Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
I finish up the last portion of flooring and make a mental note to tell Mallory to pay me more for this job. Clean and Gleam doesn’t skimp when it comes to paychecks. The fact that I’m in my fourth year of college as a twenty-five-year-old says a lot. I worked two jobs to afford my small postage stamp apartment, saving up as much as I can in order to pay cash for school. I’d need another payment like I need a hole in my head. So, while yes, I’m older than most students in my class, at least one day, years later than I’d initially wanted, I’ll come out on top while being debt free. College isn’t cheap, especially for what I’m going for—an ultrasound technician. The pre-requisites were holding me back, and night school after working ten-hour days cleaning made it even harder.
“Finally.” I throw the rag into the mop bucket and take my earbuds out, pocketing them in my jean shorts. It wasn’t smart of me to wear them, but when Mallory called saying it was a 9-1-1, that I needed to fit this last job in and that the owner would be out, I wore my usual when I’m cleaning. Except I’m always by myself. Today was an anomaly. It’s the tank top that has me re-thinking things. New York is experiencing a heat wave, so sweating any more than necessary seemed stupid. My hands go to my lower back as I arch it in a stretch. A heating pad will most assuredly be my best friend tonight, along with a Coke. I’ll need the caffeine to finish my homework before tomorrow night’s class, and I know Mallory will have my schedule packed tomorrow, too.
I stand up, grab my bucket, and walk toward the half bathroom to dump the nasty water, clean the toilet, then call it a day. Anything else will have to wait until next week. I’ve been here for too long as it is and way past my quitting time, which means I’ll miss the train I need to take. Walking home is going to be a bitch but nothing I haven’t handled before. Except today, my back hurts and my knees are snap, cracking and popping from all the work I’ve done, plus my period is due, which makes me one cranky bitch. That’s probably why I’m not paying a lick of attention at where I’m going with two hands holding the bucket, arms weak. And smack hard into a solid mass of muscle.
“Shit, shit, shit.” The cuss words are out before I can stop them. Mallory is going to kill me if Theo reports every single incident that happened today, and I’ll be out of a job. Jesus, it’s like today is trying to kill me the fuck off.
THREE
Theo
“Whoa, are you okay?” My hands go to her shoulders, holding her steady so she doesn’t slip in the water that’s currently soaking both of our lower bodies. I was walking toward the kitchen, needing something to eat after working at the office longer than I’d have liked. Four Brothers is looking at acquiring another business, this time a bank. We’ve never taken over something this substantial, meaning there’s a shit ton that can and I’m sure will go wrong. So, I spent most of the day pouring over the numbers as well as working with our specialist in fraud to see where the money went and why a bank is on the verge of bankruptcy before we take the final step. A lot of things aren’t adding up. There’s no reason a bank should be hemorrhaging money. Especially one of this caliber. Evertrust has been around for nearly seven decades. The president right now is the one who came to Four Brothers asking for a merger—our name, our money—all while he remains owner at fifty percent.
“I’m so sorry,” says the woman whose mouth seems to run away from her whenever I’m near. Danica currently has her forearm over her mouth, probably to cover up the litany of curse words she just let lose. While in my home office, I went through my personal email, finding Clean and Gleam’s in order to finally put a name to the face in my house.
“It’s not a big deal. Stay where you are. I’ll go grab a few towels,” I offer. She’s already shaking her head no.
“No, I will. I’m in sneakers. Your shoes are no match for wet marble flooring, and, well, this is my job.” She takes off, her body leaving my hands faster than I would have liked. My cock jerks beneath my pants as I watch her cute little ass bounce with every step she takes in those sinful jean shorts. I should be going after her, not standing here like I’ve got my dick in the dirt, hunkered down in a desert waiting for a sniper to pick me off. I’m about to follow her when she’s rushing out of the room, whispering to what I assume she thinks is herself, except my ears are ridiculous, and I can hear more than I care to.