Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 179189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 896(@200wpm)___ 717(@250wpm)___ 597(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 179189 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 896(@200wpm)___ 717(@250wpm)___ 597(@300wpm)
Another one sighs. “I’ll call Darla. Have her clean it up.”
“No, it’s okay. I can do it,” I say, turning to the men, who all look extremely annoyed.
“No thanks,” the bald one in the front hisses. “You’ve done enough.”
Ouch. That kinda hurt.
“We were in the middle of an important meeting, girl,” another one says.
“I know, and I’m so sorry for the mess I made,” I say, quickly picking up some of the cups I dropped. It’s no use, though, because all the coffee’s spilled. “I’ll get you some new coffee right away.”
“No, that won’t be needed,” an older man in the back says. “TJ, who is this?”
“My new intern,” he says, clearing his throat. “She’s still learning.”
The old man chuckles. “Learning? Morrows is not the place for that.”
“She applied for a job; I accepted,” TJ says.
“Your father would have hired a useful assistant. Not this bumbling idiot,” the bald one says, laughing a little as if I’m just a dumb blonde to him.
Fuck these men.
I’m about to storm out the room, but TJ’s firm grip on my shoulder keeps me from moving my feet.
“Now, hold on. She just made a mistake, and it happens to the best of us. No need to be so angry.”
“She ruined the carpet and our meeting!” a bearded younger man says.
“Who cares? I can start over.” TJ shrugs. “It’s no big deal.”
I’m impressed he’s handling this so well. I would’ve been pissed too if someone did this to me at an important meeting. But he’s so calm and collected. Like he really doesn’t think it’s that bad. And it surprises me.
“I care,” the older man in the back says. “If your father was still here, he would’ve known how to deal with it. And you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He throws TJ a dangerous look, one that I can tell means business. We all know what he’s talking about. They want me fired.
“But my father isn’t here. I am. So you’ll have to deal with me, and I’m not going to just throw away her opportunity over one mistake,” he growls, tapping his own chest. “She’s my responsibility, and I can vouch for her. She’ll be an asset to this company. Trust me on this.”
The men sit back in their chairs, watching him with hawk-like eyes. Some play with their pens as if they’re judging him without saying a word.
Awful.
“You’re responsible for her,” the older man at the end of the table says, narrowing his eyes.
TJ nods, and for some reason, it feels like they just made some kind of compromise.
“Give me a second to solve this, and I’ll be right with you,” TJ tells them, and then he pushes me and escorts me out the room.
Right before he closes the door, I turn back to the men. “I’m so sorry about my mishap. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
TJ quickly shuts the door and flips me around so he can talk face to face. “Don’t come back here. Just let me do my thing. I’ll have Darla bring new coffee and cookies to shut them up.”
I snort from the idea of them choking on cookies. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “It happens.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say.
“What?” he asks.
I smile tentatively. “Stick up for me.”
“No,” he replies, smiling softly. “But I did it because I like you.”
He likes me?
He’s actually admitting he likes me? Well, that’s something I didn’t expect to hear from his mouth.
“Uh …” I swallow away the lump in my throat, thinking of what I should say. “I like you too.”
The door suddenly opens, and we’re interrupted by the older man who growls, “Can we get back to business now?”
TJ clears his throat, distracted as he glances over his shoulder at the man. “Yeah, of course.” His hand disappears from my shoulder, but I can still feel the imprint as he turns and goes back inside. Before the door closes, he whispers, “Good luck with Pepper. Let me know when you’ve got something good.” One final wink and he’s got my heart soaring.
Fuck me. This is so not going how I thought it would.
Chapter 9
TJ
With a letter opener, I cut through the paper and open it. A small card is the only thing tucked inside with handwritten text on it.
I know what you’re doing. Don’t think you’ll get away with it.
I flip the card, but there’s nothing else. My nostrils flare, and I wonder if I should do something with this or not. As a CEO, it’s not unheard of to get threats, verbal or physical, and I usually shrug them off, since they’re mostly directed at the company.
I just wish this one wasn’t so ominous … and personal.
Grinding my teeth, I tear the card into tiny pieces and chuck it in the bin. Then I pick up my coffee and walk out of my office.