Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“I know you think the world revolves around you, but maybe you could watch where you’re walking,” he says, his glare cold enough to prevent those ice caps in Antarctica from melting.
“Maybe you ran into me,” I volley.
“Except I was standing in the doorway, unmoving,” he says dryly.
“Well, why would you do that?”
“Because I heard you out there and I figured I should probably join you since we’re engaged and in love,” he says, sarcasm dripping with each word. “C’mon. I’ll show you around.”
He engulfs my hand with his, and warmth spreads through me, thawing the ice and making me worried once again for global warming. The man shouldn’t have this effect on my body, especially since I know he’d probably stand by and watch me choke to death without lifting a finger to help me, but my body has felt his warmth, my lips have tasted him, his scent is already ingrained in my brain, and it’s so damn hard to separate what my body feels and what my brain knows.
“Your dad never gets here on time,” he says as he guides me down the hall. “Selene makes him breakfast every morning, and he strolls in around ten.”
It’s so crazy to think about my dad strolling in, let alone so late. He always woke up before the sun came up and worked until late every night. Mom would have to practically pry him away from his desk just to have dinner with us.
We step into a room that I recognize from when I was younger, only it’s been painted and updated.
“This is the break room.” He points at each item. “Fridge, espresso machine, tables to eat at it if you don’t want to eat in your office.”
“I used to eat in here when I was younger, when the conference rooms were being used.”
Memories of my mom packing me my lunch surface, but I push them back, not wanting to get emotional in front of Julian. The last thing I need is to show him any weakness.
“That’s right. I forgot you grew up here.” He glances at me.
“Yeah, we probably ran into each other and didn’t know it.”
“Not unless you were chilling in the mailroom. I was down there for four years, then an errand boy for another three …”
His implication of me starting damn near at the top doesn’t go unnoticed, but I ignore it because I might be new to this company, but I’ve worked hard, and had I applied here without being blood related to the owner, I would’ve gotten the position I’m in with ease.
“When did you start working for my dad?”
“He took me under his wing when I was twenty-five.”
“I stopped coming here when I was fourteen.” With our ten-year age difference, it makes sense I never met him.
“I remember,” he says. “Your dad wanted you to intern here, but you refused.”
“Yeah, by then, I resented his job for taking all his time.”
“Which is something I’ll always regret,” my dad says, making me spin around. “I hate that I didn’t see what I was doing to my family, that I refused to listen. I thought I could buy your love, and I learned the hard way that it’s not possible.”
I swallow down the lump of emotion clogging my airway and nod, incapable of saying anything. Because of my refusal to speak to him for years and then keeping him at arm’s length, he’s never apologized—he’s never been given the chance to apologize.
“I know you don’t understand why I’m so hell-bent on the way I would like the direction of the company to go, but it’s because of my mistakes. I don’t want what happened to me to happen to either of you.”
He glances from me to Julian, and it’s then, in the way he looks at him, that I see how much my dad cares for Julian. He’s not just his COO. He’s like a son to him.
“That’s not going to happen,” Julian says, his eyes locked on my dad’s. “I’ve been running the company successfully for the past seven years, and I have no problem implementing the changes you’d like.”
“I actually have some great ideas,” I add. “I’ve been doing research on corporate childcare, and I’d like to pitch my proposal to you once it’s finalized.”
Dad smiles. “That would be great, which leads me to my thoughts regarding both of you wanting to take over as CEO. After having conversations with a few other employees I was considering and them either not interested or not up for the task, it’s down to you two.” He darts his gaze between us. “Are you sure you’re okay with going up against one another for the position? Your relationship is new and—”
“We’re sure,” I say despite the fact that Julian and I have barely spoken ten words to each other and none of them were regarding what would happen when I got the CEO position. “We’ve spoken at length and agreed there will be no hard feelings toward whoever gets it.” I thread my fingers through Julian’s to emphasize my point.