Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57874 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
”I love you, honey,” I told Cody.
He smiled at me across the table and with a mouth full of fake cheesy goodness, he responded with, “I love you, too, Mommy.”
I promised myself that after dinner I would make the call to tell Ethan I wouldn’t do it. Nothing good could come from saying yes.
Chapter 3
Cody was working on what qualified as homework for a six-year-old. I could hear him laughing in the living room as I filled up the sink to let the dishes soak. When they were submerged under scalding hot, soapy water, I checked on Cody once more and then headed into the hall with my phone. I didn’t exactly want to call Ethan Chambers tonight—or any other night—but I would. Clutching the card he’d given me tightly in my hand, I dialed the number on it with trembling fingers.
I will not be afraid of Ethan Chambers, I told myself firmly, for all the good it would do. I was already petrified and I knew it. He probably did, too.
The phone rang a couple of times before I heard it click as someone on the other end picked up. “Chambers,” he said simply, his voice deep and rich. It could have been a nice voice if it weren’t attached to such a horrible man.
Clearing my throat, I said, “It’s Diana. Diana Leone.” I paused a beat, then added, “The owner of The Cut?”
“I know who you are, Diana Leone,” Chambers answered with what I imagined as an amused smile on his handsome face. “I have to assume you’re calling about my offer.”
My stomach knotted with nervousness. People didn’t just turn down Ethan Chambers and that was exactly what I was about to do. “Yes,” I answered, struggling to get out anymore.
“Have you had time to think it over?”
I swallowed and took a deep breath. Then I forced myself to answer. “Yes, I have. I’ve…I’ve made up my mind.”
“And?” he prompted when I left that statement hanging in the stretch of empty airspace between us.
“While your offer is very generous, I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline.”
There was a long pause, then, “What?”
I pulled myself up taller, even though he couldn’t see me. “I can’t do the deal, Mr. Chambers. I really just can’t.”
There was a silence long enough that I thought he’d just hung up on me, but then I heard his low, deep voice. And this time, it wasn’t so pleasant. “Is there a particular reason you’re declining, Diana, my dear?”
I didn’t like that he was using my first name while I was still trying to be businesslike. It told me that he didn’t care about business so much. Instead, my turning him down…it was personal. And that wasn’t good.
Just tell him you can’t because of legal reasons. He’ll have to go along with that, right?
“It’s just that there’s so much red tape, and I’d have to ask my lawyer about subletting because I just don’t know anything about it, and I run a clean, legitimate establishment and I—” I was rambling so fast, the pace matching the heavy thumping of my heart. I tried to slow down and enunciate, to sound like I was in control, but, really, I was scared. This man had power and connections and I didn’t want him making trouble for me. Which was why I continued to spew excuses at him over the phone.
“Jesus Christ, woman!” he finally burst in, his voice raising in volume quickly. “You don’t need to bring fucking lawyers into this. You don’t need to be talking to anyone about anything. This is just a friendly business deal between two friends. An arrangement on a handshake. I mean, damn, this doesn’t have to be complicated.”
I recoiled at his sudden intensity and anger. I was grateful that he couldn’t see me, the phone effectively hiding me and my cowardice. It was the only way I maintained the strength in my voice when I told him, “I appreciate the offer, but I just can’t take risks with my business right now.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” he spat at me, his tone going from high volume to low again. But this time it was silky with the promise of danger. “You need the money. I know you do. Everyone needs the fucking money.”
I swallowed. “I can do without it.” And I could. I would. I’d made it this far and I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me into doing something that I wasn’t comfortable with.
“Listen, woman, no one’s going to be bothered if you’re doing a little bit of extra business on the side. All you’re doing is renting out a storage room, not letting some criminal take up residence there on a six month lease.”
“I’m sorry, but my answer’s still no.”
“This isn’t over, Diana Leone,” he said and this time the threat was clear.