Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59690 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 298(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“And I’m a Sinclair now.”
My heart warmed at those words. “I love to hear that.”
“You’re also a Wright,” she teased.
I laughed. “Fair.”
“Look, it’s going to be fine. Your dad has already left the building. You’re just doing next steps. But I can go if you want me to?”
“No,” I said quickly. “That’s not what I mean.”
“I can sit in the car,” she said with an arched eyebrow. “I’d planned to read this book, overlooking the mountains, you know?”
“We’ll go back,” I promised her.
“We’d better.”
“I owe you a honeymoon, too.”
“I can’t wait.” Her eyes went distant, as if envisioning what was to come. “Now, go have your meeting so we can go home sooner and do it.”
I snorted. “Do it?”
She arched an eyebrow. “So you can fuck me?”
“And I absolutely will,” I said. “But you can’t sit out here. It’s too hot today to read in the car.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Harley, it’s over a hundred. I don’t know how long this is going to take. Hopefully quick, but you never know. Why don’t you sit in my office and read while I’m in my meeting?”
“All right. You convinced me,” she agreed easily, slipping from my grasp and exiting the car.
I took a deep breath. Well, here goes nothing.
Harley was waiting with her thriller in hand as I came around to the front of the car. I took her hand in mine again, and we headed into Sinclair Realty. I’d been working here for years and known my whole life that I wanted to take over the company. With the prospect of doing that today, my heart was skittering in my chest. I couldn’t decide if it was nerves or anticipation or something else. Only that I hadn’t wanted to take over because of this. Just like I hadn’t wanted to become the face of the company because of my father’s affair.
He had a way of wrecking all of my carefully laid plans. Apparently, he did that with everyone.
Harley’s Docs were harsh against the marble tiles as we crossed the lobby. Agents were milling around, chatting in groups about the turmoil in the company. Eyes followed us the whole way, widening in recognition at the woman at my side. To her credit, she was unfazed by the attention. Just smiled back and even gave a little wave to one woman who was openly gawking at us.
“They really seem interested in us,” she said once we were in the elevator on the way to the top floor.
“Not every day a Wright steps into Sinclair Realty.”
She shrugged. “Corporate takeover,” she said with a wink. “I’m starting at the top and working my way down.”
“Ah, is that what you consider this?” I asked as I pulled up her left hand and gestured to the ring on it.
“Damn straight.”
I laughed, loving that she could bring levity to the situation. As if she knew precisely how bad my nerves were. And she probably did. Harley knew me better than anyone and always had.
“Ready?” she asked me as we neared the top floor.
I nodded. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Chase…”
“I can do this.”
“I know you can, but it’s a big step.” She took my chin in her hand and tipped my face down to hers. “You’re in control here. Don’t forget that.”
I pressed a harsh kiss to her mouth. “How did I get so lucky?”
“You came to a Wright wedding.”
“Luck indeed.”
I took her hand in mine just as the elevator opened to the top floor to chaos. We both froze in surprise at the mess of people standing on the landing, arguing. Almost the entire board was there, shouting at each other…along with my sister?
I cleared my throat. “What’s going on here?”
The room quieted as I stepped forward. Ashleigh paled at my appearance, her eyes shooting to Harley. We hadn’t spoken since she’d tried to fuck with my relationship. She’d tried to reach out, but I just didn’t have it in me to deal.
I didn’t exactly want to deal with her right now either, but she was probably shaken up by what we’d learned about Dad. She worked at the company, too, and she’d been more on Dad’s side than I ever had been. She hardly approved of his extramarital affairs, but this was next level.
By her red-rimmed eyes and, dare I say, disheveled appearance, she hadn’t known any of it either. And was just as hurt as Mom and I had been by the news.
“Chase,” she said with relief in her voice, “you made it.”
“I made it,” I agreed.
“And you brought Harley.”
“That’s right.”
Ashleigh swallowed, wariness in her expression. “The board says that I can’t be in the meeting.”
“Why would you be in the meeting?”
Her jaw clenched. “What do you mean, why? I’m a Sinclair, too. I’ve worked at the company longer than you. I have a controlling stake. I should be involved in the decision-making.” She lifted her chin. “After all, I was the one who convinced the women to come forward about Dad.”