Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97865 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Theo Monroe: Turn around and touch your toes.
I bite my bottom lip and spin on my heel, bending over and wiggling my ass for good measure. When I straighten and turn back, his eyes are dark as night.
Theo Monroe: You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Me: You’re not so bad yourself.
Theo Monroe: I’m going to show you how beautiful you are.
Me: Sounds intriguing. Should I add it to your calendar?
Theo Monroe: Make it a reoccurring thing.
“No, I don’t agree with that. John, you’ll lose half your investment if you sell to Weinstein.”
His eyes narrow, and he turns in his chair to face the window, the call stealing his attention. I push my skirt back in place and leave, unable to conceal the smile on my lips.
Chapter twenty
Theo
“And the flowers?”
“On the island as requested, sir.”
“Great. Have a good night, Grant.” I head up to my penthouse with forty-five minutes to shower and prepare before Fay arrives. I want tonight to be perfect. This thing between us is too intense, and I can’t risk anything getting in the way of what we’re becoming. I’m going to tell her the truth. About everything.
I can’t keep up this lie. Every time I bask in the beauty of her smile, it triggers a tightness inside my chest. A need to own. To consume. The way she bites on her bottom lip when she’s turned on or her cheeks blossom with color when she’s embarrassed or shy. I ache to peel back her layers and learn all her fears, secrets, and desires. To make her mine. I want to siphon this shine that she radiates. The light that she brought into my dark world the day she walked into my office.
And until I lay everything on the line, all of that is at risk.
I shower away the stress of the day. I should tell her the truth the minute she gets here, but I plan on feeding her first. Or having her feed me. I went overboard, getting every ingredient I could for her to make whatever her heart desires. My phone dings to notify me that the doorman let a guest up while I’m pouring a bourbon.
I open my door, and my smile drops. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Well, that’s no way to greet your future wife.”
My skin crawls at her words. “That’s me being nice.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“No.”
“Invite me in, Theo. There are some things we need to discuss.” I freeze, unsure of what to do. Fay is going to be here any minute. Fuck.
“Make this quick.” I step aside, grabbing my phone.
Me: Something important for work came up. I’ll come to your place when I’m done.
I don’t see the three dots and start to panic. I can’t have her showing up right now. This won’t look good.
“Hmmm, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say I was interrupting something.”
I look at what caught her attention. The three large vases of flowers. “Yes. Now, what is it you need to discuss?”
She turns to face me. “How was the charity event?”
“Lovely. Is that all?”
“You canceled the fundraiser dinner.”
“I sent a check. Now, unless you’re my keeper, you can leave.”
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Fay Evans: Got it. *insert smiley face*
I shove my phone into my back pocket, feeling somewhat at ease.
“You’re seeing someone. I can tell. Daddy’s going to find out, and he won’t be happy.”
I turn my back on her and head to the kitchen, searching for my drink. “Goodnight, Alana.”
“You can’t just ignore me.”
“Watch me.”
“You know what? You cannot talk to me like this. I deserve to be treated with some respect.”
I slam my glass down on the island. “You want to be treated with respect?” She puffs out her chest and nods. “Then get the hell out of my life. Go find a man willing to put up with your lies and deceit. Because that man is not me anymore. So, yeah. If you want to keep up with this bullshit, then this is what you’ll get. Do you really think if we get married, you’ll get your happy ever after?”
The fucked-up part is that the way she looks back at me tells me it’s exactly what she thinks. I walk until I’m mere inches away from her. “Hear me and know this. You will never get a sliver of affection from me. I can barely stand being in your presence. If this blackmail plan goes through, which I’m fighting to make sure doesn’t, I will ship you off to the other end of the world so I never have to see you again.”
“What do you mean you’re trying to fight it? You. . . you can’t do that.”
“Watch me.” My anger clouds my senses, and I realize I’ve said too much.
She flings her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t know what’s come over you lately, but this isn’t you.”