice.
I slip on my jacket, touch up my hair, and take one last look. Pretty good. That outlandishly expensive tailor was worth every penny.
“Let me come to this thing,” Shawn says as he jumps up. “I’ll be your wingman. You’ll get laid for sure.”
“Sorry, dude. Work function. Only employees and significant others allowed.”
He wraps his arm around mine and bats his eyes at our reflection in the mirror. “We can say we’re dating.”
I yank my arm away with a laugh. “I don’t think so.”
“Yeah,” he says with a sigh. “No one is going to believe that. I’m way out of your league.”
“Exactly.”
I close up shop, ready to head over to the party. It’s already a bit late, but the boss should make a grand entrance, right?
“Hey, can you give me a ride to Elgin?” Shawn asks as I turn off the light.
I snort out a laugh. “Not a chance. Take a cab.”
“Yeah, good idea. Hey, can I borrow fifty bucks?”
I shake my head as I grab a fifty out of my pocket and hand it over. I wonder what the business books would say about that.
I don’t care. As hopeless as he is, he’s my best friend and I take care of him. He took care of me in grade seven when some older kids were bullying me. I’ll never forget it. He cracked his skateboard over Kyle Johnson’s big thick head.
And what’s the point of earning all this money if you can’t take care of the ones you love with it?
He steps into the hallway and I turn back to the mirror for one last look.
Yes, Mr. King.
I shiver as I hear that warm sugary voice in my head once again.
Colleen Campbell… Here I come.
CHAPTER FOUR
Colleen
* * *
I’m trying to channel my inner goddess as I strut into the hall with my chin in the air.
“Uh, who are you?” a snotty voice asks from behind me. I know immediately who it is, even before I turn around and see Andrea’s stuck-up face. “This is a private party for employees only.”
“Hi Andrea,” I say with my cheeks heating up, all of the confidence and determination flowing out of me like a deflating balloon. “It’s me, Colleen Campbell.”
“Oh, you.” She keeps her severe eyes locked on me as she crosses her arms. “I didn’t recognize you since you refuse to turn on your camera.”
“It’s broken,” I say with an awkward laugh. “Remember?”
She forces out a tight smile and then hands me two green tickets. “You get two free drinks tonight. Try not to go overboard, this is a company party after all, not a keg party.”
“Thanks,” I say with a fake smile as I grab them and keep walking.
Wow. This place looks amazing. I love the white and blue Christmas decor. There’s a huge tree at the end of the dance floor and a cool bar along the wall with stylish bartenders in Santa hats serving red and green martinis with candy canes in them. There’s a DJ playing upbeat music and people are already drinking and dancing. This is so cool.