Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“I left something at the coffee shop,” I said. “I need to get it.”
“Send someone on your staff.”
“No, I need to handle this myself.” I looked at the gift card the woman had thrown in my lap. “It’s important.”
He crossed his arms, looking at me like I was out of my mind.
Ignoring him, I kept my gaze out the window, straining to see any woman dressed in gray.
She couldn’t have gotten far. Not that fast.
When we neared the café, I stepped out and returned inside.
There were only a few customers this time, and she was long gone.
“Back so soon, sir?” The barista blushed as I neared the counter. “Do I need to make you another order?”
“No, I need the name of the woman who was getting mad about me skipping the line earlier.”
“What do you need that for?”
I really have no idea. “She seemed like a regular, so if you know it, can you give it to me?”
“I have a name.” She batted her eyes. “Do you want mine?”
“I can see yours quite clearly.” I glanced at her name tag. “Raina.”
Her cheeks flushed even redder.
“Can I have the woman’s name now?”
“No, sorry,” she said. “It’s against company policy to give out information on our customers. It’s a violation of their privacy, you know?”
No… “Let’s pretend that policy will be changed in the coming days,” I said, pulling out the gift card. “I need to give this back to her.”
“Oh! Well, I can do that whenever I see her again.” She snatched it from my hand. “Now that she’s out of our picture, though… What’s your name?”
“It’s Mr. Cross.” I didn’t bother giving her my first. “I appreciate your terrible attempt at help.”
“Anytime.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I work here six days a week, morning shift.”
I turned around and returned outside, glancing up and down the block before getting back into the town car.
“Well?” Aaron asked.
“Well, what?”
“Did you find whatever it is that you left?”
“No,” I said, looking out the window. “Unfortunately not.”
“If you tell me what it is, I can put someone on it.”
There was no way I could tell him—or anyone on my staff—to pull security footage from the café and hunt down the sexiest woman they’d ever see, so I shook my head.
“No, that’s okay,” I said. “Let’s focus on what we came here for. Business.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” He patted my shoulder, and the driver coasted onto the streets once more.
I pretended to listen to his words as we drove, still looking out the windows for the woman in gray, until reality set in.
If one glance was enough to derail my entire morning, it was probably for the best that I never saw that woman again.
FOUR
ANDREA
The top floor of headquarters looked like a crime scene.
Dust swirled around toppled furniture, and framed photos that once lined the walls were packed into large boxes across the floor.
I blinked to make sure I was in the right place.
His “big news” can’t possibly be a remodel…
Carrying our coffees, I made my way past a group of men lifting a table and into Mr. Lewis’s office.
His chair faced the windows, so I cleared my throat.
“Mr. Lewis?” I asked. “I’m here now.”
He didn’t move.
“Sir, it’s me,” I said. “Andrea. You wanted me to come in and talk?”
Nothing.
Before I could call for him again, two men rushed past me and moved toward his desk. They grabbed the ends and lifted it, carrying it out of the room.
“Mr. Lewis, can you hear me?” I crossed the room and gently spun his chair around.
What the…
It was empty.
I checked the boardroom, the seating area, even his private bedroom. The only signs of life were movers trailing my every step.
Susie (Accounting)
OH. MY. GOD. He sold us out!
Joel (Marketing)
Did you see this, Andrea? Did YOU know?
Gillian (Sales)
WTF! He’s a TRAITOR!
What the hell is going on? What are y’all talking about?
Too impatient to wait for a response, I called him.
No answer.
I called him again.
Nothing.
I rushed down three flights and looked for him in the library.
The only thing here was another moving crew.
Okay, then…
A sudden ache bloomed in my chest, and I decided to wait for him on our employee zen level.
The doors glided open, finally revealing him.
“Ah, speak of the devil.” Mr. Lewis stepped off in front of me, but my eyes swerved toward the selfish suit I’d seen earlier this morning.
What is he doing here?
He stepped off behind Mr. Lewis.
I waited for him to walk away, but he lingered near—as if he was daring us to address his presence.
Looking away, I refused to give him the satisfaction.
“I was looking for you, sir,” I said. “Your coffee is probably cold now.”
“That’s alright, Andrea.” He smiled. “I was, uh—I was looking for you, too. I was—”
“You motherfuckin’ sellout!” A voice called from down the hall. “I swear, if I ever see you on the streets alone, I’ll beat you with your cane!”