Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“Hey brat. What’s going on?”
“Are we still on for tonight?” she asks, making me wonder what’s going on underneath all that dark hair of hers.
“I promised you.”
“Yes, but you’re usually working long hours.” She has a point.
“I am, but I’ll be cutting back soon after I find a few people to take the load off. Anyway, is that why you called?”
“Yeah, well, I wanted to just meet you at your office.” A sinking suspicion is playing in my head. I want to tell her to stay away from Petra until I make headway with her, but I might need a middle woman.
“That is a great idea.”
“Cool. I’ll be down in two hours.”
“Is it that late already?”
“Nope, but I have time to kill after my classes. Sorry not sorry.” She hangs up on me because her motive is clear. She wants to meet Petra. I knew she wasn’t satisfied with my explanation yesterday.
I get on my conference call which lasts for nearly the entire time, so when I finally get off it, I go to step out and warn Petra about my sister, but I’m too late.
“Marilyn, are you harassing my assistant?”
“I’m not the one giving her a hard time. Right, Petra?”
“No, your sister’s a sweetheart.” She smiles at her and it’s a genuine one that makes me think they’ll be good friends. Maybe it’s an excellent idea that she’s here to help me smooth things over with Petra.
“I still have another hour.”
“It’s cool. I have a new book to read. Besides, I can teach your assistant all the fun ways to annoy you.”
“Whatever she says…it’s a lie.” I wink at her and then head back to my office before I end up pulling her in my arms.
Working gets difficult when I know that my two favorite women are out there talking. I decide to take some work home because I can’t concentrate and I need to get Marilyn away from her before she goes too far and scares her off by telling her that I’ve never gone out of my way for any of my employees like ordering her special outerwear.
After I pack up my things, I swing my coat on and hurriedly make my way out to find my sister missing and Petra at her desk working. “Where’s my sister?”
“Ladies room.”
“Oh, okay thank you. You can pack up and go home. We’re calling it a day early.”
“Thanks.”
I check my watch twice as I do my best not to beg her to join us. She slips on her coat and hat, scarf, and gloves. “Those look good on you,” I blurt out.
“Thank you,” she blushes and I move a step closer, forgetting myself. I’m inches from her desk when I hear a cough.
“Are you ready, Jack?”
“Yes. I’ve got work to handle when I drop you off, so I can get the rest done later.”
“Well, it’s been a pleasure to meet you, Petra. I hope to see more of you.” We all take the elevator down. Just as Petra exits at the lobby, my sister calls out, “By the way, I’d lose the boyfriend. Long distance relationships aren’t great.” She waves as the doors close, but I feel like I’ve been decked in the gut.
“What the fuck do you mean she has a boyfriend?”
“How could she be that beautiful and still single? Just because you’re picky doesn’t mean everyone else is.”
“Who is this boyfriend?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t talk about him other than he lives in the suburbs so she only sees him on the weekend.”
“We’ll see about that.” We walk into the parking garage and toward my vehicle.
“Why do you care, big bro? She’s only your assistant.” I snarl at her while she giggles, enjoying my anguish.
“I think it’s a sushi night.” Marilyn hates sushi.
She gasps and stops walking outside my sedan. “Don’t be a jerk. Just work harder and maybe not be mean to the girl. She’s under the impression that she’s going to be fired at any moment.”
“I’ll work on it and she’s going to get rid of that boyfriend.”
“Good, because you’re not the only one interested.”
It’s my turn to freeze and look shocked. “You think?”
“Yes. Now, actually, let’s hit up the hot dog stand by my house and then you can go home and think about your future. I can tell you’re going to be shit company and I have a paper to write.”
“So you only set this up because of Petra.”
“Damn right.” She winks and nudges my shoulder. I take her to our favorite little spot near her place and we eat there before I drop her off. Now it’s time to learn to smooth things over with my future wife and make her lose the boyfriend.
As I drive to my condo, I think about my plans. “She won’t be seeing him this weekend,” I mutter to myself, smirking because I’ll keep her very busy and thousands of miles away.