Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
He didn’t flex that much because this entire apartment is a testament to money not well spent.
I haven’t bothered to change anything because my home has never been my sanctuary. My office is the closest I have to a place I feel comfortable in.
I take a seat in a chair opposite where Evangeline is. It affords me a clear view of her and offers the distance I need right now.
She’s been in this apartment countless times but never with me. This is a new experience for both of us and considering how my body was reacting to her throughout dinner, I need to keep at least a few feet between us because the temptation to kiss her is reaching a fever pitch.
After downing another mouthful of coffee, she places the cup on the sleek silver coffee table that separates us. “You must be wondering what I said to Lottie about you.”
Smoothing a hand over my thigh, I cross my legs and lean back in the chair. “How could I not wonder about that?”
“None of it was that bad.” She winces. “I mean, some of it wasn’t great, but it was only frustration talking, sir. You’ve been an all right boss.”
I manage to hold in a smile but don’t say anything because I assume she’ll rephrase.
“You’ve been very good to me.” She lets out a breathy sigh.
My cock takes a liking to that sound, so I try and calm the bastard down by thinking of anything other than her saying that exact phrase to me after I’ve fucked her for hours.
“You pay me well.” She smiles. “I get to be outside a lot, which is great in the summer.”
I appreciate that she’s selling herself on all the positive points of the job, but she has reason to complain. I’ve never viewed myself as comparable to my business partners when it comes to how we treat our executive assistants.
I’ve taken an approach that leaves no room for friendship or anything beyond that. It’s always worked for me, but this situation is unique.
We’ve both agreed to be an important part of Charlotte and Randall’s wedding ceremony, but I’m viewing my role in a far broader sense than an average best man would.
I see unlimited potential to pad Vidori’s bottom line.
Azelius Spas and Emmel’s are up for grabs, and if I play my cards right, I’ll have both companies in my palm before the ink is dry on the marriage license.
“If you give me another chance, Mr. Hunt, I promise it won’t happen again.”
The pleading note in her tone isn’t lost on me. If circumstances were different, I might consider firing her out of pure pettiness, but her involvement in Randall’s upcoming nuptials changes everything.
I have no doubt Charlotte would be pissed if I sent her maid of honor out into the street without a job. That, in turn, would turn Randall against me and I’d have to kiss my chance to own Azelius and Emmel’s goodbye.
“I’m not firing you tonight,” I say, giving her the reprieve she desperately wants.
Her beautiful face lights up with a smile. “Really, sir?”
I nod, knowing that I need her to drop the formality of calling me Mr. Hunt and sir if I’m going to get what I want from the almost newlyweds.
“Start calling me Reid,” I suggest.
“Reid,” she tests it on her tongue with a slow drawl. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Her shoulders drop as if the weight of the world is falling from them. “You’re allowing that because we’re both in Lottie’s wedding, right?”
I ignore that because she knows the answer to the question. It’s obvious since before tonight, I fully expected her to call me Mr. Hunt.
“How long have you known Charlotte Emmel?”
I’ve been surprised since I realized the two women are friends. If I had known my assistant was a friend of the Emmel fortune heir, I would have requested an introduction months ago. I would have asked the same of Randall if I had any idea he was involved with Charlotte.
“It’s Rushing,” she corrects me. “Her surname is Rushing. Her mom’s dad was the founder of Emmel’s but he passed away not that long ago. That’s been hard for Lottie.”
Rushing. Emmel. Regardless of her last name, Charlotte is the current owner of Emmel’s.
“Back to your question.” Evangeline rubs her left eye, leaving a smudge of mascara beneath it. “I’ve only known Lottie for a few weeks. I met her the day I was picking up your watch from the jeweler. She was there for her engagement ring since it was getting resized.”
I’m surprised they met that recently, but I don’t show it.
“We hit it off since we were both waiting.” She lets out a small yawn. “We met for dinner that week, and that’s when she asked me to be her maid of honor.”
“I see.”
She leans back into the couch. “We went to Paris for the weekend and then did a bunch of fun wedding stuff here in New York. I thought I was doing her a favor since she said she doesn’t have any friends.”