Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123579 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 618(@200wpm)___ 494(@250wpm)___ 412(@300wpm)
“We all make mistakes, Sof,” I say softly. “I hope people won’t judge me forever for the stupid stuff I did when I was twenty years old.”
“Yeah, by twenty-one you and Harold had already started Deutimus.” She shakes her head, dropping her eyes again. “You don’t have to make up stuff to make me feel better. Like I said, you’re a good guy, and I’m—”
“I am a good guy,” I cut in before she can bring up the old argument again. “But I’m not perfect. Just like you made mistakes, but aren’t a bad person. We learn from our mistakes so we don’t make them again. It sounds like you learned from yours.”
She nods, but doesn’t elaborate. I have many more questions, but they are put on hold when the intercom buzzes for our food coming up. We don’t talk about Ruiz while Sofie eats her vegetables and rice, or while I devour my curry chicken. I think it’s deliberate, and that Sofie redirects our discussion on purpose.
“So I told you about Haven.” She takes a long draw from her bottled water. “Tell me what’s next for you.”
I set aside the other questions I have about Milan and Ruiz and his bitch wife because I’m still learning Sofie, but I think she’s reached her limit for tonight. All my life I’ve pushed until I get what I want, but with Sofie, it’s clear to me if I push too much, she’ll just walk away.
“Next? What do you mean?”
“After Deutimus.” She sinks into the deep cushions of the cream-colored couch, pulling up one knee to wrap her arm around it. “I know you’re not just riding off into the sunset, so what’s your next step?”
I hesitate because my next steps are…still forming, and the wrong person knowing or saying anything or mishandling the information could ruin everything. I study Sofie for an extra minute, and I might be crazy, but there’s nothing in me that sees her as the wrong person.
“It’s confidential.”
She nods, shifting both feet to the floor.
“I understand if you—”
“So I need you to keep this to yourself.”
A small smile settles around her lips, and she nods again, looking at me while she waits.
“All right. I can do that.”
“There’s an organization called the Collective.” I slide closer, taking her hand and linking our fingers. “It’s an international organization that aligns leaders from the spheres of business, philanthropy, and politics to financially empower people in developing nations.”
“Wow.” Sofie eyes widen. “That sounds exactly like what you wanted to do through Deutimus, right?”
“Yes, it is.” I nod, twisting my mouth. “And even though we’ve seen the financial success, our efforts are sorely hampered by corrupt, selfish, short-sighted governments more concerned about a privileged few than about the whole.”
“I remember Walsh running up against that in Haiti with our orphanage there.”
I smile at her use of “our.” She really does care about the Walsh Foundation.
“Haiti and just about every other country we’re trying to help,” I say. “Politicians with integrity and their country’s best interest at heart are the missing link. There are some, though, and the Collective identifies and works with them to achieve our goals.”
“Our? You’re part of the Collective?”
“Yeah.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees before looking at her. “Once Deutimus is sold, they want me to consider leading it.”
A wide smile illuminates Sofie’s face, and with so little makeup, her hair falling around her shoulders, and the casual clothing, I imagine she doesn’t look much different than she did when Ruiz first met her. First lied to her. I know she wants to talk about something else, but it’s all I can think about.
“Bishop, that’s incredible.” She squeezes my hand, dipping her head to study me more closely. “Right?”
“Right. It’s not a done deal, but right.”
“What’s left to do?” A small frown touches her face.
“I’m not their only candidate.” I shrug and turn down the corners of my mouth. “There are a few other people they’re considering. I’m sure my age is a concern.”
“Because you’re so old?” She grins and wrinkles her nose.
“Excuse me? I’m thirty-five. In their world, I’m a puppy.”
“Thirty-five?” She stretches her eyes wide. “That old? I’m surprised you could keep up in Jalene’s barre class.”
“Is that so?”
I inch toward her, flattening her back into the cushions until my chest presses her back completely. She’s so tall it’s easy to forget how slim she is. She feels fragile under me, like I could break her, and I pull back just a little. She reaches up to run a hand over my head, digging her fingers deliciously into my scalp. Damn, that feels good.
“So that’s what you want to do next?” she asks.
“It’s what I hope to do next, but there’s a vote.” My hands find the silky, warm skin of her back beneath the sweatshirt. “I really don’t want to talk about the Collective right now, Sof.”