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)
“Miss Sterling,” he said. “I can see your black stilettos peeking under this desk.”
Game over, Chloe.
I let out a breath and slowly stood to my feet. My heart instantly raced at the sight of him, at this much better view that featured another dark custom suit.
“Sorry about that.” I feigned a smile. “I was looking for my favorite pen.”
“There’s nothing in your hands, Miss Sterling…”
“Here it is!” I pulled one from my pocket. “See?”
He stared at me, and I tried to look away from him, but it was useless. His blue eyes were already locked on mine, pinning me to my spot without a word, and suddenly I was painfully aware of how close he was standing.
His aura was far too intense for this small office. Seeing him this soon after my crime was overwhelming.
“You and I have some unfinished business from last week, Miss Sterling,” he said. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“No, I’ve never seen you a day in my life, sir,” I said. “You must have me confused with someone else.”
“I doubt it.” He snapped his fingers, and someone handed him a folder. “You need to come with me.”
“I can’t.” I shook my head. “I have somewhere to be in an hour.”
“Impossible,” he said. “I saw your calendar, and there’s nothing on it today. Unless I missed another luxury shower you intend to steal.”
My co-agents shot confused looks in my direction, and my cheeks heated.
I was tempted to make a second run for it, but he had four security guards by the door.
As if the one on the left could read my mind, he moved directly in front of the exit bar and crossed his arms.
“Miss Sterling?” Mr. Hudson snapped me out of my thoughts. “Grab your things and walk toward the doors. Now.”
“What if I have to go to the bathroom?” I asked, remembering a separate exit there.
“You don’t,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “But there’s a female guard outside those doors, if you’re thinking about running out on me again.”
Welp, there goes that.
Resigning myself to my fate, I picked up my purse and binder and headed for the door.
Marie and my coworkers eyed me with every step, but I didn’t dare make eye contact.
If this was how I was going to be let go, then I needed to accept the full walk of shame. Alone.
The guards opened the door and ushered me toward a black town car.
I slid onto the leather seat, clutching my things in my lap.
Mr. Hudson slid in from the other side and sat directly across from me. His eyes traveled from my heels up to my lips, and suddenly the backseat felt far too small for both of us.
The car pulled onto the street, and with every inch forward, the tension thickened, and I almost forgot how to breathe.
“If you’re going to press charges,” I said finally, “can you just let me know now?”
“Why would I press charges?” He arched a brow. “According to you, we’ve never met.”
“That’s exactly what I plan to tell my lawyer…”
His lips curved into a soft smile, but he didn’t let it stay.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and tapped the screen.
“Where are we on the next proposal, Anthony?” he asked. “Run down all the specifics.”
I was rendered invisible seconds later, so I turned my head toward the window as Manhattan passed by in a blur. The skyscrapers eventually disappeared into the rearview, and I realized this man was taking me out of New York.
Against my will.
THE CEO
DANTE
The definition of “regretful decision making” sat across from me, tapping her foot against my town car’s floor and biting her bottom lip. She was showing me exactly why I should’ve taken a separate car for this.
Or maybe just let this situation go.
Then again, if I let her go without punishment, other people might start thinking they could play games with me too.
“Would you care for something to drink, Miss?” Sarah turned around from the front seat. “We have another thirty minutes before we reach our destination.”
“Maybe.” She hesitated. “Like, a bottle of water?”
“No.” Sarah smiled and handed her my usual beverage card. “Like, whatever you want from this menu.”
I was about to tell Sarah that the card was meant for my guests, not thieves, but the way Miss Sterling’s eyes lit up caught me off guard.
“I’ll have the prosecco, if that’s okay,” she said.
“Do you typically drink alcohol on the job?” I asked her.
“No.” Her cheeks flushed red. “Do you?”
Silence.
“Here you are, Miss Sterling.” Sarah handed her a chilled glass, and then she handed me an iced Coke.
Miss Sterling licked her lips before sipping the champagne, and I turned away before I could let my thoughts meander down a filthy road.
“Are you there, Anthony?” I’d forgotten he was on the phone. “Hello?”
“I’m here,” he said. “Still making a list of high-profile people you mentioned.”