Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61160 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
She left the room, and I redressed.
Tucking the ultrasound into my purse, I stood in the lobby and waited for Madison’s car to appear.
My phone buzzed seconds later, but it wasn’t her letting me know she was close.
It was two new emails from Tyler.
Subject: Your phone number
I just received the results for the issue you blind-sided me with today. We need to talk.
Tyler
Subject: & Your Address
I prefer to meet in person at my place, but if you don’t want to do that, give me your address (it’s not in the company directory), and I’ll come over right now.
Tyler
What the…
Subject: Re: & Your Address
You think I want to talk to you about this issue at 3 o’clock in the morning? (Spoiler alert: I don’t.)
Chloe
Subject: Re: Re: & Your Address
If I leave our time for conversation up to you, we may never have one. (Spoiler alert: That’s not happening.)
Tyler
Subject: Re: Re: Re: & Your Address
I’ll happily draft some terms and conditions, and we can negotiate things from there.
I’ll be more than fair, and I think you’ll be happy with what I come up with.
Chloe
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: & Your Address
I’d be ‘happier’ if you gave me your address…
Tyler
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: & Your Address
I’ll pass. You didn’t appreciate the place much last time.
I’ll see you around at work.
Have a good night’s sleep.
Chloe
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: & Your Address
If you don’t respond with your address within the next five minutes, you and I are going to have a problem. (Spoiler: You won’t like the way I solve it.)
Tyler
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: & Your Address
Threatening your child’s mother won’t be a good look in court. *saving this message* *awaiting this ‘solution’ you have*
Chloe
He sent me three more messages, but I didn’t dare open them.
I needed to contemplate yet another bombshell.
Around the Edges
Tyler
Seattle, Washington
Days later
“Oh, no! You should look into hiring someone to make that for you, Mr. Carrington.” Hazel walked into the employee break room. “The two of us are far too busy to make our own beverages.”
“I’m honestly not sure if Americans are capable of making proper tea,” I said, opening cabinets in search of a tea kettle. “I’m fine making it myself for the time being.”
“Nonsense!” She took the teacup from my hands. “I’ve researched exactly how to do it, and I’ll tell all the interns to follow my exact instructions.”
I leaned against the counter as she placed my cup under a Keurig, filling it with hot water. When the machine finished, she grabbed a pre-packaged tea bag from a box called “Instant Brew Tea,” and set it in the cup.
She stirred it with a spoon a few times, then, for some strange reason, left the tea bag inside and added a few ice cubes.
“There!” she said. “Now it’s Southern style like my cousins make it, and all you need is sugar. We Americans know a thing or two about tea, after all, huh?”
This is not tea. “You didn’t put any milk in it.”
“Ew!” She scoffed. “Why would I?”
She wasn’t even worth giving a blank stare. I had yet to work a full week with this woman, and I couldn’t figure out how on earth she became the CEO. How she’d managed to come off as highly competent in the small chat threads before I arrived was a mystery.
Setting down her brewed cup of disaster, I clicked my pen. “Have you seen Miss March today?”
“Yeah, she’s here early as usual.” She shrugged. “She sent me all the files you asked for already if that’s what you’re after. They’re on your desk.”
I pretended to write something on my notepad.
Either Chloe was here in ghost-form for another day in a row, or she’d mastered the art of avoiding me. She answered my emails and completed her work, but I had yet to see her grace my presence since the day she walked out of my office.
“When do you want to go over the gala invitations for the bestselling authors?” I asked.
“The gala is months away, Mr. Carrington. I haven’t even bought my gown yet.”
“I know, but it’s one of the book industry’s biggest nights. We should have all the preparations done in advance, right?”
“I’ll have to talk to Chloe about all that,” she said. “I’ll get back to you by the end of the day, though.”
“Okay…” I glanced at our joint schedule. “What about tomorrow’s meeting with the social media director? Did you get a chance to read her comments and concerns?”
“Once again—” She patted my shoulder as if I was a young child learning a lesson. “Chloe handles light things like that for me because my time is far more valuable than hers. I handle the heavy stuff.”
“Do you mind telling me what this ‘heavy stuff’ is?”
Before she could answer, the Ghost of Chloe suddenly entered the room.