Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I grimace as I step up behind Alina and kiss her on top of the head goodbye. She seems surprised but equally suspicious, and I simply explain, “I just got a new job. I’ll have my driver pick you up and return you home. Sorry, I can’t drive you myself.”
“That’s fine,” she replies, perplexed. “I can get an Uber.” She twists completely in her chair and says in a hushed tone, “Is everything okay?”
“Of course.” And then I look to my lawyer. “Whatever she asks for, provide it for her.”
My phone starts buzzing again, and Thomas’s name appears on the screen.
I don’t have a good feeling about this at all.
I answer it as I walk out, leaving Alina behind with a bet won and a new plane to sell.
CHAPTER 25
Alina
Ihaven’t seen Will for two weeks, which surprisingly leaves me with mixed emotions and ultimately pisses me off. I knew it was only sex, and that’s what we signed up for. It was a stupid bet where I somehow ended up with a plane. But it’s the way he left and then up and vanished. Considering how persistent he’d been previously, I thought I’d see him at least one more time.
But I’m not here for Will; I’m here to focus on my project, which is coming along swimmingly. Without Will’s presence, I’ve been able to focus almost every waking hour on it. I moved from the hotel into Honey’s old apartment, which I absolutely adore.
I never knew where I’d end up permanently. I was ecstatic that my job took me to all kinds of places in the world. But a small part of me thought I’d somehow end up in London and living there for the rest of my life. But in Honey’s apartment in the heart of New York… I can see myself living right here. I love this place.
While the construction continues in the shop, it gives me time to focus on future projects. I’ve been sought out by another club back in London, and I’m seriously considering taking the job. I’m inclined to because there’s nothing keeping me here after the project.
I’ve also become close to Honey and Rya in my time here. I’m currently sitting across from them, picking at my lasagna. For some reason, I feel off. I love pasta, and I feel like my funk has everything to do with the fact that I haven’t heard from Will.
“Is everything okay?” Honey asks, concerned. Her stomach seems more prominent tonight, but that could be because I haven’t really seen her in the last week, with all the heavy construction happening in the store.
I look up, realizing she and Rya are both staring at me. “Yeah, of course” I say, defiantly taking a bite of lasagna.
“You look like you need a night out,” Rya suggests, biting into her lentil salad, and I’m not sure if she’s suggesting it more for me or herself.
“And your husband would be okay with you going out on the town?” I ask somewhat mockingly.
Her lips tip up into a smile. “I’m past the days of enjoying clubbing. But to piss my overbearing husband off, I might be so inclined.”
We both laugh at her.
“So did you sell the plane?” Honey asks curiously.
I put the fork down and take a sip of my red wine. “Yeah. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. Sold it within a week.” The money has since been sitting in my account, and I’ve stared at all those zeros, thinking about all the things I can use it on. I could never work a day in my life again if I wanted to now, but I have no intention of stopping. I enjoy what I do, but there’s a strange profoundness around my future.
I bite my bottom lip and finally build the courage to ask, “Have either of you heard from Will recently?” I don’t enjoy inquiring about him, in case they think he means more to me than he does, but it also doesn’t sit right with me that he up and vanished right after he literally gave me a plane to sell.
Honey and Rya look at one another. “He’s probably on a job. He dips out of contact from time to time. He gets pretty laser-focused.”
I can’t imagine it. But then I remember how focused he was, giving me multiple orgasms.
Honey adds, “Dawson also mentioned that this is the longest he’s probably stayed in one city. He seems to jump around a lot on jobs.”
“Why do you ask? Missing the sex?” Rya asks with a provocative smile.
“No,” I reply far too sharply before taking a sip of wine, and she chuckles.
I told them Will and I hooked up for one night. I did not tell them how many times that one night. But I’m not really one to overshare my business. Maybe that’s part of being an only child. Honey and Rya seem to share everything with one another, and I like seeing how they interact with one another.