Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I see Hudson for the first time at the end of the work day. When I walk out of my office to head toward the elevators, he’s in the hall talking to Sophie. I see him, freeze for the quickest instant, and then breezily continue on, brushing past him without saying a word. Every hair on my body stands at attention, begging me to look back, but I resist like a champ.
“Scarlett, did you finish that second draft for me?” Sophie asks just when I think I’m in the clear.
Ugh.
I squeeze my eyes closed, take a deep breath, and then turn with a perfect smile. “I did, but I was going to glance over it one more time at home before I send it back to you. I’ll have it back no later than 8:00 p.m., if that’s okay?”
She nods in approval. “That’s fine. Thanks.”
Hudson watches this entire exchange, his eyes fixed on me. I don’t look at him once before turning on my heels and heading toward the elevators.
It feels wonderful until it doesn’t. That comedown happens so fast my shoulders actually slump. By the time I kick my apartment door closed, I feel utterly defeated.
Moira senses how little fight I have left in me. She doesn’t even swat me away when I try to pet her head. She just sits there, probably thinking I’m pathetic, but at least I get the comfort of touching her for my allotted three seconds.
“Hungry?”
She meows, and I get to feeding her. Then I shower and put on my softest pajamas and text my trainer to see if it’d be possible for him to rework me into his schedule again. It’s not ideal, but if I leave the office around dinnertime and get in a session with him at his gym, I could work from home afterward to maintain my billable hours and not have to bump into Hudson in the Elwood Hoyt gym anymore. It’s the only way forward.
The next day, there are flowers sitting on my desk when I walk in. I don’t even know what to think when I first see them sitting there, an overwhelming mixture of green hydrangeas and pink peonies that must have cost the sender a fortune, that’s for sure. I frown as I step closer and inspect them.
There’s no note, which I find incredibly annoying because they could be from anyone. My mom and dad? Jasper? (Ew.) Hudson? (More ew.)
Kendra’s no help, of course. I ask if she saw who delivered them.
“No” is the only response I get, and there’s a lot of attitude infused in that single syllable.
Because I don’t yet know if they’re the embodiment of good or evil, I put the flowers on the floor in the corner. I can’t throw them away, but I also can’t look at them all day.
At 2:00 p.m., I have to join Kendra and a few other associates for a conference call with one of our clients. McNealand is a large shipping company interested in acquiring an equally large maritime manufacturing company. If they pursue the deal, we’ll all be part of the acquisition team.
Hudson is already sitting at the head of the conference table talking to Bethany and Sophie when I walk in. I claim a seat far away from him.
“You won’t be able to hear way over there.”
Hudson’s voice sends a cascade of goose bumps down my spine.
My initial instinct is to argue, and for the record, I do have about ten comebacks on the tip of my tongue, but then I dutifully scoot down a few chairs and take a seat in the middle of the conference table instead. Kendra—who walked in behind me—steals the spot beside Sophie and strikes up a conversation like she’s the nicest person in the world. Who is she really? This person? Or the vile being I have to deal with day in and day out?
As I stay perfectly still, my attention down on my hands, a few more senior associates trickle in and the conference table fills up. A guy named Nathan, who I’ve met on a few occasions and seems harmless enough, sits beside me and accidentally nudges my elbow with his chair as he sits down.
“Sorry.”
I smile. “No, it’s fine.”
A second later he curses and thunks the table with his fingers. “Damn. I forgot my coffee.”
I hesitate for a moment. Then, “How are you ever going to survive?”
He chuckles, and Hudson clears his throat. I roll my eyes. We haven’t started yet; it’s not like the conference room is dead quiet.
I peer up to see Hudson looking at me. Navy suit. Matching tie. Crisp white shirt. Annoyed expression. Perfect lips. Scruff.
I wish he’d shave.
I wish he’d stop looking at me like that.
Like I’ve done something wrong.
I mouth, “Stop,” and his expression only darkens.
“How are you settling in?” Nathan asks me.