Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Glenda’s entire face is covered in a blush. Dummy didn’t think this one through. No surprise there.
“I… I can just place your number in my new phone,” she stammers out, pulling her cell from her purse.
“No, I want to make sure I give this phone to its rightful owner. I’m still pissed at the way you left me last night. When I spank the ass of the owner of this phone, I want to make sure it’s the right ass I’m spanking.”
My mouth drops open. Glenda crosses her legs the same way I cross mine. The lust that fills her eyes is clear. With new determination, she tries to unlock my phone. Several tries and nothing.
I’m still staring at Princeton in shock. His eyes are on me as well as he shoots me heated promises. I don’t know if I want to run or jump in his arms and beg for him to make good on his words.
“Glenda,” Bianca says tightly. “It’s your father’s birthday, silly.”
I look at Bianca and scoff. It was my father’s birthday. Before I upgraded a few months ago. I changed the password on a gut feeling. I guess I now know why I had that feeling.
Glenda pouts. This dummy doesn’t even remember my father’s birthday. So much for the clue.
Princeton plucks the phone from her fingers. He holds it out to me, but not far enough for me to reach. I have to move closer. I sidestep Glenda, stopping before him to take my phone from his long fingers.
“Can you unlock your phone for me?”
“Yes,” I reply and unlock the phone on the first try.
I look up just in time to see him lowering his face to mine. It’s too fast for me to react. He cups the back of my neck and places his other hand on my waist.
I open my mouth in surprise and he groans as he proceeds to devour me. I wrap my arms around his neck and he deepens the kiss. My toes curl in my shoes.
Wow. He can kiss. His hand tightens on my waist as if he’s trying to draw some restraint. Breaking the kiss, he places his forehead to mine.
“Now that was the perfect first kiss,” he croons. “I truly enjoyed our walk in the garden last night.”
“Wait, what the hell? I thought I recognized you last night. Before you rushed into his car,” Glenda seethes.
“Yet you stood there and lied to my face?” Princeton says with so much venom, I go to take a step back.
He doesn’t allow it. He tightens his hold and pulls me into his side. His grip is nothing less than possessive.
“This is unprofessional of you, Cinder. How dare you engage in such behavior with a client? You weren’t supposed to be at the ball. You slacked on your responsibilities to lust after a client. I’m so disappointed in you.”
I snap. I forget that I want to buy these three out and that I’ve been playing nice to do so. As I think of my mother’s ruined dress in my office, it all comes out.
“Unprofessional? Unprofessional? I almost missed the ball because you three plotted to keep me from going. Spilling wine on my mother’s gown?”
“Of all the evil things you could’ve done, that was the lowest of the low. You all know what that gown means to me. You ruined it. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have it restored.”
“That was the last piece of her I have other than this business. You three have done your damnedest to cost me this place as well. Overbooking clients, making promises you don’t know how to execute, leaving me to handle the messes that you make.”
“None of you have a clue how to run an event planning business. Good thing my father closed that international office. I couldn’t even imagine what you guys would have done with that much reach.”
“I’m done. You guys can have this shit. I’ll start over. It will kill me more to try to save this place from you than it will to let my family’s legacy go,” I bellow.
“Why did you call her Cinder?” Princeton asks, causing me to turn to look at him.
His face is white as a sheet. I don’t have time for this shit. I turn and head to clean out my office. I’m done.
“Mr. Blake, Mr. Blake,” Bianca calls after Princeton, but I keep moving for my office.
I storm inside and grab my purse. Tears of frustration have started to roll down my cheeks. When I look at my mother’s gown, still stained and hanging, I break down.
The door to my office closes, but I don’t look to see who closed it. I wrap my arms around my middle and bawl like a baby. Strong arms wrap around my waist.
“This is your mother’s gown?”