Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Gray eyes me, as if weighing his next words.
“But you know, this business is mine too. We’re fifty-fifty owners.”
I nod.
“Yes, but you’re not married and you don’t have kids, so I think my dad wants to put it all on me.”
The handsome CEO is silent once more.
“But we could find a truce,” he says slowly. “We could merge our families somehow. Maybe leave it to the next generation to carry on the business.”
I squint at him.
“But how? I mean,” Then I stop talking altogether and stare at him. “Are you saying …”
The handsome man throws his head and laughs again.
“Yes. It’s a novel idea, but something worth thinking about. I mean, if you had my child, Harlow, we’d have the perfect solution, wouldn’t we? You wouldn’t have to work in the business, and you’d have your freedom. But your dad would get what he wants too, which is an heir to carry on the business.”
“Not to mention, you’ll get an heir to carry on the business too,” I murmur.
His blue eyes gleam wickedly.
“Exactly. Everyone gets what they want. What do you think?”
I shake my head, as if clearing it of cobwebs.
“This is crazy, Gray. You’re my dad’s business partner, not to mention his best friend! Also, I’ve known you since I was a baby. We can’t have a baby together because it’d be too weird.”
But he doesn’t look dissuaded by my comment at all. Instead, he turns to me and casually asks, “Why are you single, Harlow? You’re such a beautiful woman. Men must be throwing themselves at you non-stop.”
I giggle nervously and feel hot all over again.
“I don’t know about me being beautiful, but honestly, I’m not even sure why I’m single. I had a boyfriend for almost two years, but things didn’t work out.”
“How come?”
I pout prettily.
“That’s awfully personal, Uncle Gray.”
He seems pained when I say that.
“I’ll tell you about my last disastrous break-up, if you tell me about yours,” he invites in a low voice.
Okay, this conversation is getting more and more bizarre. Gray Jamison has led me all over the place, and I have no idea what’s happening. But I decide to keep following to see where it leads.
I laugh, “Well, alright then. Everly was a confident, handsome boy who quoted Marxist theory and wore Timberland boots, in addition to smoking cloves.”
Gray laughs.
“Is that what you liked about him?”
I giggle.
“God no. I went through a pretentious phase, and Everly was a good fit, that’s all. I hated the smell of cloves, and actually, his real name is “Evan” but it wasn’t hip enough for him, so he legally changed it to “Everly.” Have you ever dated someone like that?”
Gray sighs.
“Maybe,” he growls, shaking his head. “Although I think her name was ‘Cosmo’ instead of ‘Corinne.’”
“Exactly!” I cry with a smile. “See, these people are all over! But basically, Everly and I met freshman year and we were together for almost two years. But then, I began to realize that he was stuck in a rut. He was still doing all the same things: skipping class, copying my homework, and getting stoned all the time. He hadn’t matured or learned anything about himself. And no one, I don’t care how woke you are, should go through college and not learn something about yourself. He was still the same guy I had met freshman year, and that seemed sort of … well, I mean …”
“Pathetic?” Gray asks, one eyebrow quirked.
I nod quickly.
“Yes, exactly! It was so annoying because ultimately, I felt like I was dating an angsty teenager. I broke up with him last winter because I just couldn’t start the year with my freshman boyfriend who was still basically a sulky adolescent. I need someone more mature than that.”
Oh god. I didn’t mean how that sounded, and I swallow hard. But Gray merely smiles smoothly again.
“I know what you mean. Like I said, the women in my social set are mostly vapid, shallow walking works of plastic surgical art, and I’m pretty bored, to be honest. The last one I dated, Meredith, seemed hurt that I didn’t care about her spats with her friends.”
“Huh?”
“Over brunch, she told me about how her friend’s orchids didn’t match the china she had set out for tea, and when her friend came to tea at her own house, her ivy decorations matched everything. Inane, right? So stupid in every way. I can see I’ve already lost you in this lame story, but that’s how it goes. That’s how boring Meredith was.”
I giggle hard, “She sounds very particular.”
He grins.
“If you mean particular as in particularly dull, then yes. I don’t know how to fake being interested in crap like that.”
I nod happily.
“I never mastered it either. Mom’s into that kind of social climbing, and it bores me to tears.”
He nods. “Yes, I remember Catherine Marshall. She probably would have been best friends with Meredith, come to think of it.”