Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
A rapt knock at my door brings the unwanted guest into my presence. “What can I help you with, Jason?”
“Look, Celeste. I’m really sorry about this.”
“How long did you know? Before or after you were staring at my ass this morning?”
“I wasn’t…”
“Don’t lie. It really doesn’t matter. I’m trying to work out how best to give you the material because I have no interest in remaining here for a month to train you. You’re obviously the one they want to keep, so you don’t need the training. You need the material.”
“They’re just trying to pay you out a little longer, so why not stay on and lead me through your projects?” The little piece of shit wants me to do the work for him. He’s out of luck, and I’m out of goodwill.
“I’m going to be fine. Besides, it’s time I started working for myself.”
He straightens his posture and gives me a cold, disdainful look. “You know you can’t poach the company’s clients.”
“I never said that, and you know I can’t steal them because I can’t offer the same level of service without the budget. Still, I will be just fine. Not that it matters to you, anyway. So please let me get my job done.”
“That’s not true. I’m really sorry, Cel. Let me make it up to you. I can take you to dinner.” The damn audacity.
My teeth clench together as I try to control my rage and utter disappointment. “Get out of my office now. I’ll have what you need before I go.” I work late and tuck everything into my bag.
Funny, I got a magnificent apartment because one of the companies we dealt with loved my work and had a spare place to lease. It’s coming up for renewal next month. I’m going to move back into my family home in Holly Hills, it would seem. At least that’s probably the plan.
I was about to leave when I remembered that I had to meet with my grandfather’s lawyer the next day. I sent him a time for eleven, and he agreed, which was good because I had no intention of waking up early after the day I had today.
Taking a quick walk to my apartment, I drop off my things and then I get a message from some of the girls who are heading out. They were let go and wanted to hit the clubs. As much as I want to get shitfaced and forget the loss of my favorite job, I’m not a clubbing type girl, so I shoot them a text and let them know it’s going to be a no for me.
Instead, I decided that I’d just pop into the hotel bar next to my apartment building. I changed into a cute pair of heels and refreshed my look by losing my suit jacket, letting my long hair down, and fixing my makeup.
“I feel better,” I say, checking out my reflection in the mirror. It’s amazing what happens when you add some red lipstick. Grabbing my clutch, I leave my apartment and head out next door.
The moment I step inside, I make a conscious decision to let life happen. I’ve done everything by the book and I got my ass tossed onto the street while jackasses like Jason Vance screw up and screw around and get to keep their jobs. Tonight, I’m forgetting the rules and letting loose.
Walking up to the bar, I’m greeted by a handsome bartender who winks at me. For the first time, I felt good and smiled at him. “I’ll take, um…the special cocktail tonight.”
“It’s a good one tonight, sugar.”
“Don’t call her sugar,” a growl comes from beside me. I turned to glare at him to demand he mind his own business, but my tongue nearly fell out of my mouth. He’s so tall that I have to tilt my head upward on the bar stool. His height and build, mixed with that devilish face, make the bartender seem insignificant—if that’s possible. In a dark gray suit with a white dress shirt and matching gray tie, he stands commanding in front of me. Our eyes meet, and I’m stunned. The snarky words I just let slip are lost on my tongue, and my brain has shorted. With his bright hazel eyes focused on me so intently, I knew he meant business.
He’s strikingly handsome with a face that screams sexy, a chiseled jaw, clean-shaven with the day’s hair just peeking through, medium-sized lips on a stern mouth that is all about power, and eyes that own me.
I remember the words I said to myself when I came into the bar. All rules forgotten.
Chapter Two
Lennox
“Could that meeting have taken any longer? He talks a lot but says nothing of substance. Did you get anything of value from that walkthrough?”
“Not a damn thing except a fucking headache.”