Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Look.
I was no wordsmith.
Nor had I ever been served food that was covered with a metal tea cosy, so how the heck was I supposed to know what they were actually called?
The plates were set in front of us, and the young woman left us without a word after removing the tea cosies. Lunch was prawn linguine, and I had to fight my smile when I looked over the table at Theodore.
He knew that was my favourite lunch at work.
Somehow, I doubted it was something that was served on a regular basis here at Buckley Manor.
We ate in silence with only the sound of birds cheeping outside the window. When had being in silence with him become so comfortable? At what point had his presence just become normal to me?
I certainly couldn’t imagine sitting here in a place like this with anyone other than him. I’d been slightly uncomfortable when we’d done afternoon tea as part of Heidi and Harriet’s mum’s hen party slash bridal shower at a Georgian manor house just because of how fancy it was, but I felt no such discomfort here with Theodore.
Which made no sense.
This was his ancestral family home; the same place he would one day be the master of when he became the Duke of Ruxleigh. It was by far the fanciest, most elegant building I’d ever set foot in, and I’d been waited on hand and foot since the moment I’d stepped through the door, yet I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
It was strange.
“Have you looked for another job yet?”
Theodore’s question jolted me out of my thoughts, and I peered across the table at him. His gaze was almost shadowed after his words, and nothing could hide the downturn of his lips that clearly showed his displeasure at the thought of me working for someone else.
“Not yet,” I replied, reaching for my water. “My notice won’t go in until we return to London in a month, and I’ll be working hard for you until then.”
He sighed, sitting back in and sinking his fingers into his hair. “And if you can’t find a job during the month you’ll be serving your notice?”
“Your grandfather told me he’d help me, which means he probably has a position in mind,” I pointed out. “Other than that, it’s fine. I have a place to stay in the event I have to leave the company residential building immediately, and I have enough savings that I could get by for six months even if I have to pay rent at market rate.”
Theodore pressed his lips together, almost as if he was displeased by my declaration. “Of course, you do.”
“You sound awfully upset by my financial safety cushion.”
“I was somewhat hoping you’d be desperately broke and would change your mind about resigning.”
I fought back a laugh, resting my chin on my hand. “Your honesty like this is refreshing. You should be more yourself in the office.”
“And what, let those stuffy bastards on the board exploit my kindness as a weakness?” he grumbled. “I’d rather not.”
“Fine, fine.” I waved a hand dismissively. “Stay as the cold, aloof Vice-President who has no cracks in his armour.”
He clutched his chest dramatically once more. “It’s just blow after blow from you, isn’t it?”
“I’m honest to a fault with my friends, and since you offered yourself that title, you’ll have to suck it up.” I shot him my best innocent smile. “Don’t worry; as soon as seven a.m. rolls around tomorrow, I’ll be the perfect secretary once more.”
Theodore tilted his head to the side, gazing at me with the tiniest of smiles teasing his lips. “You know what, Chloe? I’d rather you be yourself when we’re alone.”
I paused. “Really?”
“Mm. This version of you is much better than the cold, aloof secretary with no cracks in her armour.”
“Ooft, what a low blow.”
“There’s a reason everyone at the company thinks you’re the perfect secretary for me, and it’s because they see us both as aloof, cold-hearted people.”
“That’s how people see me?”
“Mhmm.”
“Excellent,” I said, grinning. “That’s what I was shooting for.”
He shook his head. “Just when I think I’m beginning to understand you, you say things like that.”
“There’s a reason for that. I don’t think you need to understand me.”
“That’s a shame. I really think I’d like to know everything about you. I can’t think of anything better than finding out what makes you tick.”
My stomach did a weird little flippy-flip thing at his words.
No. Not just at his words, but the way he said them. In his smooth-as-honey voice with his stupid smirky lips and his deadly deep gaze that, despite its cold colour, was surprisingly warm whenever it met mine.
“Do you really want to know what makes me tick?” I leant forwards, meeting his eyes. “It might surprise you.”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.”
I stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to take those words back, but he didn’t. The sincerity in his gaze tickled at me with its genuine warmth, and I couldn’t help but let my mouth curve up at the corners.