Total pages in book: 204
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 193115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 966(@200wpm)___ 772(@250wpm)___ 644(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry I’ve been a total bitch,” she says, pouting minutely. It’s her lips. She’s had her lips done, I can see some faint bruising she’s tried to hide with a thick layer of makeup.
“Don’t worry, I’m used to you being a bitch.” I open the door, jumping back when it’s slammed shut again. It’s all I can do not to growl at her. I want to leave.
“It’s just strange. It’s always been you, John, and me.”
“The three musketeers,” John mutters sarcastically behind me, and Sarah tosses him a look that could kill.
I chuckle and motion to the door. “Apology accepted. Can I go now?”
“Oh, one more thing,” John calls, reaching over and pulling my laptop across. “I need you to approve the proposal for the update of the CCTV system.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s expensive and I’m not comfortable spending that amount of money without your approval.”
“I’m wanted in the spa,” Sarah says, leaving us to it.
I stomp my way back to the desk and scan the itemized proposal. “When can they start?”
“Six weeks.”
“Great.” I get on my way again. Time is ticking on. Members will start filling the place soon.
“Oi, motherfucker,” John growls, and I look over my shoulder. “Look at the fucking figures.”
“God, you’re demanding today,” I say, reversing and doing as I’m told. “How much?” I blurt. “To update it? We could get a whole new fucking system for that.”
“We’d have to. The security firm aren’t willing to hand over the equipment. We’d need to replace it all.”
“Do it,” I order. The cheeky fuckers think they can back me into a corner? “See you later.”
I hurry out of my office and fly up the stairs to the extension, bursting into the last room, my hands itching to get hold of her. I smile when I find her on her arse on the floor, the pad on her lap. But my smile drops when I register her expression. Then I find Sarah across the room. Oh. “All right?” I ask, cocking my head. She better be playing nice.
Sarah smiles, and I wince as her lips stretch, straining. That must fucking hurt. “Yes, sweetie,” she purrs, joining me and rubbing my shoulder. I frown at her hand there. What’s gotten into her? “Ava and I were just discussing the new rooms,” she says. “She has some fabulous ideas.”
They were talking? Like friends? “She’s good.” I flick a fond smile to Ava.
“Yes, very talented,” Sarah replies. Oh, you have no idea, Sarah. But I appreciate her being nice for once. “I’ll leave you to it.” She drops a kiss on my cheek. “Ava, it was lovely to see you again.”
“And you, Sarah.” She smiles, and I watch, stunned, as Sarah leaves. Did they inject some reason into her when they plumped her lips?
“Let’s have a look then, lady.” I join Ava on the floor, taking the drawings. She did all this in a few hours? “Wow,” I blurt, taking in the intricately detailed bed. “I love that bed.”
“So do I.”
“What’s all this?” I ask, indicating the cover above.
“It’s a lattice design. All the wooden beams overlap to form a grid-like effect.”
“So you can hang things from them?” Interesting. Like handcuffs or people. This will go down a storm, but where the fuck did she come up with this?
“Yes, like material, or lights, maybe.” She shrugs
Of course. “What colors did you have in mind?”
“Black and gold.”
Perfect. Sexy but tasteful. “I love it. When can we start?”
“It’s only a draft,” she says. “I have to do some mood boards, scale drawings, lighting plans, that sort of thing. Will you take me home?”
I crick my neck when I look at her sharply. Home? Something tells me she doesn’t mean my home. “Are you okay?”
She doesn’t want to spend the rest of the day with me? She gets up, smiling. “I’m fine,” she says. “I’ve got some work stuff to sort out for tomorrow.”
Don’t crowd her. Fuck you, John. I sigh, feeling lost. “Okay,” I say reluctantly, begrudgingly accepting. “Are you sure you’re okay?” Why do I sense something is amiss?
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
I eye her suspiciously. Is her hand twitching? Is that smile fake? And why’s my stomach turning? “Come on then.” I collect her bag and her hand and take her downstairs, realizing halfway that I haven’t got my keys.
We reach the entrance hall, and I make a quick scope of the space, hearing people in the bar. “Wait here,” I say, but quickly rethink my plan. “Actually, go get in the car.” I guide her to the door. “It’s open.” I leave her and rush to my office, bursting in and snatching my keys off my desk. I exit sharpish, jogging back through The Manor, but slow down when I reach the summer room, looking at Ava’s bag in my grasp. I smile and pull out her phone, changing the ring tone before replacing it and picking up my pace, nearly taking Sarah off her heels when she appears from the bar, colliding with my charging form.