Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Inside the bus at all times. I swear.”
She stares me down as if searching for the lie.
“I did not lay a hand on her, Belinda.” My lips are another story, and I didn’t instigate that. I sure as hell enjoyed it, enough that it was the first thing that came to mind when I cracked my blurry eyes open this morning. “But I need you to back me up. You do that, and those signs on her property will be long gone by the media open.”
That gives her pause. “All of them?”
“Every last one.”
Her lips twist as she considers this. “I want the rooster gone too.”
“That’s a no-go.” There’s not a chance in hell Ralph is going anywhere. I saw Sloane’s face. I may as well have demanded she drown a puppy. “So? Will you back me up if I need it?” Something tells me I will need it. Sloane wouldn’t tolerate idiots. Aside from her ex, that is. All these guys will be Wolf Hotel employees by the end of the weekend if I don’t run interference.
I hold my breath as I wait for her answer.
“Fine.” Belinda sighs reluctantly. “But don’t make me look stupid.”
“That’s impossible.” I cap it off with a wink.
She rolls her eyes. “Be prepared for pushback, though. These are all career Wolf managers who aren’t pleased about reporting into a grounds crew worker who weaseled his way into Henry’s good graces.”
“Got that vibe.” But weaseled? I smirk. “Is that what I did?”
“I have no idea what precisely you did, and I’m sure I do not want to know. But Dorian was expecting your job. Frankly, he deserves it.”
“And maybe one day, he’ll have it. But today, it’s mine and I can squash our public relations issue with your help.”
A thoughtful expression lingers on her face as she slows her steps. The meeting room is up ahead. “If you want to earn your position, you need to start acting like you care that you have it.”
“I do care.” As much as I might not have wanted this job, now that I’m here, I’m not letting anything or anyone get in the way of it. “But I have a fuck ton to learn.”
“And no time to learn it,” she agrees. “So, you better learn how to fake it.”
“Is that what you did?”
“I’ve never had to fake a single thing in my life,” she scoffs.
I can’t help the sly smirk that curls my lips. “That’s good to know.” Because she screamed like a woman possessed that day in the old Wolf cabin.
Her warning glare has my apology slipping out. I did promise her we wouldn’t mention our past again. “Don’t you remember what it’s like to start a new job and not know what you’re doing?”
“No.”
“Come on, Belinda …” I give her an imploring look.
She purses her lips. “Ask yourself what Henry Wolf would do in a particular situation, and do that.”
“So … be an arrogant prick?”
“Exactly. It hasn’t failed me yet.”
An unexpected bark of laughter escapes me, and she joins in. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Belinda laugh before. At least, not in a way that isn’t mocking.
Her steady gaze is on my profile as we close the distance to the meeting room. “What?”
“When did you meet the neighbor?”
“Yesterday. Went by to have a talk,” I lie. If Belinda knew Sloane was on hotel property, she’d lose her mind.
That answer seems to satisfy her. “I’m impressed that you managed to negotiate with that menace. Maybe Henry wasn’t completely wrong about bringing you here.”
I bite my tongue against the urge to defend Sloane. Hell, I’d be pissed too, if I owned a property like that and this place moved in next door. And now all she’s trying to do is keep her decades-old family business running while we pillage her best workers.
But Belinda isn’t the empathetic type, especially when finding empathy requires going against her boss. “I guess we’ll see soon enough.”
“I have a firm list of candidates for HR.” Dorian’s weathered hands rest on the stack of printouts, but he makes no effort to pass any across the table. The middle-aged grounds staffing supervisor has heavy bags under his eyes. Then again, all the managers tasked with combing through yesterday’s applicants look like they haven’t slept much. But Chester has handed over his seasonal hire lists for the facilities without question, as if happy to be rid of it.
“Do you have a list for me?” I ask calmly.
“I can cc you on the email when I send it to Mike.” A smarmy, counterfeit smile curves his lips. “Listen, Ronan, I’ve gone through this process a dozen times. I know what makes a good employee.”
And you have no fucking clue. He doesn’t have to say the quiet part out loud. Everyone in this room can hear it, and they’re exchanging furtive, knowing glances.