Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26557 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 133(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
I could have been mad, my mom didn’t tell me about Cade until after they were married, but I could never stay mad at her. Not even when she’d relapse and forget to buy groceries in the early days. Or even after her career took off and she had people around her that both fed her sickness and cleaned up after her.
She was loveable. One of those people that even in their worst moments, could make you smile and feel special. That’s why everyone loved her. Including my stepfather, who has been my guardian since her death and is now my boss.
She passed away just a year after they married and I know she made Cade promise to take care of me until I could stand on my own two feet. We have no other family and all I know about my real father is he wanted nothing to do with me or my mom after she told him she was pregnant. I don’t even know his name.
She said it was better that way, and I trusted her the way a daughter trusts a mother. Right or wrong.
The heartbreak of losing her was only softened by being around Cade, whose calm, quiet presence became my north star. He makes sure I’m safe.
If he thinks I’m hurt, he loses his mind.
If he thinks someone has slighted me or treated me in any manner other than you would a princess, he turns absolutely feral. The juxtaposition of his quiet dominance with the crazed violence he’s shown a handful of times captivates me beyond words.
He’s a man of few words but I hang on each and every one. He makes sure I have everything I want and need. Bodyguards are with me whenever I’m out and about. I have a black Amex, stacks of hundred-dollar bills are left for me every morning next to my bowl of oatmeal and when I was so sad and lost after Mom died, he pulled me out of the school I hated and surrounded me with tutors and therapists and every other LA expert on well-being and mindfulness and such until I found my feet and realized life was going to go on, with or without me.
What I really wanted, and hated myself for, was to snuggle in next to him on the couch. Have him kiss my head, stroke my cheek and tell me I would belong to him forever.
I’m a horrible daughter and a silly girl.
I’m nineteen now, and after I got my diploma at seventeen, he insisted I come to the office with him every day. For the first year, I just hung around his admin staff, doing little tasks, but I wanted him to see me. Notice me. Need me in some small way.
So I convinced him to let me try to be an agent. I could see it was the agents that got his attention. It was the agents who earned his approval by landing a big client or a great contract.
Only, I suck at being an agent and I know he’s tiring of me hanging around and screwing up every three seconds, trying to be something I’m not just so he will see my value and keep me around. And I am sure his promise to my mother is the only reason I haven’t been fired.
I have one last hail Mary tonight, with plans in place that will make Cade see me as an asset and not just an obligation.
I hope.
“We had three of our own take home the golden statues tonight, including one best actress award. Congratulations, Davis. I know what it took for you to land that role for Beverly. You went the extra hundred miles on that one, but she’s not just an actress now. She’s a fucking franchise of her own. And that, people, is what I fucking expect from each and every one of you.” I elbow Davis standing next to me as Cade slips his phone into the front pocket of his tuxedo pants then crosses his arms. “I expect the agency to come out of tonight with a fuck ton of A-list clients. I don’t care how you do it, just do it. As usual, don’t expect to sleep for a couple days. It’s work, not fun. Keep me updated. If you need me to come in and hammer the closing, don’t let your pride fuck that up. Text me 911 and where you are in the house.”
Cade’s eyes rest on mine for a split second, forcing a surge of wicked energy into my core. I count, one, two, three seconds before he looks out the floor to ceiling windows at the vista of the Hollywood hills. Three seconds of just me in his line of sight. That’s an eternity longer than he ever makes eye contact with anyone unless he’s threatening them or closing a deal.