Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Adrian didn’t appear to be that type of man. The place wasn’t an echo chamber that was large for the sake of grandeur. It was cozy and had character with exposed brick walls and some industrial touches. It was a two bedroom with a view, and the few nice furniture pieces, paintings, and even a surprising amount of family photos made it feel more like a home than anywhere I’d ever lived growing up.
It occurred to me that I didn’t even know if he was a billionaire. I didn’t know that I particularly cared, but I also hadn’t met many billionaires who weren’t horrible human beings. There was a certain kind of narcissism that drove men and women to keep playing the game of acquiring wealth past a point. It was hoarding resources for the sake of hoarding resources and competing against their peers.
But Adrian, at least, had noble intentions. That set him apart from the majority of the people who ran in my father’s circles. He wanted to accomplish something, and it had nothing to do with money.
Adrian stopped me once we were in the door and kissed me fiercely. He was a physical being, and once we’d crossed the threshold of accepting our relationship, he could barely keep his hands off me. When his mouth was against mine and our bodies were together, my worries melted away. All I needed to do was hold on and let the moment wash over me like refreshing waves of ocean water on a hot day.
But he pulled away from the kiss, then tucked my head toward him and kissed me once more on the crown of my head. “Go ahead and get yourself set up. I’ve got a call with Myers I need to prepare for. I’m going to head down to the office.”
“Oh,” I said. “Myers? I don’t remember setting that up.”
Adrian had already gone halfway out the door when he paused. He hesitated, then sighed and turned to look me straight in the eyes. “I have a secretary at the office. She’s not replacing what you do, but there are just some inter-office things that’ll be easier for her to arrange since she’s on site.”
“Oh,” I said quietly.
He smiled, but I could tell from the look in his eyes he was already shifting to work mode. It was something I’d learned about him. The man had a one-track mind. Once he got his thoughts on work, it was nearly impossible to peel him away. Worse, he only seemed to devote a minimum percentage of his brain power when he was in this mode to things like noticing my feelings. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said. He gave me another quick kiss, then smiled and left.
I was just standing there feeling gutted when the door closed. Another secretary. It was exactly what I’d been afraid of. This whole thing was a farce. Adrian wasn’t going to really see me as his assistant anymore. I was just his girlfriend, and I was getting paid to keep my head in the sand.
I dragged my little suitcase to the couch and flopped down, turning on the TV. I wanted to watch something to take my mind off everything. I went to turn it on and saw nothing had been set up. The damn thing wasn’t even plugged into the wall yet.
I dramatically sprawled out. At least the couch was comfortable. That way I could wallow without getting cramps in my back.
I picked the situation over while I lay there, then decided to call Lythe. We’d exchanged numbers before I left for New York, and I didn’t want to worry Anastasia by calling so soon after our last talk. There were probably a dozen other people I could’ve called from my old life, but I was still hung up on how none of them had bothered to see through the obvious smokescreen of my “extended vacation.” Lythe, at least, liked me for me. Not for being a Coleton.
“Hey, stranger,” Lythe said once she picked up after a few rings.
“I need some advice,” I said.
“Okay, one sec. I’m in the breakroom. Let me get to my desk.”
I waited, listening to the muffled shuffle of her movements and vague hints of conversation from the office. It was ridiculous, but I already felt homesick for the offices of Coleton Publishing. At least I’d been allowed to show my face there.
“Alright, sorry,” Lythe said. “Bunch of eavesdropping assholes back there. What’s up?”
I hadn’t thought too hard about doing it, but I decided to tell Lythe the full truth about who I was. I left out Adrian’s secrets, but decided those weren’t necessarily needed for the advice I wanted. I also included as much as I dared about me and Adrian’s relationship so far, which came as news to Lythe.