Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“Yes,” I responded with a forced smile. “Is she here?”
He nodded. “She arrived just a bit ago with a visitor. Would you like me to announce you?”
My blood started to boil. “No, that’s okay; she’s expecting me.”
With another nod, he motioned for me to head to the elevator. If that was my doorman and he just let any Tom, Dick, or Harry in, I’d be fuming.
I hit the elevator button so hard I was afraid I’d break it. I ran my hand through my hair as I sighed. I honestly didn’t peg Saylor for someone who would hook up with a total stranger. I reminded myself that was why I was here, to save her from some lunatic asshole who she only met hours ago.
Fuck.
She’d only met me a week ago, and here I was playing her savior.
The bell chimed, signaling I was on Saylor’s floor. Inhaling a breath, I headed down the long hall. Then I stopped and leaned against the wall.
What am I doing?
Saylor could go home with anyone she wanted to. I was only her boss, not her fucking boyfriend.
“Son of a bitch. I need to get laid.”
Pushing off the wall, I headed back to the elevator. When I hit the down button, I closed my eyes and tried to clear the erratic thoughts swirling around in my head.
I was not interested in Saylor. Hell, I wasn’t interested in any woman. I had a career I needed to focus on. I had finally made it to the top, and I wasn’t about to become distracted now. From the moment Saylor Night had entered my world, she’d thrown me completely off balance.
Not anymore.
The doors opened, and I stepped outside. Taking my phone out, I pulled up my contacts and looked for her number. Once I was back in the lobby of the building, I motioned for the doorman.
“Looks like I’m not staying after all.”
He frowned. “Sorry, dude.”
I smiled. “Oh, don’t be sorry. My night’s about to turn around.”
Hitting the number, I waited for Annie to answer.
“Bloody hell, if it isn’t Mason Quinn.”
Annie Davies. She’d been my cousin Charlie’s flavor of the month a few years back. Not that I took his scraps, but hell, when they looked like Annie, then fine. I’ll take my cousin’s sloppy seconds. And to top off her British accent, she was an amazing fuck. We had hooked up a few times, nothing serious.
“You busy tonight, Annie?”
“For you? No. I heard you’re living in Manhattan now. Want me to come to your place?”
The doorman pulled up with my BMW, and I tipped him a twenty.
I laughed because Annie knew better. In all my years, I’d never brought a casual fuck back to my place. If I had to get a hotel room I would, but something about bringing them to my place made it seem too…real.
“You still live in the same building as Charlie?” I asked.
“I do.”
“I’ll be there in twenty.”
CHAPTER NINE
* * *
Saylor
TEA IN HAND, I made my way toward my office. I was early and glad to see that almost no one was in yet. When I turned the corner, I stopped. “Ashley? What are you doing here so early?”
Rolling her eyes, she replied, “Mr. Quinn called me last night. Said he had some important things that needed to be taken care of and that he needed me here early.”
I frowned. “Huh. Must be important.”
She leaned forward and glanced towards his door before focusing back on me. “He’s in a very bad mood. I’ve heard a slight accent all morning.”
My brows pinched together. “How long have you been here?”
The poor thing yawned then mumbled, “Since five.”
“Five!” I practically shouted. Shaking my head, I glared at Mason’s door.
“Oh, Ms. Night, I know you want to say something, but you’re new and you don’t understand. Mr. Quinn is normally a great boss, but I’ve quickly learned that when he’s stressed or when something is bothering him he likes to either work early or work late. He’ll let me off at the appropriate time.”
Ashley smiled then covered her mouth to hide another yawn.
“Ashley, go home,” I said.
“I’m sorry, but only Mr. Quinn can excuse me.”
Tilting my head, I smiled. “Didn’t Mr. Quinn say that if I needed you for a special project every now and then he’d let me borrow you?”
“Yes, ma’am, he did.”
“I have a special project. It’s called the sofa in my office that needs someone to lay on it. Go. Now.”
Looking nervously at Mason’s door, she stood. “I only need thirty minutes.”
I jerked my head in the direction of my office. “Go. I’ll buy you an hour.”
Frowning, she asked, “How?”
With a wink, I replied, “The first thing I learned about Mr. Quinn is that he likes to talk money and how the firm can make more of it. I’ll invite him to breakfast and tell him I have a brilliant idea for the Jameson account.”