Total pages in book: 224
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 215705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1079(@200wpm)___ 863(@250wpm)___ 719(@300wpm)
“Our father is the problem,” he says. “That’s call number three. He feels you’ve undone the effect of the debt payment between him and West. He threatened to walk away from the consulting job he’s doing in Europe and return home.”
My jaw clenches. “You mean because of Carrie.”
“Exactly.”
“I only got involved because of his fucking stroke and the state he and our dear uncle left our reputation in the first place. And I made a deal with West and our father. They get out of town. This wasn’t Carrie’s debt or ours and yet we’re the ones paying for it.”
“Her father tried to make it ours,” Gabe reminds me. “You know that.”
“They both did and they failed. I didn’t let them make this about the younger generation of our families. I won’t let them. This isn’t our war. I thought you agreed.”
“I do,” he says. “Just making sure I know where we stand. I thought maybe Carrie had become a weapon for you.”
“No.”
“That’s a short answer. What’s the story here on you and Carrie? The real story?”
I rub the back of my neck and look at him, my brother, who outside of what is blooming with Carrie, is the only person I actually trust in this world. “I don’t know,” I answer honestly.
He leans forward. “I don’t remember ever hearing you say those words.”
“Because I don’t say those words,” I bite out.
“Are you sure she’s not the enemy?”
“Yes,” I say. “I am.” I scrub my jaw. “If she was, it wouldn’t matter though. I’d turn her.”
He studies me a few beats. “I get it,” he finally says. “More than you know. The question is, does she know about the debt?”
“Hell no. You know we have a gag order. You know what’s on the line if this leaks and she’d confront her father if I told her.”
“Of course, she would. I sure the fuck would.”
“And honestly, man. As much as not telling her is killing me, I think of mom’s letter. I think of how much I didn’t want to know what I know. Carrie is a good person, too good for me. I don’t want her to go through the awakening I did.”
“But you’re glad you did. I know I sure the hell am.”
“I needed to get my shit together. She doesn’t.”
“Her father will always hold this secret over you.”
“And ultimately he’ll use it and she’ll hate me. I know, but what the fuck am I supposed to do, Gabe?” My cellphone rings and my jaw clenches. I grab it and look at the number, standing up and walking to Gabe’s window as I answer, “Yes, Mr. District Attorney. I’m going to break a rule and say please, do not make another insulting offer.”
“Three o’clock. My office. My final offer.”
“Tell me now.”
“No,” he says, and hangs up.
Gabe steps to my side. “No deal?”
“There’s a deal,” I say. “He’s just being a pain in my ass to get there,” I say the words, but my mind is already back on Carrie.
Gabe knows too, returning to her with me. “You just met Carrie,” Gabe says, joining me. “Right now, you can’t say anything.”
“Thank you, brother,” I say, looking at him, “for confirming, my fucked-up situation.”
“What’s a brother for,” he says, “if not to ground you in reality of just how fucked your life is right now?”
Carrie
I arrive to work feeling motivated and smelling like Reid. Literally. I forgot my perfume, and without really thinking about the potential fallout of spraying myself in “him” I doused myself in his cologne. After which, I’d inhaled with the brutally perfect spicy smell of me because, well, I love how he smells. I’d proceeded to head to work feeling motivated to score that big number goal Reid has inspired me to achieve. He saved my company. He gave me a chance to lead its future. He made me think big, and I need to think big to be CEO.
I walk by Sallie’s desk, offer her a cheery “good morning” and claim my seat behind my desk. She then dashes into my office, stands in front of my desk and says, “Who is he?”
I blink up at her, hating the rush of heat to my cheeks. “What are you talking about?”
“You smell like a man and you have a glow about you.”
“I smell like a man,” I say, and with a completely straight face, continue with, “as in sweaty and I need a shower?”
She smirks. “You know what I mean. Like cologne.”
“In other words, my new perfume is a no-go.”
“That’s perfume? It smells manly.”
Because Reid is manly, I think, before I reply with, “Like I said. Ditch the new perfume.”
“What kind is it?”
“Some sample in my makeup order.” I change the subject. “Anyone present any grand ideas for Elijah?” I ask, despite the fact that Elijah is a no-go, because no one knows that yet, and I can use the ideas elsewhere.