Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
“That painting is horrendous.” Romeo collected his bag. “I’m a fan of Da Vinci, but our boy Salvi looks like he has full-blown cleavage.”
Oliver put a hand to his chest. “I honestly get a little turned on every time I see this painting.”
I flicked his forehead. “You get turned on every time you see The Scream.”
He snapped his fingers, pointing at me. “Hey. There’s an O-shaped mouth in that one. Perfect for a blowie.”
I rolled my eyes, plucking the card and bag from the counter. “You two know nothing about art. Let’s go.”
“I can’t believe you are dragging us to this shithole.” Oliver shook his head as he followed me out the store, Romeo utterly emotionless at his heels. “The things I do for true friendship.”
Ari:
Hey, hottie.
Farrow:
Farrow:
I should have never told you about what happened in the sauna…
Ari:
Nonsense.
Ari:
It’s the first time you’ve done something fun for yourself.
Ari:
And what FUN it was…
Farrow:
I still have orgasmic aftershocks.
Ari:
I can’t believe the entire world is holding its breath to see who he’ll pick, all while you’re riding him like a Ferris wheel in public saunas.
Ari:
Actually, I can.
Ari:
It’s such a YOU thing to do.
Farrow:
Okay. Moving on to the next subject.
Ari:
So, you officially have legal representation now?
Farrow:
Yes. I met with the private investigator, too.
Farrow:
It’s a dream team, Ari. They’re all sharks.
Farrow:
This kind of feels like it’s too good to be true.
Ari:
That’s only because you haven’t had good things happen to you in a very long time.
Ari:
I really think Zachary Sun is your guardian angel.
Farrow:
Funny.
Ari:
Why?
Farrow:
Because I think he’s the devil who just might end up killing me.
The rest of the week flowed like a warm river against my skin.
On Monday, Zach asked that I accompany him to his lunches. Plural.
His intentions were clear. Spend more time together. Get him used to the idea of sharing his life with a woman.
In other words, I’d become his pet. An obedient companion that shadowed him everywhere he went, waiting for orders.
I told myself I went along with it because of the fancy lawyers he’d hired for me, but really, I enjoyed spending time together. Not exactly a compliment, given his competition.
Vera’s company could drive a nun to a dive bar. Tabby and Reggie were more suitable for black-site torture than companionship. Andras’ idea of a good time included intensive training and banana-shaped bruises from his sword.
And my sweet, beautiful Ari lived across the world.
Currently, we sat in Zach’s office, nibbling raw fish and discussing abstract art.
I couldn’t bear it. Not the food, not the scenery, and not the man I spent time with.
“Why do you eat by your screens?” I fidgeted in my chair, slinging my legs over the armrest of the velvety seat and staring at my plate.
Sashimi. Some kind of cucumber salad, accompanied by a green juice.
“Because work never stops.” A piece of toro disappeared into his mouth, but he wasn’t looking at the screens.
He was staring at me.
I picked up the unagi sashimi between my fingers, glowering at it like it personally offended me. All I saw when I stared at it was an octopus.
Zachary Sun had single-handedly ruined sushi for me.
“If you don’t take a break to enjoy all your hard work, what value does it really have?”
“You’re not an animal.” Zach sighed. “Use your chopsticks.”
“I don’t know how to.” I stabbed the raw fish with a single chopstick, using the stick as a skewer to shove salmon into my mouth. “And I thought I was an octopus?”
His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. “You lived in Korea and never learned how to use chopsticks?”
I didn’t know why, but everything this man did made me hot and bothered—even when he frowned, scowled, huffed, and berated me.
Maybe I suffered from Stockholm syndrome. But that would imply that he’d kidnapped me, rather than the simple fact that I’d lost my mind and willingly agreed to be here.
“Nope.” I popped the P, releasing an exasperated breath and pushing my plate away on his desk. “I always use a spoon and a fork. Ari always gives me shit for that.”
To be fair, everything tasted better on Korea’s ultrawide metal spoons.
Zach scowled. “Am I supposed to know who Ari is?”
“My best friend from Seoul.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Sex?”
Jealous?
I was tempted to ask.
“No, thank you,” I replied instead.
“Do not cross me, Farrow. I asked you a question.”
“So? I don’t work for you, Zachary Sun.”
“You literally do.” His lips barely moved when he spoke.
I could tell I was dragging him to the brink of insanity.
I shrugged. “Personal tidbits cost extra.”
His jaw locked.
He pulled his drawer open and plucked out his wallet, tossing a Benjamin between us. “Is Ari a girl or a boy?”
“Girl.” I shrugged. “But that doesn’t say anything about her sexual orientation.”
With an eye roll, he threw me another hundred-dollar bill.
I rolled the money together and tucked it into my waistband.