Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I feel like such a liar.
“Sounds like you just need to find someone who works at Fort and get a recommendation.”
And not sleep with Ben Fort, thus rendering yourself ineligible for a position. But the truth is, I don’t regret sleeping with him and giving up on my dream to work for Fort Inc. How can I?
“Yeah, it’s not so easy. People aren’t allowed to disclose they work for Fort.”
“What? Like they’re spies or something?”
I laugh. It’s as ridiculous as she’s making it sound. I don’t have any defense on Bennett’s behalf.
“I think I’m just going to get over my Fort obsession and find a different horse to ride. I’m sure I’d learn a lot if I worked at Google or Microsoft or somewhere.”
“I thought the entire point of going to Fort is that it’s small enough that you’d be able to try lots of different things.”
I sigh. “That was an advantage, but I have to accept that it’s not going to happen for me.”
“You want me to get Vincent to ask around for you?”
“Eira, you’ve promised you’re going to try and not be so interfering.”
“I’m just trying to help. The Coves are a well-connected, successful family. And they’re our family now. There’s nothing wrong with asking family for help.”
“But none of them are in tech.”
“I think Vincent has a tech company.”
I sigh. “I don’t want to get a job because of who I know. I want to deserve the job and get it because of that.”
The silence from the other end of the phone tells me Eira doesn’t agree with me. But there’s a reason Bennett doesn’t employ people he sleeps with. It’s no coincidence that he’s called the man with the Midas touch. He makes decisions based on data, not friendships and favors.
Although it hasn’t helped him catch his hacker. “Oh, actually maybe the Cove mafia might be able to help me with something,” I say. “Do any of them know someone who could help with tech security?”
“You’re looking for some work experience or something?”
“Maybe,” I say. “I’ve just gotten a little more into it. It’s a growth area I might want to explore.”
“Hang on a minute.”
The phone goes dead—she’s muted me, which is a sure sign she’s either having a conversation with her soon-to-be husband or she’s peeing.
“I knew it,” she says a few seconds later. “You know Sutton’s best friend, Parker?”
I try to think. “Sutton is Jacob’s wife, right? Brother-in-law number one?”
“Right. Her best friend is married to a hacker. Is that right, Dax?” she calls out. “Yes, Dax says he’s some kind of famous hacker. Can hack anything. Has worked on all sorts of stuff for governments.”
He sounds like the exact person I need to help me figure out what’s going on at Fort—the exact person Bennett would use if he trusted anyone outside his business.
“I’m not sure he’s got an office you could do work experience at, but maybe he knows someone.”
“Can you introduce me?” I ask. “By email. I’d like to talk to him ASAP if possible.”
“He might know someone at Fort,” she suggests.
“Maybe,” I say. “It would be great to speak to him. Thanks, Eira.”
“Now who’s interfering?” she asks.
“It’s not interfering if I ask for help.”
She sighs. “Whatever. I’ll get Dax to do the intro since I don’t know the guy very well. Only met him once or twice.”
“That would be great, thanks. And for the record, you’re so much better at not interfering now than you used to be.”
“Putting that on a t-shirt. ‘Not as interfering as I used to be.’”
“Christmas present sorted.”
She laughs. It’s a sound I always cherish. Eira had it tough after my parents died. Seeing her so happy now, makes me so happy.
“Next time you call, you think we’ll get to see this Bennett of yours?” she asks.
My stomach twists, because I know Bennett’s never going to want to appear on a video call with my sister. He wouldn’t want to risk it. The last few weeks, I’ve enjoyed our bubble, just the two of us hiding out from the world. But if we can’t manage lunch at Shake Shack, or a video call with my sister, it doesn’t say much for the possibility that he and I might exist for more than a New York minute. And if being with him means I have to live a life where I’m lying to my sister… that doesn’t work for me.
I didn’t come here to find anyone. And even though Bennett definitely feels like the kind of someone I’d like to find, the man who will ultimately take up space in my life can’t force me to hide from the world—or even just my sister. Sooner or later, the bubble is going to burst.
TWENTY-THREE
Bennett
I’m not sure how it’s possible to look as gorgeous as she does wrapped up in a towel. “Wanna get dirty again?”