Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 81252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81252 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
A ding from my computer drew me out of my thoughts. I moved my chair closer to my computer so that I could look at the screen, and saw an email that Molly had forwarded to me. She only sent me emails that I needed to see for myself. I expected it to be from Madison, which made me hold my breath for a second. I released it the next moment when the subject line read “Chicago Entrepreneur Gala” and nothing about a business plan rough draft.
I sighed as I opened the email, skimming through the invitation to the gala that I attended every single year. All of the big names in the business world in Chicago attended, showing off their money and boasting about the success of their businesses. It wasn’t the most fun affair, but the drinks were good, and I usually had a date to take back home at the end of the night to enjoy.
Speaking of a date, I didn’t have one in mind this time around. I was careful about inviting old flames to events like galas because I didn’t want them to think that I was trying to get serious with them. I had a few girls in mind that wouldn’t make a big deal out of me inviting them. They just wanted a good time, which I could show them and had shown them before. However, I felt no drive to contact any of them. I didn’t want to be with them. That wasn’t a rare thought for me to have. It was why I cycled through so many girls, dropping some to gain others. I had no drive to find anyone else, though, and I needed a date.
Brandon would be there with some bombshell on his arm, and I didn’t want him to make any digs at me because I showed up alone. Everyone brought a date, and I wasn’t about to be the odd one out. Brandon already had enough to boast about because of how well his business was doing, which I wasn’t looking forward to hearing about. I would definitely need a few drinks to get me through the gala without punching Brandon in the face. He was the type to think that the world revolved around him. I wanted to knock him down to size so badly, but that would take a miracle at this point. I at least had to show him up at the gala if nothing else, which meant that I had to bring an incredible date who could deal with the pressure that he brought.
A knock on my door coaxed me to look toward the doorway, my heart skipping slightly at the sight of Madison. I didn’t expect her to show up at my office, but I wasn’t going to send her away. She would only be here for a good reason. She wasn’t like Sara, who popped by every once in a while to drop an obvious flirt and act like she cared about how my day was going. I didn’t care for people kissing my ass.
“You can come in,” I told her, waving her inside. I sat up in my seat, adjusting my suit jacket as she took a seat in front of me. There seemed to be a glow to her today, and I wondered what that was from. I automatically thought about a possible boyfriend, which didn’t sit well with me. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was taken, though. I could see her being quite the catch. I just hoped that whoever she was with appreciated her brain too. It was rare to find such determined, ambitious minds like hers. She reminded me of myself when I was about to graduate. Maybe that was why I gravitated to her. I preferred that explanation more than anything else that was more complicated.
“I probably should’ve just emailed, but I was right down the hallway,” Madison said, looking unsure about being there.
I shook my head, not wanting her to think that she was bothering me. Maybe if she was someone else then she would be. “It’s fine. Is there something you need to tell me?” I asked her, tilting my head at her curiously. She came here for a reason.
Madison smiled a little as she nodded. “I just wanted to tell you that your notes really helped. I showed my professor one of the sections that my friends and I redid, and he thought that it was much better,” she told me.
I couldn’t stop the grin that crossed my face if I tried. I was glad that I was able to help her. “See? I know what I’m talking about,” I smirked as I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest.
Madison laughed softly. “I guess you do. We’re kind of standing in the evidence of that,” she said as she gestured to the building.