Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Which property was it?”
“The Hearst.”
“I see…” I paused. “Ages of the family members?”
“Thirty-four-year-old male, twenty-nine-year-old female, and three minors.” He clicked his pen. “A resident saw them setting up a tent in the garden. They even tried to start a little bonfire.”
I held back a sigh.
“We’re temporarily detaining them in the leasing office, but we can’t do much without your move,” he said. “Would you like to press charges?”
“No.”
“Huh?” He arched a brow. “I didn’t quite catch that.”
“I said no.” I kept my voice firm. “I don’t want to press charges against them.”
“Okay, then… Have a good night then, sir.”
“Wait,” I said. “Is my executive assistant there with you now?”
“She is, sir,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind that I called her first.”
“I don’t. Give her the phone.”
Moments later, Sarah’s soothing voice joined the line.
“I’m impressed,” she said. “You’re showing signs of being a human being.”
“Thanks. I need you to look into the family’s background and tell me if the guy was working.”
“He was. He worked twenty years for the city’s bus line before he got laid off last month.”
“And his wife?”
“She was laid off over a year ago. Their old house was foreclosed on, and it’s already been sold.”
A sharp pang hit my chest.
My parents used to hide overdue notices in kitchen drawers the same way this family probably did.
“Can you help them out for me?” I asked. “Get them into a hotel with a food allowance and such?”
“Of course. Six or twelve months of assistance for them?”
“Eighteen,” I said. “And make sure no one knows a damn thing about me being involved.”
“Always, sir,” she said. “Always.”
I ended the call right as Chloe and her friend were heading down the steps.
For some odd reason, I didn’t immediately take them to The Four Seasons. I insisted on treating them to dinner at my favorite five-star restaurant first.
—
Two More Weeks Later
—
Dante Hudson Renovates The Avon Complex in Massive $50M Overhaul
Residents of Several Hudson-Owned Condos Cheer on Recent “Much-Needed” Changes
Mayor Names Dante Hudson as “Guest of Honor” for Annual Housing Gala
KEEP PISSING & DO NOT BE FOOLED by Dante Hudson: He Just Wants The Holden Building!
THE AGENT
CHLOE
The art of getting a billionaire to a gala was a fifty-person production that took five entire days.
It was a process I wasn’t privy to, and I hated how much being shut out bothered me.
Especially since Dante hadn’t texted or called me all weekend. The last thing he’d said was, “We’ll have to pick up where we left off with the complex tours on Monday.
There’s a ticket for you and Marie at the gala if you’d like to come, and I have a list of dress designers on standby for you.”
That’s it.
“Okay, enough.” Marie waved her hand in front of my face as the town car pulled into the parking lot. “What were you expecting that man to say to you, Chloe?”
“I don’t know what man you’re talking about.”
“The man you can’t stop talking about.” She rolled her eyes. “Oh, pleaseeee, Sweet Chloe—woman I just met weeks ago, please do the honor of being my public date to the biggest event in Manhattan?”
Yes. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Are you sure?” She pursed her lips. “Because I think you’re starting to think he’s yours, and that there’s something more than employee and boss going on.”
“I feel like we’re close. We have a lot in common and it feels really easy when we’re around one another.”
“No.”
“He sent us a bunch of Chanel dresses, Marie.”
“He can afford it, Chloe.” She placed her hands on my shoulders. “He’s paying you to be close and you’re attracted to each other. That’s it.”
“We’ve kissed.”
“That practically means you’re married then.”
The driver snorted. Then he rolled up the partition.
“Don’t do this,” she said. “He’s still a ruthless asshole. He’s just doing some nice things until he gets what he really wants.”
“I think he actually cares about all the changes he’s making, Marie.”
“Then I’ve got some beachfront property in Ohio to sell you.”
“Fine.” I leaned back against the seat. “Dante Hudson is a ruthless billionaire who is playing the long game until he gets The Holden.”
“There’s my best friend.” She smiled. “It’s good to have you back.”
The car came to a stop, and I swallowed the rest of my feelings.
The driver opened the back door and took his time helping us out. At the entrance, the guard smiled as we approached.
“Welcome to the Housing Authority’s Annual Gala,” he said. “Chloe Sterling and plus one—Marie, correct?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “How do you know that?”
“Mr. Hudson described you very well. You’re at table seventeen.” He winked and ushered us past the velvet rope.
“Don’t you dare,” Marie whispered under her breath. “Dare what?”
“Don’t read into what that guard mentioned about your boss,” she said, but my mind was already speeding down that road.
Did he give him a picture? Describe me that damn well?