Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
“I’m never just me,” I tell her. “Everybody I interact with, I have power over, a career, money, position. Even if I don’t feel like that, it’s in the way they look at me. Either they think I’m going to be some arrogant douche, or they’re wondering if I’m soft enough for them to get something out of me. I’m never myself except with Paul. I was myself with him.”
“Was,” she repeats. “Not anymore?”
I sigh. “Not since us.”
“You can be yourself with me, too,” she says. “I remember before the company, before all the riches. I remember you and Paul building the business. I remember all of it. I don’t want you because you’re a CEO. I want you because you’re Kaleb, that’s all. Because you’re my… my date.”
She smiles shakily. She paused there, making me wonder what she was going to say. Her love. Her boyfriend. Her future husband.
We keep eating, not feeling the need to talk. I could watch her eat all day, watch her watch paint dry. Being close to her fires me up more than a multimillion-dollar deal.
“Where do you see yourself in ten years?” I ask.
She bursts out laughing. “Okay, that’s random. It’s like a job interview question.”
“I’m curious,” I say.
“Honestly, when you had a childhood like mine, I don’t know. I don’t really think like that. I’m more concerned with the next few months, with school. Then I’ll figure that out. What about you?”
“I’ve been the same,” I tell her. “For years, I’ve lived week to week, more like workday to workday, but now, I’m thinking…”
“What?” she asks, her eyes bright with the future possibilities.
“That’s it,” I tell her. “For the first time in years, I’m actually thinking there could be a future.”
It’s a cop-out, but going too far before Paul knows the truth isn’t a good idea. I have to be smart about this, treat it like a business play, and work one step ahead at all times. The second I allow myself to give in entirely, hell, Sophie would be on her back, moaning up at me. Or we’d be out in public together, my arm proudly wrapped around her.
“What else have I said in interviews?” I ask with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “Since you’re such an expert…”
She beams. “You once said that you’d rather retire than spend over three hours a day in the office.”
I laugh, nodding. “That sounds like something I would’ve said back then, but then Paul left, and work was all I had. I got pretty good at telling myself that was enough.”
“But it can’t be, can it? Meetings, deals… Surely you want more?”
I reach across the table and take her hand, knowing she can feel the emotion whelming in me. “Yeah, I do.”
She must know I’m talking about wanting more because of her. It’s something I can’t let myself fully think about. If I disappear into that dream, there’s no going back, no second takes. She leans down and kisses my hand again.
“I love when you do that,” I tell her.
She flinches at the word love as though thinking about if we’ll ever use that word with each other. I can’t let myself go there, either.
“Do you think we should get costumes made?” she asks with a sly smile.
“For the Fame Warriors?” I ask, laughing.
“Yeah, exactly. Maybe a cape?”
I chuckle again, and then the hotel room phone rings. We both look from the balcony into the suite’s living room. I walk over and answer it. Sophie pouts in the cutest way with her eyes narrowed as if she’s telling me, Get rid of them, please. In my pocket, my cell phone buzzes with a text. I don’t have to check it to know what it is. It’s the security firm checking in, confirming they’re still discreetly watching Paul’s address.
“Hello?” I say on the hotel room phone.
“Sir. Mr. Kennison.” It’s a man’s voice, tight with tension, beyond panicked. “I’m so sorry to do this.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“There’s a m-man at the desk. He’s got a gun in his coat. He told me I had to call you and get you down here, or he’ll shoot me. I can’t make any noise or make it obvious, or he’ll sh-shoot me.”
“I’ll be right down,” I snap, moving toward the door.
“Kaleb, wait.” My woman runs after me. I’m forced to turn in the hallway. The last thing I need is Sophie getting in the way of this psycho freak, whoever he is.
“I can’t explain.”
“What the hell? Who is it? Is it Paul?”
I sigh through gritted teeth. “There’s a man with a gun.”
“A man with a…”
“Wait here,” I snap, then throw the door open and jog down the hallway. Some lowlife piece of scum has come to this hotel for a fight. Then he’s going to get a goddamn fight. I bet it was the same people who sent the blackmail. They think they can do more than release a video.