Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Glaring at me with his hand over a landline phone, he seems to catch his irritation and releases a heavy breath. “This is something you can handle,” he says in a lowered voice.
“I know I can handle it.” I don’t bother saying anything more because he’s already putting the phone to his ear and a fake smile on his face as if the caller can see him.
“Richard, it’s been too long, old buddy.”
I walk out of his office, still respectful enough to shut the door quietly after exiting despite the anger building inside me. I’m not sure why I can’t learn the lesson and stop the expectations. He’s never going to change.
“Have a great day, Cricket,” his assistant, Sarah, says from behind a large filing cabinet. Just like my dad, this office is run like we’re still in the past. I had to beg for more duties after I shamed him by getting pregnant out of wedlock. So old-fashioned. I’m the family disappointment. It took me a long time, but I finally realized it didn’t matter what I did or do now. He needs to place his own discontent in life somewhere, and it’s never been on my brother, so it falls on me instead.
“Have a good day.”
Pushing through the door, I enter the main corridor that leads to the winery’s great room. The soft carpet deadens my heels as I make my way toward the exit to the executive suites on this side of the building. My heels clack against the Spanish tile of the great hall that greets the winery guests when they arrive on the property for tours, tastings, and events. It’s a beautiful room overlooking the magnificent view of the rolling hills lined with endless rows of grapevines. Framed by my hands, it looks like Italy when I squint and not the harsher landscape of Texas.
I cross through the room and tug open the far door to enter the other corridor of offices, including mine and Savvy’s. My back hits the door as soon as I enter, releasing an exhaustive sigh from the gut as if the room itself gives relief. My shoulders slump the moment I know I can relax.
“You okay?” Savvy asks, spinning in her chair to face me.
“I’m good.” I push off the door and head for my desk inside this little pocket of safety from the world. “Tired.”
“Didn’t sleep well?”
“Tired of—” I cut myself off because someone in my position doesn’t have a right to complain. No one cares if a rich girl’s dad doesn’t give her the time of day. “Yeah,” I reply, hoping that slips by her as I busy myself by logging into my computer.
I scroll through emails, noting that the presentation check needs to be picked up by the end of the day, and add it to my never-ending to-do list for this event.
Although I appreciate the lack of questions and the quiet to allow myself to decompress, it’s rare for silence to last long. There’s not a click of the mouse or a tap on her keyboard, and her phone doesn’t buzz on her desktop. Just . . . silence.
Maybe I’m the one who can’t deal with it because I glance over at my cousin, bordering on gobsmacked by the quiet. “Okay, Sav, what’s going on?”
“Huh?” She looks up from her computer screen. My reply is a few very pointed slow blinks. Laughing, she punctuates the sound with a perfected eye roll. “I figured I should let you get the upset out of your system before piling on even more. Seems now is as good a time as ever.”
“With an intro like that, I’m worried.” I angle to face her. “We’ve worked so hard on this event. Please don’t tell me we’re getting rained out or a player has dropped from the roster.” I’m startled by an image of Griffin Greene popping into my head. And then irritation courses through me. He had to ruin the past two days with his presence, and now he’s invading my thoughts. Typical arrogant athlete. They’re all the same.
“I—”
“It was Greene, wasn’t it?” I’m already shaking my head, knowing deep down that whatever the issue is, he’s the cause of it. I stand and start pacing across the small room. I need to shake this off, but my mood only sours more. “I knew he’d do this even after signing that contract.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I stop in front of her desk, and although she’s just the unlucky messenger, I narrow my eyes as if she’s to blame.
Anchoring my fists on my hips, I say, “He’s not getting his fee back. That document is legal, so that money is mine.” I waffle my head on my neck. “Not mine personally, but you know what I mean.” Throwing my arms out, I’m still bracing for the bad news. “Well, are you going to tell me?”