Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 19320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 97(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
I've always wanted Stone to notice that I'm a woman, but not like that!
I toss and turn some more, but my mind insists on reminding me of how the rest of the evening went. I felt his eyes on me the entire time, and I was terrified he'd tell everyone about what happened.
But he didn't.
And that's what's driving me crazy now.
Was he weighing the pros and cons of keeping me on V&V's payroll, now that something that mortifying has happened?
Even worse, what if he thinks I set the whole thing up, and I've finally revealed myself to be no different from the horrible secretary they had so many years ago?
A thousand other what-ifs plague my mind, and before I know it, my alarm has already gone off, and whether I like it or not, it's time for me to show up at work.
AAAAAAAARGH!
The lights in Stone and Nic's respective offices are still closed when I arrive, and I bite back a groan when I remember that Nic and Francesca's long-delayed honeymoon begins today.
This means I'll be left alone with Stone for every executive meeting—-
Oh God, he's here.
I barely manage to resist the urge to jump to my feet as the automated glass doors of our office slide open to let him in, and the other employees working in this floor start greeting him.
The distance between us eventually shrinks as he gets moving, and my heart races as our eyes meet.
Stone is devastatingly handsome as always, and it takes everything in me to keep my voice soft and calm as I greet him like I usually do.
"Good morning, Mr. Verhoff."
"Good morning, Mary."
He walks past my desk, and it's only when the door to his private office swings shut behind him that my heart sinks. He's acting like everything's normal, and I struggle to convince myself that's a good thing.
I should just be thankful he doesn't seem to be thinking of firing me.
And besides—-did I really think he'd suddenly act like he finds me irresistible, after three years of ignoring the fact that I'm female?
Stone might not be the playboy his best friend used to be, but I'm also painfully aware that my boss is no saint. Stone hasn't exactly been celibate in the past three years, and I've long stopped counting the number of times I had to take NSFW messages from his one-night stands.
Point is, I'm far from being the first naked woman he's seen, and not only do I doubt I'm going to be the last, but I'm also pathetically certain I'm neither the most desirable woman he's glimpsed without clothes.
Seeing his secretary naked is obviously no big deal for him, and if I needed any other proof that it's impossible for Stone to fall for me, well...
This is it, then.
This is the sign I've been looking for, and I guess I should do as Elaine says. There were a couple of guys from the dating agency that I got along with. Maybe one of them can help me move on—-
"Ms. Cavendish?"
I quickly push all thoughts of men out of my mind and force myself to smile as Brenda, one of the executive assistants working under my supervision, approaches my desk. "What is it?"
"We've received an email from the secretary of Queen Harper of Ramil..."
The rest of the day is thankfully busy, and it's already half past one when I finally remember to take my lunch break. I'm about to leave my desk when my phone beeps, and I bite back a groan when I read Nigel's text.
Nigel: Don't forget you owe me email!
Did I really once delude myself into thinking it's nice to have erotica authors as friends?
All they do is get me into trouble, and this time it's Nigel's turn. I was having dinner last week with Francesca and her "squad" when Nigel started hyperventilating, and I ended up volunteering to help him with his "research".
At that time, I thought all he needed was an extra pair of hands to scroll through Google search results, but I should've known it could never be that simple, and now it's too late to back out.
Mary: I'll have something for you before midnight.
My nose wrinkles as I download the app Nigel's referred me to, and I can't help rolling my eyes when signing up for an account requires me to provide them with my 'baby girl' name.
I'm tempted to type 'This Is Stupid', but since I have to take this seriously for Nigel's sake—-
Spoiled Princess.
A loading wheel pops up on my screen just as I hear someone call my name.
"Ms. Cavendish?"
It's Brenda again.
"There's someone at reception who only speaks Mandarin—-"
"I'll handle it," I say right away.
Our visitor turns out to be a representative of one of our major suppliers in China, and the two years I've spent self-studying Mandarin comes in handy as I play translator between the older man and our warehouse manager.