Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Yes. Harvey was in Mr Black’s office earlier this morning, and I plan to beat him up until he tells me what he knows about this weirdness.” I adjusted the waistband of my skirt and marched towards the doors, only to have Daniel beat me and hold it open for me. “Ah, thank you!”
I made my way down to the PR department and let myself into the hubbub with my key card. It was always slightly chaotic in here with all the different teams working together in a way that was both opposing and cohesive. Combined with the endless ringing of phones, I honestly pitied anyone who had to work with such noise.
I couldn’t do it.
“Ah, Chloe!”
I turned at my name and smiled. Louie Alberts, the department’s heartthrob, had one hand raised in greeting. “Louie. How are you?”
He beamed his signature thousand-watt smile at me. “I’m better for seeing you. What brings you to our humble department?”
Ah, good.
We were flirting.
Well, he was flirting.
“I’m here to see Mr Park. Is he around?”
Louie smacked his lips. “In his office, I believe. And here I thought you’d finally come down to see me to tell me you’ll have dinner with me.”
“Mr Alberts, stop flirting with women who aren’t good enough for you,” Harvey said, walking into the main office. “Miss St. James, stop distracting my staff.”
“You little—” I started towards Harvey, but Louie laughed.
“Sir, I believe you’re mistaken. Miss St. James is far too good for me,” he said humbly, pressing his hand to his chest.
At least we agreed on something.
Womanisers weren’t my type.
“We’ll agree to disagree.”
“You,” I said, grabbing Harvey’s lapel. “Come with me.”
“Miss St. James, what will people say if they see you dragging me around so seductively?” Harvey gasped.
“He’s my cousin!” I reminded everyone, yanking him into his office. “Hi, Shanna.”
“Hi, Chloe,” his secretary said. “Is he bullying you again?”
“It’s not bullying when I always beat him,” I quipped. “I’m borrowing him for five minutes.”
“Shanna, help,” Harvey whimpered, reaching a hand out towards her.
“Whatever it is, I’m sure you’ve done something to deserve it, sir,” Shanna said, turning her attention back to the files she was sorting.
Heh.
I knew I liked her.
I shoved Harvey into his office and closed the door behind us. “Tell me. What did you do to him?”
He adjusted his jacket, frowning at me. “What do you mean?”
“My boss. What did you do to my boss? He’s being… nice.” I shuddered. “It’s scary, Harvey. He thanked Daniel for going out to collect the lunch he himself ordered.”
“Oh, that.” Harvey fought back a laugh. “He asked me how to be a better boss, and I told him he should try complimenting his staff and saying thank you once in a while.”
I wrinkled my face up. “I should have known it was you. Now the office is all weird. He even smiled.”
“Man, he really applies himself to stuff, doesn’t he?”
“Tell him you made a mistake, and we don’t want him to be nice.”
“No can do.” He shook his head, sitting down. “He really wants to try to be a better boss to the three of you.”
“If this is a ploy to make me change my mind about resigning, tell him to cut it out. I won’t change my mind. Ever.”
“I know, I know.” He waved his hand. “Can’t you just humour him? He’s trying.”
“Oh, he’s always been trying,” I said through gritted teeth. “Trying my patience.”
“Is it bad if he tries to be nicer to you? You have to live with him for six weeks, after all.”
I opened my mouth to make a smartarse retort, but whatever it was died on my lips. He wasn’t exactly wrong, was he? The idea of living with the Theodore Black I knew was positively terrifying, but a nicer version of him who could say ‘thank you’ didn’t seem all that bad.
Wow. The bar really was low.
“Right,” I replied after a moment. “I suppose you’re not wrong. It doesn’t make it any less creepy, though.”
Harvey grinned. “He’s not as bad outside of the office as he is in it.”
“We know different out-of-office Theodore Blacks.” I walked over to the door and glanced back. “By the way, tell Aunt Fizz I don’t know if I can make it to her party because of this trip. I know we’re leaving before, but I’ll try and see if I can make it back.”
He nodded. “Will do. Shouldn’t you be getting back now? For your little lunch date?”
“Shut up and stop giving my boss weird ideas!”
***
“This is for you, and this is yours,” Theodore said, setting food cartons down in front of both Daniel and Melody. “I noticed that whenever you order Italian food for lunch, you always have a mushroom risotto, Melody, and Daniel always has a carbonara.”
My babies both blinked at him.
Concern flitted across his face. “Did I get it wrong?”