Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
BRETT: Morning, beautiful.
My pulse leaps to my throat, and I can’t help but smile. I love when he uses endearments. Glancing around, I pick up my phone and text.
ME: Morning.
Not gonna lie, the last two weeks have been the best of my life. I straightened everything out with my parents, informing them I met a guy. My dad wasn’t happy, but my mom was thrilled, so that balanced it out. I’ve barely had to see Skylar since I’m hardly at her place, and when I am, she’s either working or locked in her room playing depressing songs over and over.
What started out as dinner morphed into a thing—we’re kind of a couple. Well, a couple who hides inside his house, but come on. He’s the most exciting, brilliant man alive, so being tucked away in our own world suits me fine.
BRETT: Dean Powers is in need of you.
I grin. He’s so deliciously filthy. I prepare to type.
“Who are you texting?” Jordan’s voice makes me let out a little shriek, and I drop my phone.
“Holy shit, you scared me,” I say, my face instantly heating as I reach down to retrieve the phone and plaster on a smile. Great, the whole café is looking at us.
“I thought you saw me,” he grumbles, plopping down in the chair across from me.
Clearing my throat, I set my phone facedown. His eyes follow my every move.
“Look, I’m trying not to be a dick, but I have a lot of shit going on.” He slumps forward and bounces his leg up and down, then sits up.
“Again, I’m so sorry.” I smile supportively, ignoring the vibration on my phone that another text has come in. I mean, I can’t jump up and leave him. That would be awful. He looks around the café, then at me.
“You know who my dad is, right?”
I take a small sip of the last of my cold coffee and nod. “Yes, why?” Jordan does tend to brag. And I’m already going to be in trouble for keeping Brett waiting. My pussy pulses at the thought of that.
“Well, he donates a lot of money to this school.” He moves closer. “He personally asked Dean Powers to put me on his team, and the fucking arrogant prick said no.”
“Oh.” Where is this going?
“Yeah. I’m telling you, he thinks he’s above everything because he passed the vetting process—”
“He did?” Interrupting, but still trying to act casual, I sip the last of my nonexistent coffee.
“Yeah.” He shakes his head as though he’s deep in thought. “Somehow, he has no skeletons that anyone can find in his closet. Do you need more coffee?” He frowns at me as I set my cup down with a rattle.
“No, I’m fine.” Taking a deep breath, I try to school my features into looking calm.
“The thing is, no one doesn’t have some kind of secret. He can’t be perfect is all I’m saying. My dad is fishing around. He’s on the board, you know.” Jordan pulls his phone from his pocket to look at it.
“I thought you said he passed. If he had a secret, they would have found it.”
“Not necessarily. I mean, it’s pretty casual. Run his name through the system, interview a few of his colleagues, that kind of shit. But he fucked with my dad, so…”
I frown and shake my head.
“What?” He looks at me as though I should be on board with this.
“That’s horrible, Jordan. And why would you want to be on his team if he doesn’t want you?” What the hell is wrong with people? Does nobody wish anyone well anymore?
“What are you talking about? Alex, he’s a genius doing groundbreaking work. The people on his team are going to be able to write their own ticket. I deserve to be on his team.” His leg starts bouncing again.
Shaking his head at what I guess is my stunned face, he continues, “Oh, relax. If my dad found anything on him, he’d just use it to urge Dean Powers into doing the right thing.”
“Which is bribing him to put you on his team.” I stare at him, wondering why I’m only now seeing what a pig he is. That old saying keep your friends close but your enemies closer seems fitting right now.
“Exactly.” Sipping his coffee, he nods at his buddies as they leave.
“Okay.” I shrug. “But I think having your dad trying to find dirt on him… is wrong.” I reach for my backpack.
“You’re kidding, right?” He snorts. “Why are you defending him? He thinks you’re an idiot, you know.”
“What?” I stop packing my laptop to stare at him.
“Yes, Alex. He made a comment in our meeting about me dating you. I could tell he disapproves. Christ, maybe he likes to suck dick, and that’s why he won’t let his team have relationships.”
I blink at him. “Who he sleeps with is no one’s business,” I snap, completely uncomfortable. What the hell?