Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 693(@200wpm)___ 554(@250wpm)___ 462(@300wpm)
He blinks at me and sighs, but he still looks amused. “Okay then, you get the coffee. But don’t say I never do anything nice for you.”
“I wouldn’t even suggest it,” I reply.
Chapter Three
His smile and his laugh.
I hope it’s not weird.
I mean… okay, yeah, it’s weird. I don’t like that he was in my space last night. It’s made me feel weird. Has it made him feel weird?
I count my steps to take my mind off it. I’m obsessing.
“Mr. Conti,” I say his full name, a statement to him and myself that I don’t suddenly think we’re friends.
He looks up from his desk as I approach and then place his coffee and bagel on the table.
“Eight AM sharp, as always,” he states, checking his watch. “Not a second before or after.” He’s exaggerating about that last part… mostly. “Thank you, Rose.”
I give him a salute because that’s not weird and then turn and head to my desk which is just on the other side of his office door.
“Rose,” he calls, and I stop to look at him with a slight smile.
“Yes, Mr. Conti?”
“Thank you for hosting us last night at such short notice.”
I open and then close my mouth and also hold my breath. Don’t speak. Don’t speak. Don’t—— “It wasn’t short notice. It was no notice.”
“Is that so?” he replies, his eyes alight with humor. “I’m sorry to have disturbed you.”
“You didn’t. It was——” I point my thumb at the door much like he did before he left last night. “I’m just going to do my job now.”
“Right.” His smile is stretching. The kind of smile one smiles when they see a puppy take an adorable tumble. “As you were then.”
I finally make it to my desk and wipe my clammy hands on my oversized pants. I heard Mr. Conti’s closest friend and business partner tell him that I wear the most hideous pant suits and that they should be burned.
I accidentally entered the system and deleted his calendar inputs for the week that day. It was a small and funny justice.
My pant suits should not be burned. They’re tasteful, they cover up everything, they’re tasteful, they cover up everything, they’re… no. I need to stop repeating.
I pick up my stress ball and squeeze it eighteen times because six add six add six. It helps. Now I feel a bit better.
The day drags but I get my jobs done, for the most part. The rest I can take home.
When five PM rolls around I pack up the things I need and place them neatly into my laptop bag.
I press the button on my desk that calls through to Mr. Conti.
“Do you need anything else before I leave?”
“Yes, actually, clear your weekend because we’re going to Vegas.”
I release the button and head into his office, knocking lightly on the door before entering.
“Problem?” he asks, knowing I won’t start speaking until he gives me permission. Only on the job though. Not out of office hours. I’m not meek and feeble. I’m just… quirky and soft spoken.
“I have plans Saturday,” I say, imploringly. “And Laurie doesn’t take well to broken plans. She’s like major schedule crazy. She already called me twice this morning to make sure I’m going.”
He bites his lip and taps the edge of the desk with his fingers. I wait for him to respond.
He finally asks, “What is it you’re doing?”
“Just going out for drinks.”
“Well… I need your brain more than you need just a few drinks. I’ve got to make two presentations on Saturday in my father’s place for some massive investments that we sorely need. He’s fallen ill.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I grumble because it is sad that he’s sick but also because I know I’m about to let my friend down. “I guess I can speak to her. Or try to.”
He stares at me for the longest moment. “It’s your birthday night out, isn’t it?”
I nod. “It’s been planned for a while now.”
“And we all know how you are about breaking plans.”
I nod again, smiling now. “Laurie is ten times worse.”
He steeples his fingers under his nose, something he does when he’s thinking. Then he declares, “Bring her. She can go sightseeing in the city while we work and then you can both go for drinks after you’re done. I’ll even book the flights for later on Sunday so you can both spend some time together.”
I can’t deny that this idea doesn’t excite me. “On the company?”
“On the company.”
“Like… everything on the company?”
He raises a brow. “Flights, meals, drinks. Any gambling comes out of your own dime. Got it?”
“Wow… okay. I mean, seeing as somebody else is paying,” I jest but I’m also being serious. “That’s super cool, Mr. C. Thanks.” I want to dance now but I’m not going to. “What time are we leaving and when?”