Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Shelby, I’m exhausted.”
“You’re still drunk,” she barks, crossing her arms over her chest, looking down at me like I’m sure my mother would if she were still alive.
“Please don’t start,” I beg, rubbing at my throbbing temple. “Yesterday was very much a disaster.”
“I don’t doubt it was, but you have a damn phone. You should’ve called.”
Her lecture isn’t doing anything for my building headache. She stands in the same place for several seconds, glaring down at me and breathing heavily in and out of her nose, until she finally sighs and sits down.
“She sat here all night waiting because you couldn’t simply call with an update.”
“I didn’t know she would do that.”
She laughs. A short, derisive laugh that comes out more like a snort than anything else. She whips her dirty blonde hair over her shoulder and stares at me. Her blue eyes are unblinking, and if she were standing, there’s no doubt she’d be tapping her foot, waiting for me to speak. I want to tell her to calm down, but I have a feeling that wouldn’t go over too well.
“I’m sorry?” It comes out as a question, and Shelby’s eyes narrow to slits.
“You aren’t sorry. You’re hungover and stinking up the place,” she barks. “Go home. Shower. Sleep,” she says, not leaving room for arguments. “Pull yourself together, and then get your stupid ass back here tomorrow so we can fill these vacancies and keep this company rising to the top.”
I’ve been schooled by my assistant.
“I can’t. There’s too much to do.”
“And you’re in the proper shape to actually do it?”
She makes a valid point. Between my headache and wayward thoughts of Raven, I’m damn near useless.
“You’re right,” I admit, my head lolling back on my shoulders. “I’ll head home and come back tomorrow.”
She sits back, watching me warily for several tense seconds. “What happened in London, Charles?”
I blow out a harsh breath, groaning in response. This is the last thing I want to get into right now. Shelby has been a godsend to this company and me, but I’m not ready to hear her advice that is overly loud, invasive, and unfortunately, right.
“There are all sorts of rumors circulating. I think it’s best if we make a statement before it causes issues.”
“What rumors?” I say with a deep sigh.
“That you were called home to take control of the London office.”
I nod. No use in denying it. Her eyes widen.
“Seriously? It’s all true?”
“It is, but I’m not doing it.”
She seems to soften at this. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m relieved. This place wouldn’t work without you.”
“That doesn’t mean that bastard won’t press the subject,” I say, growing more tired by the minute.
“And that’s what had you drunk as a skunk last night and running off one of the best new hires we’ve had since opening?”
My eyes narrow. “What do you mean, ran her off? Where is she?”
“Not here,” she says a little too nonchalantly for my liking.
“She didn’t show today? Call?”
“Nope. Haven’t been able to get in touch with her.”
“Fuck,” I growl, banging my fists on the desk.
Shelby jumps in surprise, her hand landing on her heart.
“Jesus, Charles. What on earth was that about?”
I jump to my feet, pacing the floor, running my hand through my hair, searching my mind for answers. I have cocked this up more than I thought possible. Raven’s not stupid and is probably making a formal complaint to HR about my actions.
Not that I don’t deserve it.
I stopped her from leaving, demanded answers, and practically attacked her mouth. Then when that wasn’t enough fuckery, I hurled the cruelest accusations right to her beautiful face.
My hand rises to my cheek in memory of her hitting my face.
I earned any visible mark she left behind.
“What the actual fuck did you do?” she says in a voice that promises violence if I say the wrong thing.
“Nothing,” I say, waving her off.
“You’re going to stand there, hungover, and lie to me? Of all the people in your life, you don’t get to push me away.” She stands up, leaning over the desk. “You obviously caused Raven to run off.”
“You’re wrong.” The lie comes too easily, but Shelby isn’t buying it. Her body language practically screams she’s no idiot. “What do you want me to say?” I bark back.
“The truth is always the best place to start.”
“Fine! Would you like to hear how I showed up drunk at her desk? What about the part where Raven ran off after I accused her of sticking around the office to seduce me?”
“You have lost your damned mind!” she shouts.
“Shelby, please cease the yelling. My throbbing head is in agony.”
“Oh, I’ll make it ache far worse, you dumbfuck,” she barks.
I prickle at her chastising. Silently praying this stops soon, I continue to rub my temples and whisper, “You do realize I’m your boss, right? You can lose this job right this moment.”