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)
“Yes, but I’m far from the only competent assistant out there. Not to mention he has two others.”
“Ah, so do I, but neither of them holds a candle to Cassidy.”
“Do you say that in front of your wife?”
“She tries to steal her all the time.” He chuckled. “Few people are as competent as you and Cassidy. It makes it difficult to imagine working without you.”
“Would you refuse her resignation the way he is with mine?”
“I’d try to convince her to change her mind, but if she didn’t, I’d have no choice but to accept it,” he admitted. “But for now, hang in there. There are some changes coming to the company very soon.”
I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but he swiftly shook his head and mouthed, “Not yet.”
“Miss St. James. Let’s go.” Theodore appeared behind me, startling me. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Just catching up,” Alastair said with a grin. “You should go. I’ll handle that thing we talked about, but you should make sure your staff are all aware. It wouldn’t hurt to have a meeting with Harvey, too.”
“Yes, I get it,” Theodore replied, stepping to the side and pinning me with his cool gaze. “I thought you said you wanted to go home.”
I slid off the stool and inclined my head towards Alastair. “It was nice to see you, sir.”
“Don’t forget you promised to have lunch with me!”
“She won’t,” Theodore said, putting one hand on my back and gently nudging me forwards. “Quickly, before he starts another conversation.”
“I can walk, sir.” I reached into my bag for the valet ticket. “Your conversation didn’t last long. Did you not eat?”
“No. Honestly, it could have been a phone call. Better yet, an email.” He opened the restaurant door and held it, then frowned at me when I didn’t move. “Well? Are you going outside or not?”
Huh.
He did have some basic manners.
“Forgive me, sir, but it’s not often you hold a door for me. It’s usually the other way around.” I stepped outside and handed my ticket to the valet who read it with a nod and went to fetch the car.
“You make it sound like I’m a mannerless barbarian,” Theodore said, stepping up next to me.
“I was merely pointing out I’m usually the one doing the door holding.”
“I don’t see you refuting my words.”
“I wouldn’t dream of agreeing with such an extreme evaluation of yourself.” I watched as my car pulled up in front of us and the valet got out. “Thank you,” I said, taking the key from him.
Theodore held out his hand. “Here. I’ll drive.”
I looked at his outstretched hand, then dragged my gaze up to his face. “Pardon?”
“I’ll drive. Give me the keys.”
“No, it’s quite all right. You’ve had a drink.”
“It was only one drink.”
“Only one drink is one drink too many in my car,” I retorted, marching to the driver’s side. “However, since you’re feeling gracious tonight, you’re welcome to open your own car door. Sir.”
His glare burned into my back, but he got in the passenger side without saying another word. It was a true miracle, one that might just have had me believing in God again. He was someone who always needed the last word, so the fact he’d stopped arguing with me was true bliss.
I doubted it would last long, but I was going to take my kicks where I could get ‘em.
“Make it a priority to familiarise Daniel and Melody with a photo of Lord Granstein and Emily Grandstein.”
Huh.
I didn’t know he knew the names of my babies.
“I’ll do so first thing, sir,” I replied.
“You aren’t going to ask why?”
“Is it necessary for me to know?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m sure you’ll tell me whether I ask or not, sir.”
Theodore sighed. “You can be hard work sometimes, Chloe.”
Chloe.
Damn it.
I hated it when he used my name instead of calling me Miss St. James. He used it so rarely, and despite how badly I wanted to smash his face in with a box file, he was handsome, and I was only human.
I cleared my throat. “Why do I need to familiarise them with the Grandsteins?”
“I’m sure Harvey already told you about Lord Grandstein’s archaic marriage proposal,” he said dryly. “Grandfather refused it, but Dad told me tonight that Lord Grandstein isn’t happy about it. There’s a high chance either he or Emily will come by the office in an attempt to convince me personally.”
“Then should I also circle their photos within security and the main reception to ensure they don’t make it to the office?”
“Share their photos, but they’re welcome to sit in the office and waste their time if they’re stupid enough to show up without an appointment. Do I have any free time in my schedule this week?”
“You never ask for any, so no, you don’t.”
“Then there’s no problem. See to it that they’re allowed in but can’t see me if I’m in the office.”