Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“I know this is a lot, dear. You’re already working too many hours. Just take it one day at a time. You are a wonderful daughter.” Dedra smiles warmly. “And a wonderful sister.”
“Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.” Tears leak from my eyes. “Sometimes it feels like I’m really sucking at life,” I admit aloud, suddenly feeling like everything that’s piled on my shoulders is just too much to handle, and it’s all about to come crashing down around me.
“This is a lot to deal with. You are only human.”
“Thank you. I’m going to spend some time with my mom before I need to head back.”
I head back inside my mom’s room and spend the next hour with her. She’s momentarily stopped crying while we watch some of her favorite shows she’s recorded. When 5:30 hits, I have to go. I’m already going to be cutting it way too close as it is. I give my mom and Dedra a hug with a promise to visit soon. When my mom cries, begging me to stay, I consider it, but then remember I have a date tonight I can’t miss. On my way out, I grab the bills on the counter I need to pay since my dad stopped paying them the day he walked out on my mom, and lock the door behind me.
The subway is thankfully on schedule, and I make it home with twenty minutes to get ready. Throwing my hair up so I don’t get it wet, I shower quickly, extremely thankful I recently got everything waxed. I get dressed into a cute ivory cold-shoulder lace dress and throw on a pair of brown leather pumps. After switching out my everyday purse for a matching clutch, I head out of my room.
“Hey!” Olivia says, “I didn’t realize you were home!” Her eyes skate over my outfit. “Going out?”
“Umm…yeah, I have a date.” I smile hesitantly, praying she doesn’t give me the third degree about where I’m going and who I’m going with. I’m already running late as it is.
“Okay, well, have a good night,” she says, shocking the crap out of me.
“You too.”
After walking three blocks to the corner, I find the limo waiting for me. The driver opens the door for me, and sitting inside is my date, Andrew Parker. It’s our first date, but I’ve done my research. One of Manhattan’s top financial moguls and on Forbes’s list of top thirty under thirty wealthiest men. He’s staring at his phone, but once I scoot in next to him, he lifts his eyes and grins, politely putting his phone away.
“You look beautiful,” he says smoothly, leaning over and giving my cheek a chaste kiss. “Thank you for joining me this evening.”
“You’re very welcome,” I say while checking him out. With a shaved head, dark brown eyes, and a strong jawline, he almost looks like a bad boy instead of a billionaire. That is until you get to his expensive suit, which probably cost more than my parents’ house, and the TAG Heuer watch he’s sporting, which is more than likely the price of a vehicle I can’t afford. I look closely and notice a bit of a tattoo peeking out from under his dress shirt. More like reformed bad boy.
We arrive at the movie premiere at AMC Lincoln Square. Andrew explains that one of the umbrella companies he owns has invested some money into the film, which is why we’re here. We walk the red carpet and make our way into the theatre. Andrew is stopped a few times along the way, but it’s when he’s stopped by one person in particular my heart just about jumps out of my chest. This seriously can’t be happening.
“Andrew! How are you doing?” Killian says, shaking my date’s hand.
“I’m doing well. It’s good to see you. Making time to see a movie in the middle of the playoffs?” Andrew jokes.
“I figured it was the perfect way to impress my date.” Killian looks over to the beautiful woman on his arm. “This is Rochelle.”
“Nice to meet you.” Andrew nods and places his fingers against the swell of my back. “This is Giselle, my date. We were just heading inside. Why don’t you two join us?”
“Oh, I’m sure—” I begin to protest, but Killian speaks over me.
“We would love to.”
The next three hours are spent with Killian shooting daggers my way while I ignore them and pretend he doesn’t exist. I couldn’t even tell you what the hell the movie was about, and I’m thankful when Andrew tells me he has an early meeting tomorrow, so he unfortunately has to call it a night directly after the premiere party.
Six
Killian
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Olivia hugs me for the third time. “I would normally ask Giselle to babysit, but well… she’s been kind of busy lately, and Corrinne and my dad are having a date night.”