Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24269 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Yet, that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m storming through the Sanctum compound in search of the woman I love even though she’s made clear that she doesn’t want to see me. My texts go unanswered, she won’t pick up her phone, and she’s pretty much gone awol. Hell, I had half a mind to confront her at Key Largo, but that’s going too far even for me. I don’t want my subordinates to get an eyeful of their boss in a rage over a woman, so at least I’ve had enough self-discipline to refrain from that.
But now, I’ve had enough. Petunia can’t hide forever, and I got a tip from a buddy that she’s at one of Sanctum’s restaurants right now. Immediately, my blood began boiling. Is she seeing another man? Is she entertaining other clients? I’m going to wring that girl’s neck when I finally get my hands on her.
Sure enough, as soon as I step into La Cirelle, I immediately spot Petunia sitting at a table with a handsome man, smiling and laughing prettily at something he’s said. Her brown curls are tossed back, and she’s wearing a tiny, glittery bra top paired with a mini skirt that shows off the creaminess of her thighs. Judging from the hungry look on her companion’s face, she looks as if she’s about to be devoured alive. Fuck!
Without any hesitation whatsoever, I storm over to their table and grab Petunia’s arm to pull her up. She gasps and the dude immediately gets up, his expression enraged.
“What the fuck?” he hisses. “What the hell is your problem?”
“It’s urgent,” I rasp out between gritted teeth. “I’m her brother. It’s a family emergency.”
This is clearly a lie, but I don’t care at this point. Immediately, I drag Petunia out of the restaurant even as she tries to resist.
“Cyrus, I’ll be back,” she apologizes over one shoulder to her date. “Let me just take care of my brother here,” she spits.
Finally, we’re out in the hallway and she hisses again, furiously trying to yank her arm away.
“What is your problem? What are you doing?” the curvy girl snarls. But I don’t care, and merely wrangle her into an elevator before pressing the button for my floor.
“We’re going to my suite,” I say in an ominous tone.
Immediately, Petunia starts pressing the open button, but it’s too late because the elevator has already begun its ascent.
“No, I’m not going. You can’t kidnap someone, and why the hell did you embarrass me like that? Let me go!”
I ignore her as the elevator dings, and then drag her bodily down the hallway before opening the door to my suite and shoving her inside. Immediately, the curvy girl whirls on me, sparks flashing in her eyes.
“What is your problem, Nico?” she demands. “Seriously!”
“What’s my problem?” I echo with rage rising in my veins. “Why don’t you answer that yourself?”
Petunia lets out a bitter laugh and crosses her arms over her chest as she shakes her head at me. “What is my problem?” she narrows her eyes. “My problem is that I take my job very seriously and you just made me look completely unprofessional! No amount of money is going to fix that. I mean, seriously, my brother? You think people are going to buy that?”
I merely growl.
“Who the fuck cares about that dude? He doesn’t matter. But what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you avoiding me? I’ve been blowing up your phone since last week and getting crickets in response. You should have told me if you wanted to move on. I know I’m not a Millennial but just plain manners, Petunia. Get some, will you?”
Her cheeks flush red as her bottom lip trembles.
“Manners?” she spits. “Are you fucking kidding me?” The curvy girl casts a venomous look my way, and I can see that she’s practically shaking with anger. “Okay, let’s talk about manners. I was stupid enough to believe that you were someone special. Instead, you’re nothing but a no-good, two-timing, smooth-talking asshole who just wanted to fuck me every which way. So who cares about manners? You’re getting your comeuppance!”
I stare at her.
“What are you talking about? I have no idea what you just accused me of.”
Petunia shakes her head at me violently, those curls bouncing in a halo. “You’re unbelievable,” she hisses. “How dumb do you think I am? What, aren’t you at least going to try to deny it? Or are you just going to pretend that you have no idea what I’m talking about when we both know that you do? The jig is up, Nico, so fess up!”
But I’m genuinely lost.
“Fess up to what?” I question, my voice exasperated. “Seriously, just say what it is you want to say.”
That does it, and Petunia begins screaming then, her eyes bloodshot as her hands ball into fists.