Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 119(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
So I tell myself not to get used to it—the late nights, the shared smirks over ridiculous emails, the way he actually listens when I call out a mistake.
I tell myself not to get used to the pleasure of his kisses, the intensity, the way he makes me forget who I am for hours at a time.
Because “long-term” is just a word, and it doesn’t last here. Not at Pearson Tech. Not with him.
And I’d be an idiot to believe it ever could with me.
THE ACCOUNTANT
KENDALL
One & a Half Weeks Until the IPO
Lucian pulls in front of my brownstone at three in the afternoon, giving me more than enough time to get Myra when she gets home.
“Don’t get used to this.” He smiles. “I’m just being nice because it’s the Friday before the final party.”
“I’m aware.” I unclick my seatbelt. “Thank you.”
“Are you coming with me?” he asks.
“I wasn’t aware I had a choice…”
“You do.” He lets out a low laugh and leans closer. “Your niece is more than welcome to join us this weekend, too.”
“I’m not sure she would enjoy a business trip.”
“It’s for my mother’s birthday celebration.”
Oh, right…
“You know, now that I think about it, this trip sounds like it’s something personal, so…” I pause. “Should I just wait until you get back?”
“I would like you to come with me, Kendall,” he says. “Not just as a work companion, though…”
My heart skips a beat at that suggestion, and I struggle to find something to say.
“I have nieces and nephews who are Myra’s age,” he says. “She would like them.”
“I thought you were an only child.”
“I’m the oldest of five.” He smiles. “My parents just like to guilt trip the hell out of me because I’m the only one who isn’t married and prefers to work.”
“Well, let me look into some nearby hotels, and I’ll let you know.”
“Be fucking serious, Kendall.” He presses a kiss against my lips. “I’ll pick you and Myra up Saturday morning. The estate has plenty of space for Myra to have her own suite.”
“I wouldn’t be sharing a room with you, though, right?”
“If that’s not what you want.” He kisses me again. “See you Saturday.”
THE CEO
LUCIAN
That weekend
I’m learning a lesson I’ve seen and heard for years, but it never affected me until just now: Don’t mix business with pleasure.
While music blasts from the speakers, I’m watching Kendall dance with people from my hometown. It’s all friendly, but the sway of her hips, the way her hair catches the light, and the soft flush on her face pull me in with every beat. Men glance too long when she spins, laugh too loud when she brushes their arms, and jealousy burns low and sharp in my chest with every dip of her body.
“Who the hell suggested that I invite the board to my hometown?” I ask Brian. “Find that person and schedule a lobotomy for them asap.”
“It was you, sir.”
“There’s no way,” I say. “I would never suggest something so stupid.”
“February 10th, 8:12 pm, location—your office.” He taps his screen and clears his throat. “Brian, invite the board members to one of my mother’s birthday weekends with me. It’ll make them feel like I care and come off like that family ‘B.S.’ that my father swears is so important.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks for bringing out the receipts, Brian.”
“You’re very welcome, sir.”
Kendall takes another twirl on the dance floor, but before I can approach, Penelope steps in front of me.
“Can we talk to you in private for a moment, Lucian?”
“Sure.” I take one final look at Kendall and follow her down the hall and into my family’s dining room.
For some reason, the rest of the board members are already waiting by the windows.
“If this is your way of trying to have a business meeting,” I say, “It’ll need to wait until Monday.”
“Actually it can’t wait,” Penelope says. “We have to send off the pre-final IPO work on Monday.”
“Well, good thing everything is already sealed and ready to go.”
“We were hoping we could make one final change to the CEO listing.” She pauses. “Would you mind resigning? We have a statement ready to go and it’s highly polished and positive.”
“Excuse me?” I cross my arms. “You want me to step down as part of the IPO package?”
“We think that we could use someone who’s a little more established and Wall Street–savvy to helm the ship from here on out.” She smiles. “That’s all.”
“Please tell me this is a fucking joke…”
“You’ll still be the CEO in name,” she says. “It’ll be similar to how your mother and father retain their titles.”
“I’m still waiting for the punchline.”
“If we’re going to tell the world that we’re ready to be in business with the sharks, we need to bring in someone who isn’t in the family, so this will look more like a Fortune 500 company, and less like something from a family’s legacy.”