Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
You won't be able to work anywhere in Wyoming.
Everyone will know about it, and no one will be willing to hire someone who's earned his ire.
At that time, I mistakenly believed Hilary was just worried about my ability to work my butt off. And since the other woman knew I didn't exactly grow up poor, her concern had made sense.
But now that I'm standing in front of Aryan Hale himself?
Pooooooop.
The fury in his gaze is unmistakable.
But it isn't what has set my heart pounding hard against my chest.
"Take a seat."
His voice is cold and hard like steel.
But the sound of it only makes my heart race even faster...and that's what's making me panic.
I can't believe this is happening.
Please, please, please let me be imagining this.
Please.
But when I force myself to slowly meet his gaze—-
I'm dead.
It's exactly as I feared.
After almost nineteen years of existence, I realize I'm no different from my peers.
I am officially and absolutely smitten, and with my impossibly gorgeous boss no less.
Oh, Heaven, you're so, so dead!
"Do you know why I had you called?"
I shake my head.
"The only reason you're working here is because I couldn't say no to Harry. And the terms we agreed upon were pretty clear."
"I—-"
"—-shouldn't talk unless you're asked to, Ms. Gaines. Which I haven't. Have I?"
I'm about to say 'no', see his lips tighten, and realize it's better to shake my head instead.
"Perfect."
He stares at me then, and what I see in his silvery gaze pierces my heart.
I thought I was imagining it earlier, but it seems I was right the first time.
What I thought was fury in his eyes was hatred instead.
How can this man hate me when we're meeting for the first time?
Only one reason comes to mind, and I can feel myself start to pale.
"A-Are—-"
"Did I not just fucking warn—"
"—-y-you angry at me because of my stepfather?"
My stomach is churning like mad now, but I had to ask it.
"Angry doesn't even cover it."
My heart starts breaking into pieces the moment I hear this.
This is obviously why Hilary took painstaking care to warn me against getting on his wrong side. Everwind may be thousands of miles away from Miami, but it seems there's no escaping my stepfather's crimes. I can't even fathom how Henry has managed to blackmail Mr. Hale—-
"Men like your stepfather are the reason why my parents are dead."
—-and that's because it never happened at all, since I got it all wrong.
"And you're no different either."
"Mr. Hale, I'm not—-"
"That butter-can't-melt-in-my-mouth-look may work on others, but it doesn't fucking do anything to me. And do you know why?"
All I can do now is look at him while my heart continues to break. Mr. Hale doesn't even know me, but he's already made up his mind that I'm just as deceitful as Henry.
"The man who killed my parents was exactly like your stepfather. And you."
Me?
"Likable as hell," he throws at me in a scathing voice. "And charming as fuck. That's how he got away scot-free...but I'll be damned if I'll let it happen again."
I want to defend myself, but the words die in my throat when I see the pain in his eyes.
"I don't fucking like you, Ms. Gaines. And I'll be keeping my eye on you at all times. Just one fucking mistake, and you're out. And there is no fucking way you'll get any second chances from me."
I can only trust myself to nod.
I'm terrified if I try to speak, I'll start crying.
"Now that we're clear on where we both fucking stand—-" His voice takes on a mocking note. "You're free to go, Ms. Gaines."
I'm no longer able to meet his gaze as I nod and get to my feet. I turn around and find myself practically running. I yank the door open and nearly crash into Mrs. Goodwill.
The older woman jumps back and tries to laugh away her embarrassment. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. I just happen to be walking by—-"
Mrs. Goodwill lets out an alarming squeak, and it's only when I hear the door slam shut behind me that I realize what freaked her out.
"Shit," I hear her say under her breath.
And when she turns to face me again, it's as if she's transformed into a monster, and all I can do is back away.
"Did you see how Mr. Hale looked at me? He thinks I'm your friend!"
Mrs. Goodwill is screaming.
And I don't get it.
Why does she have to scream when I'm standing right in front—-
"Mr. Hale was right about you," Mrs. Goodwill says loudly.
Oh.
"You're exactly like the man who killed his parents."
She wants to make sure Mr. Hale hears her.
"You're likable and charming, but it's all a lie, and I'll make sure to warn everyone about you."
All I can do is stand there as I watch Mrs. Goodwill march away.
I have a feeling her words are motivated more by fear than conviction. I think she just wants to protect her job.