Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94546 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
He shoves the cakes into my chest, leaving me no choice but to catch them or watch them topple to the floor. “By whom?” I ask once I’ve steadied my juggle.
Darris taps his nose, smiles farewell, then spins on his heels and saunters away.
I remain standing in the middle of the exit, shellshocked into silence. My first guess is the gentleman who tried to buy us lunch, but since he’s necking it with a lady he moved onto within seconds of us rejecting his generosity, I doubt it was him, so I’m utterly clueless as to our gift giver’s identity.
Two seconds later, the lightbulb inside my head finally switches on. Jess follows me when I haphazardly stumble onto the footpath, then her eyes follow the crank of my neck when I peer up at the proprietor sign above the door.
“I should have known,” I murmur more in delight than anger when I spot a recently removed business name above the door. But now I’m curious if this was a recent purchase like the boutique yesterday, or did he only become a foodie after I disclosed a hankering for mousse cake?
I guess there’s only one way to find out.
By the time we weave through a sea of foot commuters, dodge a slurry of lewd comments from a group of rowdy construction workers, and enter the seventeenth floor of headquarters, my nape is dripping with sweat, and I’m breathless more from exhaustion than excitement.
“Here.”
As Jess’s eyes drop to the portion of cake I’m holding out for her, her tongue delves out to lick her lips. “I don’t think that was for me, but I’m not going to say no.” After snatching it out of my hand, she saunters to her cubicle, her steps slower than the ones we used during our race back to the office.
Once she’s out of eyesight, I head for Mr. Potts’s office. We won’t officially move upstairs until the fit-out is complete. I have no clue how long that will take. If Jack’s eagerness for long elevator rides is anything to go by, it could be finished by the end of the week.
“Oh, hi, Elaine,” I push out in shock when I spot her sitting behind Jack’s desk. “Is Ja… ah, Mr. Carson in?”
Sprigs of blonde curls bounce when she shakes her head. “He’s upstairs finalizing the fit-out for his office. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“No. I was just wondering if he had eaten yet? Mousse cake isn’t the best lunch, but it is better than nothing.”
When I jiggle the container in my hand, her eyes spark with happiness. “Ah… now it makes sense.” After dropping her pen onto a pile of paperwork in front of her, she folds her hands on her lap. “I’m sure he’d love something to tie him over until dinner. You’re more than welcome to take it up to him.”
“Oh, no, that isn’t necessary. You can deliver it to him… if you want?” I’m saying no, but my heart is pleading the opposite. Jack said he couldn’t survive ten hours without his lips on mine, and I’m enduring the exact same battle.
“I think he’d much rather you deliver it.” Elaine nudges her head to the door. “Go on. I’ll cover for you until you get back.” Her offer makes me smile. Technically, she’s my boss, so the only person I need covering for is her.
“Okay. I’ll be quick.”
Elaine raises a brow, mutters something under her breath, then shifts her focus back to her paperwork.
After ditching my purse and coat onto my half-packed desk, I saunter to the elevator. I won’t lie. Stupid butterflies weave throughout the clumps of turkey in my stomach. I feel giddy and nervous at the same time.
“Wow,” I push out with a shocked breath when the elevator dings open on the top floor. Jack’s crew works fast. What was an almost gutted office space only hours ago now appears ready to be filled with workers.
“Ms. Henslee,” one of the workers with piercing blue eyes greets when I walk past him.
“Hello,” I reply with my customary response when I don’t know someone’s name. “Have you seen Mr. Carson?”
“He’s in his office.” When my eyes dart in all directions, the builder slants his head to hide his smile. “It’s right next to yours.”
“Oh…” His grin enlarges from my daft response. “Thank you.”
I barely get two steps away. “While I have you…” He waits for me to spin and face him before finalizing. “My crew didn’t mean any harm earlier. They just can’t help but admire a pretty lady when she walks by.”
My brows furrow.
I am completely lost.
“The wolf-whistling and catcalling a few minutes ago,” he enlightens, the brightness on his cheeks picking up. “That was my crew. Well, they were my crew.”
When the truth smacks into me, my mouth gapes open. “Jack fired you because your crew got a little rowdy with their flattery?” Their comments were distasteful but mainly harmless… if you like to be told how many ways you’re about to be fucked.