Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 613(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 409(@300wpm)
“Oh, he was never removed from my radar. With or without you. You said you still want the story, so I’m going to help you get it.” He threw up his hands. “Win-win situation, just like I said. Nothin’ has changed. He’ll be there regardless of your timeline, and I have him in the bullseye. After all is said and done, he won’t rat on anyone else, not even to save his own ass, because that would be an admission of guilt on his own part. He’ll never admit he’s done anything wrong. His ego won’t allow it. It’s a sickness. After what he did to my friend and sister, his ass is going to get his. Period.”
“But I want the story as leverage to get my job back.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear and placed a delicate kiss along her neck. Her breathing got faster, and he couldn’t resist cupping her exposed breasts and giving them each a good squeeze. “Honey,” he kissed her shoulder, “these things have ways of working out. You’ll have that story. We’re still on schedule. I have to teach you how to disarm one of the alarms in his facility, and that’ll take a few days at least because it’s tricky. But other than that, you’ll be ready. Do you feel ready? Be honest?”
She nodded. “I do, actually. You taught me a lot. The doors. The handcuffs, how to behave during the consultation in the examination room, the layout of the entire place. You covered a lot of bases.”
“Okay, then. We’ll deal with him soon, but I want you to understand and remember that with or without that story, it’s their loss if they decide to let you go. You say they’ve blacklisted you, but someone with your level of talent will always have options.”
She hung her head.
“I know… but I loved it there. I’m angry, Archer. Angry at them, and myself.”
“Look, I’m an expert problem solver. This actually can be rectified easily. If there’s no one to fire you, then you can’t be let go, now can you?” She looked at him curiously. “Do you want me to pay Mr. Silver and Teresa a visit? I can make sure your job is safe, but they’re not…”
“No!” She shook her head vehemently as his offer was quite clear. “Oh my God, Archer. Please don’t even consider that. I’ve seen your handiwork. I know you’re serious, but I’m good.” She waved him off as she gave him the side eye, snickering.
“All right, suit yourself.” He sighed. “Whatever you need to live your life, baby, and live it happily, I’ll help you get. Look at me.” He spun her around to face him. “This time I’ve spent with you has been one of the biggest highlights of my life. It’s been a rollercoaster, good and bad, for both of us.” She nodded in agreement.
“Nothing about our relationship has been predictable, and going forward, I expect more of the same. But the one thing that will remain constant is my love for you, Honey. I’ve fallen for you. I don’t fall in love at the drop of a dime. I’m stingy with my time and energy. This thing that’s happened between us wasn’t on my schedule, but the appointment was made and kept by someone or something with more authority than me…”
He kissed her forehead, her nose, then her lips. Her eyes smiled, then her mouth followed.
“Let me take a picture of you.” She grabbed her camera and focused the lens on him.
“A picture of me? For what?”
“Don’t look so paranoid,” Honey quipped. “I just want to. There’s no specific reason.”
“Like this?” He pointed at himself. “You want me to change or somethin’? I have other clothes I can—”
“Nope. The jeans and nothing else is perfect. When I think of you, this is how you look in my mind. You’re most comfortable shirtless, shoeless, and with only a pair of pants on. Let’s go to the living room. The light is better in there.”
Moments later, he stood by and watched the woman work fast. She set up her tripod, light rings, and other shit he wasn’t certain the name of. He began posing—sitting on the couch, standing by the fireplace. On and on it went.
“…Now turn to the left… yeah… head up…”
He followed her instructions as she had him doing different positions.
“You could model, you know that, Archer? You’re gorgeous.”
“Nah, not really. This isn’t something I’d like to do. It’s not my style.”
“I have a hard time believing no one has asked you to model before. You’re tall, fit and muscular. Your eyes, hair and facial structure are impeccable. And that jawline… God. Tell me you’ve not heard this before?”
“I mean, when I was in high school someone did try ’nd get me to model, one of those scouting agent people, but I wasn’t interested then, either. Besides, I’m too old for that sort of thing now, even if I wanted to.”