Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
She admitted she had been trying to poach Kelsey from Black Industries for years and wondered if she could be persuaded to return to a corporate role for a senior position with Marigold’s.
I warned her that she’s probably too late—Kelsey’s determination is unyielding when it comes to her goals—but that there was only one way for her to find out. She had to call Kelsey and ask.
Kelsey seemed excited to have been offered an interview, so I’m interested to learn if she accepted their proposal or if she’s going to continue forging ahead with plans that have been at a stalemate the past two years.
I’ll call her for an update as soon as I’ve let Noelle in.
When I open my front door, the person on the other side isn’t who I’m anticipating. I only glanced his way for two seconds yesterday afternoon, but not even the hideous cut of his tailored suit can conceal his identity.
Why the fuck is Kelsey’s ex standing outside my apartment?
“Peter…” I have to force his name out of my mouth, not to mention the rest of my greeting. “What are you doing here?”
I’m given an answer by Casey, who has just picked up my phone, instead of the douche across from me. “It’s Emma. She said it’s urgent. Something about the refund you processed this morning.” Casey stops halfway into the entryway when she notices Peter. Her brows furrow as she mumbles to herself, “I thought Mom hired Noelle to make her cake?”
“She did.” I offer an introduction I’m confident Peter doesn’t deserve. “Casey, this is Peter, Kelsey’s ex. Peter, this is Casey, my sister.”
“Oh… shoot,” Casey whispers heavily before diverting her focus to my cell phone squashed to her ear. “He’s going to have to call you back.” As she returns to the kitchen, I hear her say, “He’s talking to Kelsey’s ex. Kelsey… the woman he’s…”
I wait for her words to fade into silence before I focus on Peter. He looks angry. Good. His devastation might be the only way I’ll keep my fists balled at my sides. I’ve witnessed a ton of sly tactics when a relationship ends, but his antics are by far the worst.
“Ex? You introduced me as Kelsey’s ex?” he says, unearthing the reason for the downfall in his mood.
“Yeah. That’s how it generally works when you cheat. They become your ex, and you become theirs.”
“I didn’t cheat.” He has absolutely no class when he spits out, “Fingering someone isn’t cheating.”
“Uh, yeah, it is. But I don’t have time to discuss the semantics of cheating with you. I have a wedding to prepare for…” I stop just before I say, And lingerie to peel off a woman way out of your league.
I usually handle the exes of my clients with more professionalism. It’s understandable that I’m mixing things up this time since Kelsey isn’t my client.
“If you want to talk to someone about it, I have a ton of shrinks on standby. I’ll have my assistant forward you their details.”
“Along with the fifty K you owe me since I’ve changed my mind?”
I chuckle in disbelief. “I owe you fifty K?” When possessiveness flares in his eyes as he nods, I spit out, “If that’s all you think she’s worth, you are way off the fucking mark.”
The fees from the clients Emma canceled this morning so I can delay my departure of Ravenshoe for a few more weeks were four times that amount, and it still isn’t close to Kelsey’s worth.
She’s priceless.
I’m about to slam the door in Peter’s face, when a third person joins our conversation. “Peter?” Stepsister number two skips down the hallway, her excitement increasing with each step she takes. “I thought you said you couldn’t come.”
Noelle curls the hand not lugging a two-tiered cake and sugar decorations around Peter’s waist and snuggles into his chest.
I step back, shocked when I notice the loved-up expression on her face.
“What the… You’re… He’s…”
My bewilderment grows when the last person I want to witness their lovey-dovey exchange freezes halfway down the hallway.
Kelsey’s wide eyes bounce between Noelle, Peter, and me for several heart-clutching seconds before she murmurs, “I shouldn’t have come.”
When she spins on her heels and races for the elevator still idling at my floor, I shout, “Kelsey!”
I race after her, but since I have to barge past Noelle without ruining my mother’s wedding cake, she makes it inside the elevator before me. I only just reach it as the doors snap shut.
When my stab of the call button fails to keep the car on my level, I throw open the emergency exit stairwell and race down the stairs at a million miles an hour.
What Kelsey thinks she saw isn’t close to what is happening, but I understand the hurt she’s facing. My father endures the same pain every time he attends one of my mother’s weddings so he can support Casey and me.