Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“That’s Gavin’s list, not mine.”
“And yet, Debbie is on it and was all over you?” she challenges. “Seems like it might be yours. And that’s fine. I said no. You have a right—”
“Holy shit,” I growl, “leaving that list on my desk was a fuck-up and a half. I get that. Gavin shoved it at me and I tuned it out. And I would have shown it to you anyway, Bella, just not like that. I haven’t lied to you. You have to see that.”
“You and Debbie—”
“Gavin was behind that, Bella. He told her to come on to me, which may well have cost her her job. I told her not to come back to work until I decide what to do with her.”
“Marry her, Tyler,” she says, her voice choked up. Her throat bobs and she adds, “Because I am not your fake fiancée and that will not change.”
“Nothing about us is fake, Bella.”
“The only thing real about us, Tyler, is the sex.”
The damn elevator is too fast, and we’re already on the lower level. “I have a lot to say about that statement that I can’t say properly in the next thirty seconds. I have to deal with Duke. I’ll come over afterward.”
“I won’t be home.”
“Are you really serious right now Bella? No to Becker.”
“You don’t tell me no, Tyler. It’s business, and you should be happy I still want to do this job. I’m going to sign Becker, not fuck him. Unlike you, fucking is not all I have on my mind. Do not show up at the show and embarrass us both or I swear to you, Tyler, you’ll have my resignation in the morning.” The doors open and there are about ten people waiting to get on.
If I could shout at everyone and not have the police called on me, I would right now. And that’s not me. That’s not even close to the cool, calm, in-control person I was raised to become. Bella exits the car and I intend to follow, but three fuckers get on instead of waiting for me to get off. The minute I can shove my way out, I’m running after Bella, but it’s too late. She’s already on the garage elevator. I rush down the stairs but when I exit in a huff of deep breaths, her damn car is pulling away. She must have run to her car. I’m running to her and she’s running away from me. And to Becker.
***
Fifteen minutes later, I’m sitting across from Duke with a clean shirt on, a whiskey in my hand, and Bella on my mind, when he says, “I heard Becker was here the other day. You signing him?”
I down my drink. “I’m not going to answer that question right now for fear I’ll say something we’ll both regret.” I set my glass down a little too firmly.
“I was afraid you’d say that, but I respect the privacy issues. Just know his current management is not playing ball. We want to play ball.”
The only thing I’m going to play with Becker is a fist to his face, but for now, I refill my glass. I might not know where they’re going to dinner, but I know where to find them later tonight. I’ll be going to that show.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Bella
My heart beats so hard and fast I think it might explode.
I arrive home, kill the engine, and just sit in my car with my father’s famous quote playing in my head: Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your heart on fire. I don’t think he meant my boss, but I don’t give him enough credit for inspiring me or supporting me. The man is a wildly successful NASCAR driver and he didn’t get there the easy way, either. He struggled to get sponsors. He struggled to get the right car. His parents thought he needed a real job.
My parents are warriors.
I’m a warrior, too. Tyler will not break me.
I huff out a breath and force myself to exit the vehicle, aware that the nanny and my puppy await me. They are both wonderful, but only one of them will lick my tears. The other will ask questions I don’t want to answer. But I’ve survived brutal executives without tears, and I can survive a walk through my apartment without falling apart.
Molly greets me at the door, and I bend down to love on my little ball of joy. The nanny is as sweet and eager to help as possible. “I thought you had a show to attend tonight?”
“I do. I have a bit of time though and I want to rest and freshen up.” I kiss Molly. “And see this darlin’.”
“Of course,” she says. “I know it’s hard to be away from her. She’s really learning her potty training, too. “