Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
So I start counting, timing each breath. Old trick, calming and soothing.
As I wind down, my brain refocuses. Just enough to notice things about Xavier that hadn’t filtered in before.
He’s not the cleanest man for such a pampered existence.
There’s dirt under his nails.
His eyes are too dilated for the sunlight coming through the office windows. They’re jittery, too, and the pupils aren’t just scanning across the page.
No, they’re leaping, like restless marbles he has to grab and drag back into place.
There’s a clammy film of sweat making his stubble look greasy, even though it’s actually chilly in the office—and his dark-grey tailored suit isn’t heavy enough to warrant it.
Micah would probably know what he’s looking at. He’d be able to identify it with razor precision and insight. I can only guess.
Still, between that and the little tray, I wonder.
Is Xavier coming off a high right now?
For a second, I wonder who he might be, if he’d been born into a different life.
If he had a chance even now to get into rehab and start over—would it matter?—but I’m being naïve again. Because he’s not just a drug addict.
He’s involved in distribution, and that’s a choice.
That’s not an illness.
I feel queasy, sitting across from a man who would make a choice like that and shamelessly being willing to take his money.
“Interesting.” He finally breaks the silence, loudly stroking his chin. “An arboreal theme? Are we dryads, Miss Grey, flying around the branches naked?”
I swallow hard, suppressing a shudder.
“It’s just a concept. If you don’t like it, I could come up with something else—”
“No,” he says sharply. I clamp my lips shut. “But I wonder, what would it take to add water installations in the great rooms to complete the look?”
“Contractors,” I answer immediately. “Lots of them. That’s architecture, plumbing. We’d need to hire consultants. I’m not sure it’ll work, not without ripping up the entire floor in some places. It depends on the room. Some of them have marble flooring, and that’s going to be hard to work around.”
Not to mention, I’m not sure how well it would integrate with the general structure and design of the rooms. I mean, random water fountains and falls indoors?
I guess the customer is always right, but that’s stretching it here.
“Show me,” Xavier says imperiously. “Adjust the sketches and let me see what you come up with. Add the extra costs into your estimate.” His gaze scans over two pages that he holds apart again. He frowns. “I see a few notes here about materials and costs, but not an overall quote for everything, including labor.”
I swallow hard. Talking money makes me nervous, and quoting this price tag feels like death.
“Well, with a few architects involved, it would probably put the estimate at about four million dollars—and that’s lowballing it.” Just saying that amount makes me dizzy. “Also, we’re looking at a minimum timeline of three years. Possibly longer. It all depends on changes through the process, the usual delays, material backorders, staff availability, and time needed to relocate people and functional areas temporarily while large sections of the house are being worked on.”
If anyone told me they were about to send me a bill for over four million dollars, I’d faint.
Xavier doesn’t even blink.
In fact, he smiles faintly, a strange ghostly curl that makes me uneasy.
“Let’s make it easy and round up to five million. Why skimp? I like round numbers and this is a big undertaking.”
I get dizzier. “Five million? But this—”
“It’s not charity,” he replies sharply. “Frankly, I’ll be rather demanding with this project. Consider this advance compensation.”
The way he says demanding feels so slimy that it’s a miracle I don’t grab my phone and hit that button right now.
Instead, I just nod slowly, feeling broken.
“All right. Five million. Very fair. I’ll get the contract drafted and sent over, along with scans of the revised sketches. Typically, for larger long-term projects like these, we break up the payments into a downpayment and then installments. Does every six months and project milestones work for you?”
“Yes. I’ll leave the logistics to you.” He narrows his eyes. “You look pale, Miss Grey. Are you—”
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“Are you about to have an asthma attack?”
I tense, recoiling. “How did you know about my asthma?”
“I’m as much a resident of Redhaven as you are. What ever stays secret in this town? Maybe I’m not as close to the daily gossip as the townsfolk.” His smile is self-deprecating. “I hear things more like a thief holding his ear to the door, yes. But I do hear them.” His brows lift mockingly. “Or did you think I was fishing for information about you?”
Of course I did.
I’m not sure I’m wrong, either, despite his explanation. I flush with mortification anyway and hold out my hand.
“If I can have those back, I’ll get out of your hair…”