Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40554 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“Sir?” Emily’s voice is more cutting than usual.
How much longer until Rachel comes back from maternity leave? She hadn’t been a fan of Emily either. Emily had worked under one of my executives, who retired about the same time Rachel was headed out for maternity leave. It was an easy fill. While she might annoy me, and I can’t even put my finger on why, she is efficient.
"What?" I ask.
"I wanted to inform you that Mr. Ford is online and checked into the meeting."
"Thank you." I should reschedule it, but this will keep my mind off Truly and temper me.
"Would you like me to order us dinner?"
"No."
"Are you leaving early then?" By "early" she means early for me. I live and breathe this place. It is sadly all I have right now. It passes the time, and I don't hate it all the time. I've brought this business back from the brink of destruction, both Truly's father and my own having made one terrible business decision after another in their endeavors.
That's how I got roped into this. When they first asked me, I said no. It wasn't only me working here they wanted; they wanted my capital. My father wasn't a self-made man. Hell, I can't call myself one either, but I did take the money my grandfather left in a trust to save this place and grew it far more than where it started.
My grandfather knew his son, my father, was shit at business. He'd even told me to stay away from my father's dealings, and that had been the plan. Until they dangled something priceless in front of me. The one thing they both knew I wanted more than anything else and couldn’t resist taking.
Truly. My Truly.
I guess as I grew older, and so did Truly, I didn't do well at hiding my feelings or intentions with her. I did try to keep space. Especially when the platonic feelings I once had started to morph. A couple of years when you're young is a whole lot bigger than when you're an adult.
"I'll leave when I choose. You can do the same." I dismiss her, pulling up the meeting. Mr. Ford appears on the screen, and we discuss the possibility of expanding a complex and whether it would require significant effort to rezone the adjacent building for that purpose.
"That will do it for me today," Ford says. "I promised the wife I wouldn't miss dinner this evening." He smiles at the mention of his wife. I glance at the time and see it's almost seven now.
"I understand," I tell him before getting off the call. I bet my wife would love me to be home for dinner too. Then she could stab me with a kitchen knife. I wouldn't blame her. I was a dick and made threats, but there is no going back.
She'd wanted to finish school. To find herself alone and grow before settling into married life. I've more than granted that. Did it fucking hurt? Yes, I thought we'd grow together, but she was young. I couldn't force a girl barely out of high school into a real marriage. Except it was always real to me.
I stand and stretch. This is going to be bittersweet going home to my wife.
When I exit my office, Emily is still here. She quickly stands when she sees me.
"How was the meeting?"
"Fine," I tell her. "I told you that you could leave whenever."
"I know." She gives me a smile. "But I wanted to be here in case you needed anything."
"I don't," I say before heading to the elevators. She hurries to catch up to me.
"Sir, was that really your wife?" I hit the button for the elevator. I want to tell her to mind her fucking business, but she should know who my wife is.
"Yes, and let security know as well. If she comes to my office, she is to be let in, and I am to be informed." That shouldn't be an issue, but it appears my wife has a way of slipping through security. "Do you understand, Emily?" I ask. "I don't care if I'm in a meeting; you inform me she's here." I make sure to spell it out for her so there are no further mix-ups when Truly is here.
"Got it." She takes a step back as the elevator doors open and I step in. "See you tomorrow."
I don't respond. I don't know if I will be here tomorrow. I'm not sure what this evening will bring. Hell, this place might be the only thing to keep me busy enough to stay sane.
Jack is waiting for me when I exit the building. “How was the drive home?” I ask him, curious to know how Truly was after leaving me.
“It was fine. She was very sweet and polite.”