Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Maybe that was just my dinner.
“I’ll let you know when I’ve decided what I have the energy to cook,” I replied, glancing over at him. “Your tie is wonky.”
He flashed me a grin. “Fix it for me?”
My work phone trilled, and I picked it up with a smile. “I’m afraid I have to answer this,” I said, swiping to answer the call. “Good afternoon, you’ve reached the office of Vice-President Theodore Black. This is Chloe St. James. How can I help you?”
The Bastard—he was back to that moniker for those antics just now—stared at me across the room, and I smiled my famously cool professional smile as I met his eyes.
“Chloe!”
“Your Grace,” I said quietly, scooting my chair back.
Theodore’s eyes went wide, and he jumped to his feet, waving his arms from side to side as if to tell me not to speak to him.
“Give me a moment. Mr Black is about to start a video meeting, so I’ll have to go elsewhere to talk to you.” I wiggled my fingers at my boss and darted out of the room before he could stop me.
If there was one person Theodore Black was powerless against, it was his grandfather.
“Thank you for waiting,” I said, leaning against the kitchen counter. “I don’t want to disturb his meeting.”
“Of course,” the duke replied. “I should have checked to see if it’s a good time.”
“Nonsense. It’s always a good time to talk to you, Your Grace.”
“When will you start calling me Grandpa?”
“When you adopt me, or I marry one of your grandchildren. Neither of which are going to happen.”
He made a little ‘hmm’ noise. “If you don’t marry Theo, let me know. I’ll definitely adopt you.”
This old man was crazy. “Of course. To what do I owe the pleasure today?”
“On the contrary, it’s my pleasure to speak to my favourite girl,” he replied smoothly. “I wanted to make sure that scoundrel wasn’t being a brat to you.”
There it was.
I wondered how long it would take him to use one of his little pet names for his grandson. Honestly, anyone who listened to him would think he hated Theodore, but that couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth.
If I knew one thing, it was that His Grace, Charles Arthur William Black, the Duke of Ruxleigh, doted on his eldest grandson to the point of the absolute ridiculous.
Sometimes it really did feel like he was mildly obsessed with him.
And that would be because he… well, he was.
Even when he was bickering with him.
“Chloe? You’re hesitating. Do I need to come up there and set that swine straight?”
“No, no!” I said hurriedly. “I was just distracted by a cat outside.”
“Are you sure? I know when you’re lying to me.”
“Your Grace, please, as if I could lie to you.” I was absolutely lying. “It’s going much better than I thought it would. Mr Black is surprisingly considerate, if a little domestically useless.”
The duke chuckled. “I suspect that won’t be the case by the time you return from your trip.”
“He’s getting used to doing the dishes,” I said with a small laugh of my own. “So, progress is being made.”
“Good. Will you tell him to call me later? He won’t pick up when I try him.”
“Of course.” I opened the fridge and pulled out the carton of orange juice with my name written on it.
I had no choice but to do that because someone had a habit of drinking from the carton.
Spoiler: I was not that someone.
“Thank you. I won’t bother you any longer, dear,” he said. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
I smiled as I poured a glass of juice. “I’ll speak to you soon, then.”
We said our goodbyes and I hung up, putting the carton back in the fridge door. The phone call was largely pointless, as most of his were, but I’d long grown used to them since he’d retired.
He was having trouble letting go of the office.
I carried my juice back into the office where Theodore was in the middle of the video call. He didn’t so much as glance in my direction as I took a seat behind my desk and my shiny new computer screen.
I stretched my arms out in front of me as the company messenger box popped up in the corner.
Theodore: What did he want?
Me: He wanted to make sure you were being nice to me.
Theodore: I think he should be concerned about it the other way around.
Me: You should focus on your meeting, sir.
Theodore: No need. They’re arguing over something I’m going to veto anyway.
I wasn’t sure that was a reason not to focus on the meeting, but he was the boss, so who was I to argue?
Theodore: I’m hungry.
Me: Unfortunately, it’s not time for me to get off work yet.
Theodore: …
Theodore: Have you finished your work?
Me: Mostly.
Theodore: Mostly is good enough. You can finish up tomorrow.