Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Two years under Jodie, and one and a half under John.”
She nodded in acknowledgment. “You’ve paid your dues then and now it’s time for the fun to begin … building your own client list.”
“I guess so.” A big happy smile spread across my face because I was just so super excited about my new job. “Excuse me, but a trip to the Ladies seems to be in order,” I murmured and rose to my feet.
In truth, I didn’t need to use the bathroom. I just wanted a bit of a break to hide my great excitement. The bathroom was blessedly empty. I took a couple of deep breaths to dispel some of the hundreds of butterflies fluttering away inside me since my promotion was confirmed and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked pretty sober until I allowed myself a grin. Then I looked like an insanely happy Cheshire cat.
“You did it,” I crowed to myself. “You are now a full-fledged agent two years earlier than anyone had expected.”
An image of my father flashed into my head. He had been so excited about the prospect of my promotion, but it was almost eight o’clock and he hadn’t even sent me a little congratulatory text.
I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I had to consider the possibility he had simply forgotten. I pulled my phone out of my purse and hit my father’s number, but to my immense disappointment, he didn’t pick up.
I guess you’ll be too busy to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day too, won’t you?
My stomach churned as it tried to talk myself out of being hostile, but I couldn’t stop my fingers as they carried on flying across the screen.
You know what? I won’t even bother inviting you. The last thing I want that day is more disappointment, so it will be best to celebrate it with strangers. Thank you for helping me make such an informed decision ahead of time.
And before I could change my mind, I hit send.
There. It was done.
I waited a few minutes, but still, there was no reply. I took another deep breath. Where was I going with this? This was my very special day. I had worked my ass off to get here and nothing was going to ruin it. Not even Papa. What did it matter if he didn’t call right now? He loved me. I knew that. With great determination, I put him completely out of my mind. After reapplying my lipstick, I walked to the bar and ordered myself a Cosmopolitan.
My grip was tight around my phone as some part of me still hoped and waited for a response from my father. However, nothing came, and I became upset again. Calm down, Zola. When he has untangled himself from whatever urgent work he is currently immersed in, he will call you.
“Here you go, Miss,” the bartender said.
I grabbed the glass and downed more than half of it. I was still too upset to return to my colleagues so I looked around and allowed myself to appreciate the gorgeous tropical-themed space.
The walls had murals of palm trees to complement the actual palm trees dotted around the restaurant. Together with the rattan lamps, island scents, and candlelight it made for a lovely and warm ambiance. It was a wonderful place and I promised myself I would come back to it when I was less irritable so I could properly enjoy it.
I drained the last of my drink, and as I stood, I noticed a man in a corner. He was nearly shielded from view by one of the palm trees. He sat alone right next to the window with what seemed to be an untouched glass of Scotch before him and his gaze was fixated on the entrance door, but what drew me to him was his cartoonish blue and yellow Donald Duck tie. It was as familiar to me as my own name.
For a couple of seconds, I was so shocked I couldn’t move. My throat choked up with emotion and all I could do was stare at him, but he must have felt the intensity of my stare for he frowned and turned in my direction.
His eyes widened in alarm as our gazes connected.
To my astonishment, he quickly turned away as if he didn't recognize me. Picking up his phone he began to type furiously into it. I continued to stare at him. For one crazy moment, I actually wondered if that man was my father’s doppelganger, but that was impossible. That tie, those mannerisms, that hairstyle …
When he stopped typing, a message arrived 0n my phone, and I understood what was happening. For whatever reason, probably because he didn’t want to be distracted by me, he had decided to act as though he didn’t know me. I wasn’t having that. Not today. Without even bothering to check his message I began to walk toward him, but the moment he saw me approaching, he sprang to his feet and literally scurried away.