Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Jared sat on the opposite end of the luxury leather back seat. He barked into his phone as he tried to find out the reason for the meeting. Sweat formed above his brow as answers eluded him. Even my father’s personal assistant, Vanessa, who’s been with him for twenty-five years, claimed to have no clue.
I tapped my forefinger in a slow, rhythmic pattern on the armrest. Sometimes I won at the games my father played, but today felt like a loss before I even heard a word out of his mouth. Whatever he wanted to dish out wasn’t just close to the vest, it was buried beneath his thick skin.
My phone vibrated with an incoming text. I removed it from my suit pocket and unlocked the screen. A message from Barbie popped up, along with a photo of her pouty lips blowing me a kiss. Long, golden hair framed her model-perfect oval face. What was most important, though, was the emotions reflected in her blue eyes. They hinted of mischief without an ounce of rejection or sadness. I chose her from the agency knowing, when I ended our relationship, she’d walk away richer and wouldn’t try to dream up a fairy tale.
Barbie: I enjoyed our time together and hope you find what you’re looking for in life. You’re a good man. xo
What utter bullshit. I blocked her number and removed every trace of her from my phone. Would a good man do that?
2
Maggie
“Hey, Maggie. Getting ready for your interview?” I glanced up to find my best friend and roommate, Tessa, leaning against my bedroom door, wearing a pale pink dress—her signature color. It was a total middle finger to the normal black attire found in Manhattan, and somehow, she pulled it off.
Tessa and I were both small, petite, but polar opposites in almost every other way. Her blond hair contrasted with my raven locks. Her skin was a soft golden tan from the summer sun and trips to the Hamptons with her boyfriend. I was a ghost haunting the streets of New York City—basically Malibu Barbie’s Dita Von Teese-style BFF.
She owned being calm, quiet, and collected. I tended to whirl around like a tornado. Just one look at our bedrooms gave this away. Her floor was visible. Mine resembled a scene from the movie, Twister.
Basically, she was the sane to my crazy. The truest friend I’d ever had. I was a lot to handle on a good day, and since I arrived in New York City, I’d had a couple of bad months with today being no different.
“I woke up an hour early, and I still might be late if I don’t light a fire under my ass.” I scurried around the room as I stuffed my black stilettos into my large tote bag. “Have you seen my flats? The black ones.”
After arriving here with a box full of four-inch heels, I realized Sex and the City lied. Only rich people with drivers at their beck and call waltzed around New York in shoes like that.
I traveled like the majority of New Yorkers, via the subway. It required walking for blocks on uneven sidewalks, passing over sewer grates that loved to swallow spikey heels, and taking umpteen flights of stairs. I’d change into my stilettos once I arrived at the building for the interview.
“I see them! Under your dust ruffle.” Tessa pointed to an area near my nightstand, and I spotted an inch of shiny leather.
“How did I miss that?” I pushed the dust ruffle aside and grabbed the pair of shoes I’d destroyed my room trying to locate. I took a calming breath and exhaled as I wiggled my feet into them. “Good thing my head’s attached.”
“Yeah, good thing.” She laughed at me with kind eyes. No one could top her patience with me. “What’s your subway stop for the interview?”
“Wall Street.” I rechecked my wallet for the one-millionth time to make sure I had my subway pass, eyeing the bright yellow MTA card. I’d already lost two of them, and both had been almost fully loaded.
“It’s the intern interview Barclay helped arrange for you, right?”
“Yes. Please tell him thanks again. Once I get my foot in the door somewhere, I can dazzle them with my charm and brilliance.” I batted my lashes and flipped my hair, southern pageant style, but nerves knotted in my stomach. I had nothing else lined up after this interview.
Barclay was Tessa’s boyfriend and CEO of the publishing company where she landed her dream job. It took her less than a week after we graduated from college to find it, and him, when she arrived in the city. Everything fell into place for her.
Me on the other hand?
I thought New York City would embrace me with big open arms, and then I’d hit the ground running. I’d find a good entry-level job, maybe meet a handsome man to show me the cool places in the city, but nothing even remotely like that had happened. I felt like I was living my worst life in spades.