Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“And a thief,” he says as he rounds his desk. “She grabbed them out of a bouquet that was on the security desk in the lobby of our building.”
“She’s too short to reach that high on her own.”
“Holden.” That one word says it all. “He had a hand in this. He watched her for a few hours yesterday, right before the flowers magically appeared.”
“Who knew Holden could be a badass?”
Rook laughs again. “I sure as hell didn’t.”
I turn to look at his closed office door. “I’m looking for Abby.”
His gaze drops to a file folder on his desk. “She’s not here.”
I’m not surprised. It’s been three days since I saw her at Tin Anchor, and she saw me drunk. I’m not ashamed of that since I was in party mode, but I am surprised she’s been avoiding me since.
I’ve reached out via text, and I’ve tried to call her a few times. Her only response was a short text saying she was buried in work but would give me a call soon. I have no idea how she defines “soon,” but it obviously differs from my definition.
“Where is she?”
That catches his attention enough that he looks me in the eye. “With a client.”
I want to ask who, but it doesn’t matter. She’s with someone who isn’t me.
“If you’re going to give her a rough time about the Llura deal, you can take it up with me.”
Confused, I press for more. “Take up what with you?”
He straightens so we’re face-to-face, with his desk separating us. “The fact that the deal is dead, Declan. You’re not putting that on Abby.”
What the fuck?
I sit my ass in one of the leather chairs that face his desk. “The Llura deal is dead? Since when?”
He follows my lead and sits in his chair. “Since Abby went to visit Kalina and she informed her that she no longer wishes to sell the condom division of her company.”
I absorb every word before I open my mouth to speak. “When did that happen?”
“Abby hasn’t told you?” he questions. “You’re the client. You should have been the first to know.”
I stare at him, unsure why Abigail never came to me with this.
“Oh, wait,” He sighs. “All of this went down the same day Hailey was born. Check your voicemail, Declan. Abby must have left you a message or two.”
I don’t need to check anything since I’ve been waiting to hear from Abigail for days, but I drop my gaze to my phone since the last thing I want to do is get her in trouble with her boss.
“She told me first thing the morning after Kalina pulled the plug,” he explains as I stare at my phone. “She said she’d get in touch with you right away.”
“She did,” I say, even though nothing is waiting for me in my voicemail or email, and my text messages have all been read. “I’ll give it a listen right away.”
“I’ll fill you in,” he offers. “She went to Kalina’s office to find out who her new counsel was. During that meeting, Kalina informed her that she had changed her mind. End of that buyout story.”
I can’t say I’m surprised that Kalina had second thoughts. About a year after we launched Wells, Sean and I entertained the idea of selling the company, but that lasted at most a day or two before we laughed it off and forged ahead as co-owners of what is now our billion dollar enterprise.
I am surprised that Abby didn’t fill me in.
“That’s that.” I push to stand.
“You can develop your own brand of condoms,” Rook suggests with a half-smile. “You’ve got the resources. You’ve got the experience launching a brand, and I have plenty of lawyers on staff to help you with that venture.”
“It’s something to think about.” I nod, even though all I can think about right now is Abigail.
“Let me know if you move forward with it.” He taps his hand on the top of his desk. “When you get to the testing stage, I’m more than willing to help out.”
“With who?” I quip. “Is there something you want to tell me, Rook?”
Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Nothing at all. Anything you want to tell me, Declan?”
This should be where I confess that I’m madly in love with one of his employees, but I have no idea where Abigail’s feelings land since she’s obviously been intentionally avoiding me for days.
If she can’t bring herself to tell me that the Llura deal fell through, that doesn’t bode well for our personal relationship if that still exists.
“Nothing,” I answer Rook’s question.
“Don’t take being dumped by Kalina too hard.” He smiles. “Easy come. Easy go, right?”
I perk an eyebrow. “Don’t make a condom joke.”
He raises a hand as if he’s surrendering. “I’ve got a million of them, but I’ll let you mourn in peace.”