Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24214 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“You okay, sweetheart?” Caleb says next to my ear. I nod my head, unable to find words. A panic starts to rise inside of me. This woman got me fired from one job. I’m sure she can get me fired from this one too.
“I have the phone, sir. I got it all set up like you asked.”
"Good."
The woman comes closer, holding the phone out. Before today I never thought about how pretty she was, but now knowing she works alongside Caleb, I'm thinking about it. She is everything I’m not. We couldn't be more different in appearance.
“Lauren, this is Gabriella. Gabriella, this is my assistant Lauren. She has worked for me for a few years now,” Caleb introduces us. The woman gives a smile along with a nod of her head. “The phone is for Gabriella.” He takes it from her outstretched hand and gives it to me.
"We missed our dinner reservations with the Greens the other night, so they wanted to reschedule. They requested tomorrow, which coincides with the company's holiday celebration. We could skip it, though.”
They had a dinner date? I must have misunderstood because I’m sitting in his lap. That kind of makes it clear we’re together, but then again, he hadn’t said I was his girlfriend.
“Don’t you oversee the holiday party?” Caleb asks.
“I do, but I know this is more important, and you never go to the holiday party anyway.” The way she says it makes it sound as if she knows everything about him.
"I plan to bring Gabriella along for the dinner reservation. She is now also my personal assistant, but more personal. Gabriella will tend to my home and other areas outside of work, but she is capable of going to events with me.”
Heat rushes to my face. He did not just say that. He made me sound like a whore that he hired. Suddenly this is all feeling very Pretty Woman to me.
“She doesn’t know anything about the Greens or the—”
“Lauren.” He cuts her off. She presses her lips together.
“It’s okay. If she has more knowledge, perhaps you should consider taking her along.” This woman already doesn’t like me. I’m sure this isn’t going to help. I can tell she’s territorial. What I’m not sure is if it’s over her job or Caleb.
“I can invite the Greens to the holiday party. They might actually like that more. You know how they are.”
“That’s not a terrible idea. See to it,” Caleb agrees.
“Yes, sir.” She gives him a bright smile, but Caleb is staring at his computer screen, pulling up his emails. Her gaze shifts back to me, the smile subsides, and I receive a chilly glare. Yeah, it’s safe to say she’s still pissed.
“That is all.” Caleb dismisses her. I can sense some weird tension between them. Lauren turns to leave. “Lauren.” He calls her back when she reaches the door. “If there is anything blueberry on the catering menu, have it removed.”
I’m allergic. He really does think of everything. I guess that's how you get to run a big company.
“But—”
“Lauren,” he snaps at her. I even sit up straighter. Okay, there is serious tension here.
“Of course, sir.” She turns, leaving his office. His focus is still on his computer.
I watch him, wanting to ask what that was all about, but I don’t think it’s my place if they’d been together before. It’s clear he mixes business with pleasure.
I’m just not sure what my place is anymore.
13
CALEB
Something is up with Gabriella, she’s acting differently, and it's driving me crazy. There is a distance between us. And it’s not me that’s placed it there. I felt the difference when we returned home and began putting the finishing touches on the living room.
She had been incredibly excited about this particular tree, but that excitement has now faded. We didn’t even get to it. We got everything unpacked and ready, but then Gabriella said she was tired, so I got us dinner before she soaked in the bath. Then she passed out while we watched another holiday movie.
This is the quietest she’s been since I met her. Usually, I’m a big fan of people not talking to me, but it’s the opposite when it comes to her. Her silence is fucking torture. It’s all I could think about while we watched the movie. I don't remember anything about it. All my attention had been on her.
I’m used to solving problems. That's how I earned my wealth. I often take over companies and either make them thrive or rip them into parts and sell them off. Now I stand in the doorway of one of the spare bedrooms, watching a couple of girls do Gabriella’s hair and makeup.
I wasn’t too keen on the idea of having people in our home, but I am less keen on the idea of Gabriella going somewhere. Especially with how things have felt off. I knew I didn’t want anyone in our bedroom, so this was really the only option. She doesn’t notice me standing there. Even now, I can sense the tension in her body. There’s worry etched on her beautiful face.