Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
It was a pleasant thought, but one she shelved by force of habit as soon as she returned to her desk. As the eldest child, she had always felt it was her role to be the responsible one, and this outlook had inevitably spilled over to her personality at work.
Her phone rang, and as she listened to the caller report about a crisis at one of the company's regional offices, it was business as usual, and any lingering thoughts about an Amazon trip that never happened faded for good.
Outside Mr. Collins' office, it was the same for the rest of those working at the 30th floor until the elevator doors slid open and a tall, powerful figure came out. Even to those who didn't recognize him by face, Acheron Simonides' commanding presence was such that he had everyone staring at him.
As he strode down the hallway, heads snapped so fast it was a wonder no necks were broken, with everyone wondering what possible reason the CEO could have to visit their floor. News of his presence quickly spread to the rest of the offices like wildfire, gossipy tongues setting fire all the way down to where the executives worked behind closed doors. Five seconds were all it took for everyone to know. Or at least everyone except Pippi.
A knock sounded on the door just as Mr. Collins' private phone rang.
"I'll take the call," her boss said and gestured to the door, adding, "You take care of that, and if it's a memo from Mrs. Gardiner, you know what to do."
"Have it framed and hang it on your wall?" she asked wide-eyed. The lady executive occupying one of the next-door offices was frequently likened to a female shark with an eye for rich widows like Mr. Collins.
"You just try," Pippi's grey-haired boss growled, and if looks could kill, the executive would've had her buried six feet under already.
"I was just joking," she said with a grin as she rose to her feet.
"You better."
In the mood to tease him, she looked at her boss over her back, asking innocently, "Or was I?"
"You..." But with his phone still ringing shrilly, Mr. Collins could only shoot his secretary a threatening scowl as he reached for the receiver. It was times like this he found himself wishing for the old Pippi back, he grumbled to himself. When she had just started, she was such a shy little mouse, never daring to answer back. And while she still did act like one with other people, she had long stopped being unsure of herself with Timothy. Why, these days he would be lucky if he didn't have her nagging about his diet, his health - on and on the list went.
As Pippi prepared to greet their unexpected guest, she heard her boss answer his phone and later exclaim, "He's here? What for?"
Mm. The astonishment in her boss' voice piqued her curiosity. It was so rare for anyone or anything to catch Mr. Collins off guard like that. She was still thinking about this as she opened the door, her gaze thoughtful and her voice soft as she murmured, "Good afternoon." And seeing that she was only at eye level with someone's breast pocket, Pippi lifted her gaze up - and consequently felt her jaw drop.
Dark eyes glittered down at her, and Pippi's heart slammed against her chest.
Acheron Simonides.
He was dressed entirely in black (bespoke Dior, she recalled reading from the society pages once), and the way it molded to every sinewy inch of his body was positively decadent. It reminded her of the longest three seconds of her life - her body on top of his - and the instant she thought of it, her cheeks were a goner, lost in the blushing heat of mortification.
Something glinted in his eyes, and because the only encounters she had with the opposite sex were work-related, the meaning of it escaped her at first. Why was he looking at her like he knew -
Her eyes widened in realization.
Lud!
That was it!
He knew exactly what she had been thinking of.
Aghast with shock, her first instinct was to slam the door on his face, but then she heard Mr. Collins ask, "Who is it, Pippi?"
The words made her jerk involuntarily as common sense returned in a flash.
You do not slam the door on the CEO's face, Pippilotta Jones!
She took one last apprehensive look at him, hoping futilely that what she had imagined wasn't real - but it was.
The smile playing on his lips said it all. It was as sexual as it was predatory, and it made her want to hide herself under the covers and mutter to herself, 'it's not real, it's not real.'
BUT IT WAS.
After twenty-three years of fastidious living and doing what she could to lead a life of blessed singlehood, the nasty Fates had still ended up having their way.