Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
But then again, if that’s true, why is he on a dating app? Why is he reading the contract like it’s an agreement between him and the president of Amazon?
He’s probably poor as hell, I tell myself. The silence stretches on until he reaches inside his jacket pocket. I tense up like an idiot because really, what is he going to do in this place? Pull out a gun and shoot me in the face?
Thankfully, he doesn’t notice. Instead, he pulls out a fancy pen—the kind that has a cap—and then scratches something out on the contract.
“Wrong name,” he explains as he writes.
“Oh, of course.” Because he’s a lying liar who lies. What are you doing, Harlow? Get up and run out of here while he’s busy rewriting your contract. I don’t listen. My butt is glued to the seat. I tell myself it’s the condo. That’s why I’m still here and not because inwardly I’m drooling over his loosely tousled black hair, the sharp cut of his jaw, and how his shoulders make his suit look as expensive as a new car.
“Here. Corrected and signed. When should I show up?” He places the cap back on his fancy pen and tucks the writing instrument away. My eyes are drawn to his long fingers and the fact that he looks like he’s had a manicure. Maybe he’s a model.
“What do you do for a living?” I blurt out. My brain catches up to my mouth a half second later. I clap my hand over my mouth and then wave at him. “Never mind.”
“I’m a developer.”
“A—” that doesn't seem like a job of someone who is poor as hell. I eye his suit again. Maybe it is as expensive as a new car.
“I’m a little down on my luck right now,” he adds with a small smile. “The payment will get me out of a tight spot, so let me know when I should show up for the meeting. Has it already been scheduled?”
I gather myself. His financial condition doesn’t matter. I’m one step closer to getting my gram’s condo permanently. “Friday. At ten. This address.” I point to the clause in the contract. “Just come to the front door and I’ll buzz you in. The meeting is in the library on the first floor. Would you mind wearing the suit you have on? It’s very fancy looking and will impress the board.”
His slight smile makes a reappearance. “No problem. I’ll see you on Friday then.”
Chapter Three
CAL
“Calix Line, haven’t seen you in forever.”
I look up from my notes on the Newtro deal to see Harlow’s real date standing at the table. “Rick.”
A wide grin splits the man’s face. “Right. I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me since we didn’t get much time to talk at the Shift’s charity shindig.”
I didn’t remember you, Rick. I only know your name because I stole your girl. Since I wronged this guy, I search my memory bank and stop at an image of him standing about ten feet away from me as I was talking with Tee Shift about her new foundation to fund more art students at Bellingham University. She’s worried about AI overtaking the arts and wanted more money. I gave it. “Nice time?”
“Yeah. It was great. They’ve really got the cheat code to life. Big house, yacht, all the money they could ever need. It’s good that they’re sharing it with the little guy.” He tugs on his tie. I wait for him to move on, but he stands there like an NPC in a video game expecting me to give him a command. “You too,” he says. “You’ve got the life cheat code,” he clarifies when I don’t respond. He drops down to the seat that Harlow was just in.
I raise my eyebrows. Rick isn’t paying attention. He looks around. “I wouldn’t have thought you’d eat at a place like this.”
“A restaurant?”
“It’s kind of down market, though. A place someone picks because they don’t have money or taste.”
Is he insulting Harlow?
“You’re here,” I point out.
He grimaces and runs his hand down his tie. The tip is a darker blue. He did end up dunking it in the coffee. “Had to come. Meeting someone.”
“And the meeting?”
“Never took place.” He shrugs. “It was a long shot. Some chick had a condo opening at the Grand. Those places never come up for sale, and because they’re all owned by senile old people, if you get in early enough, you can practically steal it.” He reaches over and taps my papers. “You got a hot tip to share? Like, every investment you’ve ever made turns to gold. I could use a little luck.” He rubs his hands together. This was the guy Harlow was going to marry and live with for a year?
“Only proceed when you know the answer.” Such as don’t sit down at a stranger’s table when you’re not invited. I fold my notes in thirds and tuck them into my inner jacket pocket. I think I’ve paid Rick back for stealing his girl. He wasn’t right for her anyway.