Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 98(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“This is the part when you tell me whether you’re willing to do that or you’re not,” she says. “I need to know so I can make my next move.”
“I’m not the relationship type, Heather,” I say. “I never have been and never will be. I like having sex with you and I like the time we spend together outside of work.”
She nods slowly. “Thank you for being honest.”
“You’re welcome.”
She moves back and grabs her purse, slinging it over her shoulder.
I watch as she slips her laptop into her bag, and I expect her to come back to me, but she strolls to the door instead.
“I’ll have my notes for Ryan Arlington’s backlist in your inbox by Thursday, Mr. Wolfson,” she says. “And I’ll respectfully request to work with the marketing department from here on out, via Human Resources as well.”
“Heather, there’s no need for you to—” My sentence ends on her slamming the door on her way out.
I stare at it, waiting—knowing that she’ll return within a few minutes and make amends for being dramatic, but the door remains shut for the rest of the night.
THE AUTHOR
HEATHER
My brownstone welcomes me home with cold arms, its untouched furniture and decor eyeing me with suspicion.
Hitting the lights, I drop my bag to the floor and head to my bedroom.
As tempted as I am to flop onto the bed and let tears flow onto my pillows, I refuse.
I plop down into the chair in front of my desk and power on my desktop. Logging into the cloud, I open my two works-in-progress and set a timer.
Fuck Adrian.
If he won’t give me exclusivity, that’s fine. My characters will.
THE CEO
ADRIAN
I sent a car for you.
Get in so we can finish our conversation from the other night.
Answer the phone, Heather.
Irefuse to send her another text.
Today, anyway.
She still hasn’t answered any of the ones I sent yesterday.
She has to come into work tomorrow, so I’ll deal with her then…
THE CEO
ADRIAN
“Can you tell Miss Barrett to come see me, please?” I ask Theresa the moment I step into the office Monday morning. “I need to talk to her about something important.”
“She called in sick today. She sounded really bad.”
“She’s faking it.”
“Doubtful.” She eyes me curiously. “I saw her via FaceTime and she looked like shit.”
“She doesn’t have any sick leave…” I refuse to believe it. “She hasn’t been here long enough to earn any.”
“She’s using some of her paid time off via her perks,” she says. “She left me a stack of completed work, so if you tell me what you’re looking for, I can get it up here for you.”
“It’s a personal matter.”
“Don’t tell me you’re hounding her about her book again.” She crosses her arms. “You promised you wouldn’t.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then why would I care what she’s—” She stops mid-sentence, judging me with her eyes. “You didn’t…”
“Didn’t what?”
“Are you sleeping with her?”
Not anymore. “No.”
“You are!”
“I just said I wasn’t.”
“I can’t believe you!” She shakes her head. “Why would you ever do that with someone who works under you?”
“You’re still jumping to conclusions…”
“I know you, asshole.” She moves closer to me. “You’re going to cost this company the best junior exec we’ve ever had because you couldn’t keep it in your pants.”
“I’m about ten seconds away from firing you.”
“I’m unfireable.” She rolls her eyes. “It’s in our family’s contract, remember?”
“You can still be demoted or reassigned.”
“For finding out that you fucked one of your employees?” She glares at me. “Tell me it’s not true and I’ll drop it.”
I say nothing.
“Exactly.” She lets out a sigh. “Do you have a plan to make sure no one else finds out, and can you get her to sign an additional NDA for the future?”
I can’t even get her to pick up the phone. “I’ll handle it.”
“I’m telling Mom and Dad.”
“I dare you.” I glare at her. “Nothing has happened.”
“Yet.”
“You can walk away from me now.”
“Gladly.”
THE AUTHOR
HEATHER
Adrian has called me eight times today, and he’s sent a slew of texts in the same three variations.
Pick up the damn phone.
Stop being dramatic.
Call me back or else.
I turn my phone on silent and stuff it into a drawer.
Then I return to my Wildwood manuscript.
It’s the only thing preventing me from breaking down into tears. The only thing giving me exactly what I need right now: an escape.
THE CEO
ADRIAN
Subject: Wildwood Submission
Dear Mr. Wolfson,
Attached you will find my completed manuscript for the final two books in the Wildwood Saga. I’ve submitted them to my editor for review, but since you were highly anticipating it…
(I’ve also submitted 80% of my office romance novel.)
Thank you for the opportunity to use the cabin on weekends.
Looking forward to helping with the pitch sessions on Monday.
Sincerely,
Allyson Harmony/Heather Barrett
Subject: Re: Wildwood Submission
Heather,
As much as I appreciate your submission of your office romance—way past the deadline—along with the final two books in the saga, I would really prefer it if you picked up the phone…