Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
“And that’s how you knew to take the photo, right?”
“Right.” She nods.
My hands are tingling. I think about Kathryn now, sitting at home on the couch, wrapped in her Christmas blanket.
If she could hear this conversation now…
“Well, Fran, did you not think to come to me before blackmailing Kathryn?”
Fran frowns again, processing. “Why would I come to you? You’re involved with her.”
I scoff. “Involved? Please. I’m with Kathryn for the same reason you are. Money!”
She stares back at me, and then finally, it clicks. There you go, girl.
“Wait, so you…you had the same plan as me?” I just nod. “To get incriminating photos and blackmail her?”
Again, I nod.
This time, Fran bursts into laughter. “Holy shit, dude! This is like…so fucking amazing! You want to like, team up and get more money out of the bitch!?”
Grinning, I lean closer. “I wanted to ask you, though—why blackmail her? She pays you well, right? And she has plans to promote you.”
You’d think I’d just asked the most ridiculous question in the world by Fran’s reaction.
She stands up and waves her arms around her apartment. It’s minimal but livable. And unlike me, she doesn’t have to share it with a roommate.
“Look at this place!” She sneers. “Have you seen Kathryn’s house? It’s like she lives in another universe than the rest of us!”
“Yeah, I see what you’re saying—”
“And sure, she gave me a nice Christmas bonus, but she could have given a lot more.”
She’s practically shaking with anger now and goes over to the table, picks up a plate, and throws it at the wall. It shatters everywhere.
“You know how many plates she could buy if she wanted? She could literally buy this building, and she thinks a Christmas bonus is enough?”
Again, I nod. “So you figured, why the hell not just blackmail her and get some more cash?”
“Exactly!”
“Smart.” I smile, getting to my feet. “Listen, I have to go now. I told Kathryn I was going to get some things from my apartment and she’ll get suspicious if I’m not back soon.”
“See?” Fran curses under her breath. “The bitch has you under control too.”
“Yeah…” I reply, trying not to smile. How wrong you are.
I open the door, but before I can step outside, Fran comes up beside me and grabs me by the arm. “So…I’ll hear from you? About teaming up?”
I never noticed until now just how short Francesca really is. “Yes, you’ll hear from me.”
Her eyes are shining as I close the door behind me—gleaming with thoughts of all the riches she’s about to receive.
Kathryn opens the door for me when I get back to her place. I take her into my arms and shake, covering her with snow.
“Hey!” she protests. “That’s not nice!”
We both laugh, and I lift her into my arms and carry her over to the couch. She looks up at me with hopeful eyes as I take off my jacket and toss it aside.
“Well?” she asks. “Did she go for it?”
I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. The recording app is all queued up. Smiling, I press play.
“Wait, so you…you had the same plan as me? To get incriminating photos and blackmail her?”
Kathryn’s eyes go wide, then fill with relief.
“We’ll take this to the cops, and she’ll be out of your hair for good.”
She’s tearing up now, her arms out for me. I shut the recording off and lie down on top of her, pressing my hard body against her softness.
I could get used to this—lying here with her, feeling like we’re both ready to take over the world.
Nothing can stop us. Not now, not ever.
“Thank you, Blake,” she whimpers. “But…why?”
Her question startles me, and I give her a funny look. “Why? Why what?”
“I just…why would you do something like this for me?”
I can’t help but smile. Her eyes are so submissive—so sensitive. If there was ever a time to tell her what I’ve been wanting to say, it’s now.
“Isn’t it obvious, Kathryn? I love you.”
Her mouth falls open, and the softest gasp falls from her lips. I lean in and kiss them gently, a new type of kiss I’ve never given her before. This one’s filled with promises. A promise of forever.
“I love you too, Blake. I love you.”
10
KATHRYN
CHRISTMAS DAY…
Snow is falling outside, the tree is glowing, and presents lie wrapped beneath. Kathryn and I are snuggled up on the couch, listening to Christmas music. Things couldn’t be more perfect.
Which is good, considering how early I got up this morning to get things started.
My job doesn’t give me much time to cook—or bake like I used to love doing with Mom before she passed—so I took an hour to make Blake and me some Christmas cookies. We decorated them with homemade frosting.
We made the decision to celebrate at my house, rather than Blake’s “dingy apartment,” as he put it.