Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86573 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
It’s not like I can lie to him, because he already knows the answer so I decide to be real. Maybe he’ll respect that, an honest-to-God answer.
Peyton: Yes, beyond nervous.
Rome: Why?
Why? Is he serious?
Well, besides the fact that I not only made it known many times that I wanted to bang him, or how he is the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen, I want to earn his respect. I want to impress him. I want him to see the worth in me.
Peyton: Despite the obvious?
Rome: What’s the obvious?
Ugh, he’s going to make me say it, isn’t he? Knowing Rome, he is. He’s making me work for this job. I know he is, so I might as well give him all the truth.
Peyton: The obvious: the way I so blatantly confessed my attraction toward you far beyond a professional level.
Rome: Ahhh, that.
Peyton: Yeah, that. It’s kind of hard to be taken seriously when I not so eloquently asked you multiple times to bend me over your desk.
Rome: It was flattering . . . and entertaining.
Peyton: Moving on.
Rome: Why else were you nervous?
I nibble on the inside of my cheek and type out a response before I can chicken out.
Peyton: Because I respect you, your work ethic, what you’ve been able to create with Roam, Inc. I value your opinion, and since I’m out on my own now, I don’t know . . . I hate to say it, but I’m kind of seeking your validation.
I squeeze my eyes shut when I send the message, a little embarrassed but also slightly relieved from my confession. If there is one thing that was helpful with our almost-daily emails, it helped me to be honest with Rome. And I think that’s a good thing. I actually think he prefers complete honesty rather than sniveling and pandering to his every quip and mood.
Rome: Seeking validation from someone else? That’s how you get yourself into trouble with your business, Peyton. Never seek validation from someone else, only yourself.
Rome: Be confident in your work, in your business model, in the product you’ve created. Your confidence will extend to your clients, and they will hire you because of it.
Who is this man right now? Is this really Rome Blackburn giving me sound advice about my business? I know it has to be, but it’s doing funny things to my stomach, flipping it upside down and inside out.
And that’s when it hits me.
He cares.
He might put on a steely, impenetrable mask, but past his fortress of a façade, there is a beautifully kind man beneath it all. Just as I suspected, but I never thought I would truly see it in person or be on the receiving end of this side of him.
Peyton: That’s some really sweet advice, Rome.
Rome: Don’t let it get around. I need my employees to fear me.
Peyton: Your secret is safe with me.
I pause, wondering if it’s appropriate to ask him about my presentation. We’re being pretty honest with each other right now, the usual wall erected between us on a temporary hiatus.
Before he can text back, I send him a second text.
Peyton: Be honest with me, did any of my ideas tickle your fancy?
Rome: Tickle my fancy? Not sure about that, but yeah, I was . . . impressed.
Oh.
My.
God.
My heart rate picks up, galloping inside of my chest at a relentless pace as his words sink in.
He was impressed. I, Peyton Marie Lévêque, impressed Rome Blackburn. It’s almost as if all the cosmic forces lined up and shined down upon me, giving me this small moment, this small victory.
I impressed him, and I know I shouldn’t care what he has to say, but I can’t help but care a little. He’s a talented titan in the CEO world and to be able to impress someone of his caliber, well, it feels freaking good.
Rome: Let me guess, you’re doing a happy dance right about now.
I laugh out loud and shake my head while I type.
Peyton: No, I’m actually trying to pick up my jaw off the floor.
Rome: Are you really that shocked?
Peyton: Uh, yeah. You’re . . . wait, should we be having this conversation through text?
Rome: Probably not.
Peyton: So . . .
Rome: Have dinner with me tomorrow night. We can discuss everything.
Why does the word “everything” feel like it carries so much weight?
Peyton: Dinner as in business partners?
Rome: Yes, what else kind of dinner would it be?
I don’t know, one where you pull my pants down and show me the good stuff, right there in the middle of the busy dining room, waitstaff passing water glasses over our writhing bodies.
Peyton: Just making sure.
Rome: Do you like Italian?
Peyton: Oui, oui monsieur!
Rome: That’s French.
Peyton: Eh, close enough. Send me the details tomorrow morning?
Rome: I’ll have Lauren send you everything.
My smile falls for a brief second hearing about Lauren’s involvement, but then again, this is business, and that’s it. No need to make this into anything other than that.