Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“Reputations,” I repeat. “Their public or private ones?”
“Most of them,” she says, sounding amused, “both.”
“Ah,” I reply, turned on by the sparkle in her eyes. I shouldn’t ask, but I’m curious about both what Evan has said and how Raven feels about it, so I venture, “And what sort of reputation do I have?”
“That depends,” she says, turning the full impact of those twinkling green eyes on me. “Some people say you’re ambitious, principled, and that your work ethic is only outweighed by your brilliance.”
“Some?”
“Others say you can be… brutal, even ruthless. I’ve also heard you described as a menace.” She holds my gaze as she says it, as if studying my reaction.
The way she says that last word sends a thrill through my body, straight to my balls. She makes it sound like… a compliment. To me, it is. I’ve worked too hard to amass wealth and power to be seen as anything less than the ultimate threat.
“I feel like I should thank you,” I say lightly.
Her lips purse as if she’s hiding a smile. “Why are you doing this, Mr. Sharpe?” she asks suddenly. “You said there’s history with you and Evan so you can’t bring me into your firm—which, to be clear, would not be an issue on my side." She pauses, one brow arched as if giving me an opportunity to correct her. I drop my chin in a silent answer, and undeterred, she continues, “But there must be more than merely parading me around like a show pony to irritate him.”
I consider how best to answer her. Some degree of truth seems prudent, but I’m not prone to showing all my cards just yet.
“I’m an asshole who holds a particular grudge for Evan Faulkner. The hatred I feel for him is likely my only vice,” I admit with a sigh. “Long ago, he crossed a line that should never be crossed, and he did it with ease, taking joy in my pain. For that, I will happily watch him suffer and enjoy making him look like a fool, and feel like one too.” I pin her with a cold look, ensuring she sees the depth of my depravity. “Raven, I invited you tonight because I want to see Evan Faulkner’s cocky fucking smile fall at the sight of you on my arm. That moment.” I hold my fingers up, as if I can pluck that precious second and hold it in my hand.
“So, this isn’t about me?”
I’m careful with what I say next. “Yes and no. No, if he hadn't done that to you right before our interview, I would not have made the offer I did and we would not be here now. Then again, if you weren’t his jilted ex, our lunch interview likely would have gone very differently.” I almost tell her I would have hired her without a second thought, but I resist. “Yes, it is about you because I’ve spent a good amount of time since we met wondering first, how Evan got a woman as intelligent and beautiful as you to fall for his shit, and second, why he’d fuck that up. Especially at that time, in my restaurant, by throwing a meaningless affair in your face. It was needlessly sadistic, even for him.”
She winces slightly when I mention Evan’s indiscretion, and for a moment, I regret being so blunt. She swallows thickly before murmuring, “I’ve been wondering the same thing.”
Her eyes glimmer with pain but also anger, and I nod approvingly, glad to see it. “Good. Remember that anger and use it. Tonight, you will be on my arm, and I promise you, that will sting Evan like salt on an open wound.”
She lifts her chin, stubbornly jutting it forward as she resets her armor.
“You will be the talk of the event, so be prepared.” Her eyes widen slightly, as though she hadn’t considered that. “Raven, you’ll be walking in with me, a man who rarely attends these things, and never with a guest. Everyone there will know who you are within moments of our arrival, and they’ll know about your recent relationship with Evan. Not to mention, your beauty could incite wars.” I scan her face reverently before chuckling under my breath at the irony. “In fact, it very well might.” More seriously, I conclude, “Like me, everyone there will have their eyes on you.”
She breathes in deeply and then stills, as if holding her breath.
“I’ll make the introductions,” I tell her, reminding her of the carrot in case the honesty of what we’re walking in to has scared her. “But the charming, the arranging of interviews and meetings? That will be all on your merits, Raven.”
She nods, and I’m pleased to see her rising to the challenge. She clears her throat, her eyes sharp and absorbing everything. She’s in learning mode, which is smart for her. “How do you anticipate tonight’s events?”