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)
“You got here by ripping people off, making shady-ass deals, and being selfish as hell.”
“Get off your high horse, Chloe,” he said. “You’re starting to think that you’re the one who has more morals between us…”
“I do.”
“Oh?” He arched a brow. “Wasn’t your shady-ass thievery what landed you on my radar?”
I said nothing.
“Exactly,” he said. “Now, please join me back in reality and focus on the work ahead that needs to be done.”
I stood still, staring at him, hoping that this was a bad dream.
“The engineers have already received my proposed updates, but they’re wary about the lobby, so I need you to—”
“Fuck you.” I pushed his fancy mockup to the floor, shattering it to pieces. “Fuck. You.”
He clenched his jaw, looking at the damaged pieces before looking at me.
“You have ten seconds to start picking all that up.”
“Okay.” I stepped back. “Let me know what happens when I don’t.”
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me,” he said. “You’re taking a business proposition and making it personal.”
“No, that’s what you just did…” I slung my purse over my shoulder and stormed out of the room.
Rushing toward the stairwell, I ran down the first two flights of steps.
A small part of me hoped he would follow—to apologize for being so cruel and beg me to return, but no footsteps echoed. The doors above didn’t creak open.
I continued the long way down, ignoring the tears pricking my eyes.
“You’ll realize just how fucking little you matter to me…”
“Ready to head home, Miss Sterling?” One of Dante’s drivers tipped his head at me when I emerged from the side door. “Traffic isn’t too bad now.”
“I’m okay, thank you.” I barely managed. “I’d rather walk home.”
“Are you sure about that, Miss Sterling?”
“Yes.” I turned away before he could pull me back into Dante’s world for another second.
When I made it to the stoplight, my phone sounded in my purse.
Dante
Come back up here. Now.
If I have to call you, we’re going to have a problem.
Chloe…this isn’t a game. I’ve PAID you for work you still owe me.
I WILL sue you…
I changed his name to “Never Answer Again,” but I knew that wouldn’t be enough.
And he’s the one who bought me this phone…
Sighing, I moved under a coffee shop’s awning and sent all the pictures to my personal cloud.
The moment the screen flashed with “complete,” I tossed the phone down the drain.
THE CEO
DANTE
Three Days Later
I’d never had to escalate my threats with anyone past the first or second mention.
If I ever said “respond by this time,” the answer came hours early. If I demanded an emergency meeting, they beat me to the office and would usually have catering waiting for me.
Yet, Chloe didn’t seem to get that memo.
She’d seemingly forgotten who the hell I was or what I was capable of…
You have until 4 p.m. to walk through my office doors with the work I emailed you last night…
I sighed as Sarah walked into my office.
“Good morning, Mr. Hudson.”
“Morning,” I said. “Quick question…How many times would you call someone in hopes of getting them to answer?”
“Uh…” She set down my breakfast. “Maybe two or three.”
“That’s it?”
“I would probably leave a voicemail after the third time and just wait.”
“Wait for what?”
“For them to get back to me, sir…”
“What if you know they’re ignoring you?”
“I would stop calling.”
“What about text messages?” I leaned forward. “How many would you send before you stopped?”
“Four at most.”
“I’ve sent forty this morning alone…”
“Forty?” Her eyes widened. “Or fourteen?”
“Whichever one sounds better.” I paused. “I’m not the begging type, but this woman is seriously pushing it.”
“Miss Sterling?”
“Yes—no.”
“Okay, fine.” She shook her head. “I think I should take your personal phone away for a while. You can keep the other two, though.”
“After I send her a few more messages,” I said. “Chloe has a tendency to be overdramatic. I’m sure she’s sent me something by now anyway.”
I swiped to my inbox and saw her name at the top, but there was still nothing.
Not even a read receipt.
I tapped the screen, ready to send her another text, but Sarah snatched the phone from my hand.
“You’ll thank me later for this. Trust me.”
“Give me my goddamn phone back,” I said. “Now.”
“You have a meeting with the interior design team in an hour,” she said. “I’ll be back with your lunch when it’s time.”
“They can’t design anything until the lobby is rebuilt.” I held out my hand for the phone. “Reschedule it for tomorrow or else.”
“Or else what?”
“I’ll have you replaced within the hour.”
“I’d like to see you try.” She slammed my door shut without looking back.
—
A Full Three Weeks Later
THE CEO
DANTE
“Ican assure you, Mr. Hudson, that Miss Chloe Sterling no longer lives here.” The manager of Chloe’s building crossed his arms. “I told you this last week and the week before as well.”
“I’m just checking to see if it changed,” I said. “Did she mention where she was going?”