Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Even though it turns out that she’s not sick, that panic I felt earlier still lingered. There’s no way I could’ve left her to go to the meeting, no matter how important it once was. “So, you walked away from a billion-dollar deal.”
“Yes.”
“Fine! I’ll have the contract signed and delivered first thing tomorrow.”
“Excuse me?” He laughed at my surprise.
“I have a wife and two daughters, trust me, I know how it is when one of them is under the weather. In thirty years, I’ve never left my wife’s side if she’s sick.”
I waited for the catch. As far as I know, the stalwart businessman has always been known for his cutthroat business acumen. I’ve never heard of him being sentimental where family is concerned. “You’re serious!” This old man better not be playing me. It’s true I preferred working with his company over others, but there was nothing stopping me from making the deal with someone else.
“I’m very serious. I like to know the people I’m working with have something more than money going for them. The fact that you were willing to give up this lucrative deal to take care of your loved one says a lot about your character. I look forward to working with you, and I hope your fiancée gets better soon.”
JESSICA
Huh, missed a business meeting to sit next to my bed, did you! The phone ringing had finally woken me up, but I didn’t open my eyes right away. I listened to his end of the conversation and pieced it together. I ignored my heart’s glee for the time being and the way it made me feel knowing that he’d done that for me.
“I know you’re awake; you can stop pretending now.” I let my eyes slowly open as I turned on my side, facing him.
“What’re you yelling about?” Damn, I hate to admit it, but I feel better than I have in years. I looked at my watch and saw that it was almost five in the evening. I slept for a solid twenty hours or thereabouts.
I sat up and stretched to get the kinks out, and this one was already in my face. “Here, drink this. I’ll go bring you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I didn’t ask. Go get cleaned up, I’ll be back in a bit.” I bet you’ll find me exactly where you left me, and I’m not eating shit.
“I know that look, and you can forget it. I’ll force-feed you if I have to. Or I can call your Dad and ask the good doctor why his daughter is almost malnourished.”
“Ooh, you’re going to ask Chase Thornton that? Use my phone.” I picked it up from the night table and held it out to him. This ought to be good.
He called my damn bluff, this bastard. I sat in awkward surprise as he called to berate my Dad. I waited for the yelling to start on the other end, but instead it turned into the two of them ganging up on me. He put the phone on speaker so I could get a damn inquisition from my parents.
If looks could kill, he’d be dead from my glare. I gritted my teeth and answered my father’s questions, which were more of a minefield than anything else. “Did you know she slept for twenty hours today because she hasn’t been sleeping well?”
“Oh? How long have you had insomnia, baby?”
“It’s nothing, Dad, I’ve just been working a lot lately, and the time got away from me.”
“And not eating? How can someone with your resources have malnutrition?” Bastard, who the hell are you throwing under the bus?
“Actually, this all started a few years ago, when this stronzo rejected me in a very hostile way. It’s been giving me nightmares ever since.” The look on his face was priceless, especially when my Dad started asking for the name of this soon-to-be-dead person.
He looked at me with this look of horror on his face, and I almost felt sorry for him. “Is that true?” He said the words low enough that no one else would hear. I didn’t answer, just rolled my eyes at him. “It doesn’t matter, Dad, that person is of no importance. I’ve forgotten all about him long ago.”
That bastard walked over and lifted my face with his finger under my chin. I should’ve known what he was up to when he stood there looking into my eyes without saying a word. Then he leaned down and kissed me, with my father on the phone.
I moaned. “What was that?” Dad asked. I thought Julius would release me, but instead, he deepened the kiss. Game on. I bit his lip, which made him jump back and out of the way. “Ooh, Daddy!” That one had him turning off the speaker on his phone real quick. I don’t know why he was giving me death glares; it’s not like I asked to be here.