Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
I smile to myself as I watch her go.
This was the first conversation we’ve had about my proposal. It won’t be the last.
Seven
Cora
The guy has such nerve. I can’t believe he wanted me to sign my life away to him like that, like I’m some sort of sex slave. Is he for real? Incredible.
I go outside, only to find Manuel waiting for me. “Mister Alexander says to take you wherever you need to go.”
“I’m fine on my own,” I say, not wanting to take another handout from this guy. But I have no idea where exactly in the city we are, I have to get home and check on Bailey and Ben before my shift starts, and a taxi is an expense I can’t afford.
“Miss, please,” the driver says. “It’s no trouble. And Mr. Alexander doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Well sometimes it’s illegal insisting someone won’t take no for an answer!” I snap. But he remains unruffled.
“In this case, it’s totally legal,” he says placidly. “Now, please get in the car.”
“Fine,” I huff. “Just take me home.”
God, maybe I need to call in sick. What if he goes to Verge? Damn it. I don’t want him and his fucking proposal. He can shove it up his ass.
The city whips by as he takes me home.
“So, you’re going to go back and get him?” I ask. “He’s just going to sit on the roof alone eating million-dollar pizza until you come back?”
Manuel’s lips twitch. “If he chooses. Or, he can call another driver. He’s messaged me and told me to wait for you, so he’ll likely do that.”
“Maybe he should just hire a private jet,” I mutter.
Manuel shrugs. “He has. The inner city is a bit impractical for the jet, though.”
God!
We pull up outside my apartment building, and I’m immediately struck with how incongruous it is to have this fancy, gleaming car in the midst of such a low-income area. We live in the poorest section of the city, a high-rise with apartments with way too many people crammed into it. When I step out of the car, a baby wails in the distance, and someone’s playing loud, raucous music. A billow of cigarette smoke wafts in my direction. I sputter and turn to Manuel, who steps out of the vehicle and takes his place by my side like he’s my personal bodyguard.
To be honest, I could get used to this.
I ignore the whispers and catcalls.
“Listen,” I tell him. “I can take it from there.”
“Mr. Alexander gave me orders, ma’am. Escort you to your residence, then wait until you need another ride.”
“So, you have to babysit me?” I ask, hating that I’m secretly pleased by the gesture. “Like I’m a child?”
He quirks a brow. “You might do well with a nap.”
Now I know why he hired this guy.
I sigh and let him walk me to my apartment.
“I’ll be waiting down here,” he says, then salutes me before he leaves.
I let myself in, step over a couple that’s doing something grossly sexual on the floor of our entryway, pass two teens discreetly vaping under the stairwell, and take the stairs two at a time until I get to our apartment.
I’m glad Liam didn’t come. I’d hate for him to have to see this.
Why do I care?
Opening the door to our apartment, I step in and shut the door quickly. Ben drops the book he’s reading and dives toward me, hugging me around the middle so hard I lose my breath. Bailey waves a wooden spoon to me from the kitchen and smiles at Ben’s antics.
“You actually came home for dinner?” Ben asks, and I feel a little guilty. The designer pizza weighs heavily in my stomach.
“Well, to be honest, I just came home to see you two,” I tell him. “I ate dinner with a friend already.”
Friend?
More like FRENEMY.
Liam Frenemy Alexander.
“What’d you eat?” Bailey asks.
“Pizza.” I don’t need to tell them it was million-dollar pizza on a rooftop.
“Ha! That’s what we’re having.” She opens the stove and takes a pizza out of the oven. “It’s one of the ones you got the other night.”
“Oh, right,” I tell her with a sad attempt at a laugh. Why do I feel so guilty? Why do I have to hide Liam from them? Because you don’t want them to know how badly you are at taking care of them, a nasty little voice whispers through me.
I sit at the dining room table while they eat and talk about school and how things are going.
“So… how was parent-teacher night?” Bailey asks, not meeting my eyes. She’s dying to know but trying to play it safe.
“Oh, it went well.” I tell her. “Everyone says you’re doing great in school. I was a little late but still managed to see everyone.”
She beams at me before she takes another bite of pizza.