Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Not a pleasant feeling to be sure.
Lifting her head, she took a final deep breath and walked to the door and across the pristine white, gray, and emerald tile floor. She paused at the desk and looked at the woman seated there, her blonde hair gathered up in some fancy twist, her prominent cheekbones, on display.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Morning. I was hoping to schedule an appointment with Mr. Strauss.”
Blue eyes drifted over her as she typed on the keyboard. “Is he expecting you?”
“No, that’s why I said I would like to schedule an appointment.”
Her phone range and Rayla took a fortifying breath as the woman answered. She gazed around the lobby pleased it welcomed visitors instead of giving off a sterile vibe.
“Mr. Strauss will have an opening in three weeks.”
Of course.
She nodded. “I’ll take it.” What was another setback in the long line of them she had experienced?
“Morning Ms. Aviso,” a deep voice rolled around her.
“Mr. Keefe.”
Rayla knew that name and when the man moved by her she knew she’d been spot on, it was Xavier’s business partner, Darien Keefe.
He stepped into the elevator and smiled at her before allowing the doors to slid closed. Before they could shut fully, he pushed a tanned hand in and cocked his head to the left as he glanced at her. “Ms. Hunter?”
“Yes sir?”
“Come up with me. I know Xavier would love to see you.”
Her feet didn’t listen and he beckoned to her twice before she could convince them to move toward him. He remained silent as she edged by him into the elevator car. The door slid shut and they were on the move.
Darian touched his ear. “Yeah, I got her, we’re on our way.” A warm smile. “He’s been waiting on you to show up.”
She scrunched her forehead before smoothing it out. The silver door glided open without a sound and Darian gestured for her to preceded him.
It dangled on the tip of her tongue to ask how he knew and why this man had been waiting on her, but she found the wherewithal to keep the question contained. A man stepped into view and rested a shoulder against the wall.
Xavier.
Dressed in a three-piece, much like her father did, this one also fit him as her father’s did him. However, unlike with her father, seeing this man didn’t send fissures of fear through her that she would be injured. Her ribs still hurt.
Dark blue pinstripe and he wore the suitcoat with two buttons done. A small smile curled up the sides of his mouth and his sea green eyes weren’t as hard as she recalled them being when she’d seen him in DC.
“Ms. Hunter.” A little nod. “So glad you decided to come by.”
Darian squeezed her arm. “See you around, Ms. Hunter. Xavier,” he said with a nod as he walked down the hallway Xavier had come from.
“I appreciate you taking the time but your person at the front desk said your next appointment isn’t until three more weeks, so how is it exactly you have been waiting for me?”
“Your father called me a few weeks ago thanking me for,” his lips flattened, “taking pity on you and giving you a job.”
Of course he had. Embarrassed beyond belief, she dipped her head to look at the gray and emerald swirled carpet beneath her feet.
“Make no mistake, Ms. Hunter. I didn’t get to become a billionaire by wasting my time so I’m not sure what pity I am taking but if you’d like to follow me into my office, we’ll start going over your job requirements.”
She jerked her head up. “You…you are okay with me working here?”
A rare smile. “I’m aware of what you went to school for, Ms. Hunter. Plus, my wife really likes you so yes, come along.”
Her sharp breath of excitement hurt her still recovering ribs and she struggled to hide her wince. From the narrowing of his gaze, he caught the move.
“Seems like your boyfriend was right and you do need protection.” He pivoted and strode off down the hall.
My boyfriend?
“I don’t have time to waste, Ms. Hunter. Come along.”
She followed even as her mind raced to make sense of what had just happened.
* * *
αβ
* * *
“Just what the fuck were you thinking was going to happen when you took photos of that crime family? The Abdulov family? Really? Are you fucking stupid?” Hands clenching and unclenching for the simple reason he would kill his brother if he touched him a single time as rage thrummed through his veins.
“Of course not. But what I was thinking is that I was doing my job as an investigative reporter!” Tyler’s face was flushed with his own ramped up emotional state.
“And Rayla? You what, thought it would be funny to get her in their sights?”