Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
But I enjoy wheeling and dealing, and a solid work ethic is something that was passed down to me. My ancestors used to till the fields from dawn to dusk, trying to coax crops from the loamy Irish soil, and I’ve applied that same assiduousness to my work. Except now, my attention is directed towards closing deals and making money hand over fist. Hell, my bank account is bursting, and it’s hard to know how to spend my cash sometimes. Yet the siren song of deal-making still calls, and as a result, we’re here in Vegas to further my business interests. I’ll meet with distributors to discuss creative ways to get our product into consumers’ hands, and there are a couple marketing activations scheduled too. Meanwhile, my sister’s in town because she wants to explore the world of plus-size modeling. Evidently the industry is located here, in the City of Sin.
“Really?” I asked when my sister first broached the topic. “Vegas is where models hang out? I thought it was Paris, Milan, or New York. Or even Tokyo. Definitely not Las Vegas.”
Ainsley frowned, her mouth turning down at the corners.
“Those cities are great for straight-size models, but I’m not straight-size, Pat. I’m not even mid-size. I would be in the curve division, which means that I need to be in Vegas.”
I stared at my younger sister.
“Okay, so I have no idea what you just said. You look normal to me.”
Ainsley sighed and tossed her red hair over one shoulder.
“All it means is that bigger girls don’t necessarily end up in Paris, Milan, or the usual European capitals because we’re not the “usual” product. We’re extraordinary, not ordinary, and Vegas is the place where it happens. It is what it is,” she shrugged. “So do you think you can swing it, big bro? Can you fit a trip to Vegas in your schedule?”
I nodded.
“Yeah, it dovetails with some of my business interests, so let’s do it. I’ll make it happen. Does next month work?”
The trip was booked shortly, and now I find myself in a luxe designer boutique on the Strip. I’m not even sure what store we’re in because I hate this shit. These retailers mark-up their wares for a ridiculous profit margin, and then sell them to materialistic ladies who crave bling like a real housewife on TV. My dear sister is included in that bunch, of course.
But I shrug because I can afford it. It’s not a big deal and if my presence helps grease the wheels, then so be it. Meanwhile, Ainsley’s predictions seem to be coming true because our saleslady returns with what looks to be a gleaming red animal-skin handbag clutched between her lacquered nails.
“Mrs. O’Lachlan, you’re in luck! We do have one of these beauties left, and the crimson color is a perfect complement to your auburn locks. I hope you like it,” she gushes while thrusting the bag into my sister’s arms.
Ainsley corrects her immediately.
“Oh, I’m not Mrs. O’Lachlan, I’m Miss O’Lachlan. Patrick here is my older brother. He’s just chaperoning me because he wants to make sure I don’t get into trouble in the City of Sin. We’re visiting, did I mention? We’ll be here for a few weeks.”
The woman’s eyes brighten as she shoots me an appreciative smile, her red lips curving in a monstrous arc. I know what she sees because I’m a good-looking motherfucker, and women have been throwing themselves at me since I was fifteen and hit my growth spurt. My suit drapes over broad shoulders, emphasizing a wide chest, and my black hair is brushed back in a smooth wave. Her eyes drop from my square jaw, to my blindingly-white shirt, to the suede Italian loafers on my feet. Yep, I hit the gym six times a week without fail, and the expensive clothes only emphasize the raw masculinity beneath. Corinne, as her name tag proclaims, practically licks her lips with anticipation.
“Welcome to Vegas!” she purrs. “You’ll have a fabulous trip because this is an amazing town, and of course, I’d be happy to show you around, Mr. O’Lachlan. You and your sister,” she adds hastily. “You’ll find that Vegas has so much to offer, and of course, it’s best seen with an experienced guide. I moved here five years ago, so I know this place inside out,” she adds with a coy smile.
Unfortunately, the woman’s not my type. Her hair is styled into long, loose Rapunzel curls, but there’s something fake about the look, and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Not only that, but she hardly fills out her clothing. A gauzy blouse hangs from her thin shoulders, the material fluttering in the air conditioning, and her wrists are so narrow that they appear frail and bird-like.
“Thank you, but I’m here to work,” I say in a polite tone. “I won’t have much free time.”