Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
“Could be worse.”
“How?”
“You could have just been woken up by your sister only to find that your . . .” What is Liv to me? A hookup, one-night stand, date, friend, or overnight guest? “Friend disappeared sometime during the night.”
Her smile softens, the corners of her eyes lowering. “Sorry, can’t win them all, big brother.”
Why’d I tell her? Why do I care? Liv and I said no strings attached. That’s what we got. Although we made the agreement last night, I just wish it didn’t make me feel like shit this morning.
I sit up again. “Don’t be too concerned for me. It was just sex.” I lie to her and myself. Plastering on a fake smile, I add, “Now scram so I can get dressed.”
Apparently, I narrowly miss my parents’ arrival. Marina said she put on a good show to cover for the mess I left because she’s awesome and now I owe her two hundred bucks.
I don’t mind paying for her silence in this situation. I just wish I could pretend last night never happened. I mistakenly thought there was something more between us or could be. I was wrong.
She stuck to the agreement.
That leaves me no other option but to move on like it never even happened.
End of story.
1
Noah
Now
Two Years Later . . .
I make this look easy.
A job offer on the table two months before graduation.
A sweet package with a six-figure salary and stacked bonuses based on performance.
A three-bedroom apartment with a view in Midtown Manhattan.
Yep. At twenty-five, I’m living the dream.
I was called the golden child my whole life. I don’t see the lie.
Straightening my tie, I step off the elevator.
“You’re late.” That’s not the greeting I expected, but it’s the one I get the moment I enter the lobby.
Bancroft & Lowe, a pillar—literally—in the New York City skyline, occupies the entire forty-sixth floor. The gold lettering greeting guests and employees alike gleams under the spray of light from the recessed lighting. It’s a not-so-subtle reminder of their golden reputation and, for me, not to fuck up this opportunity.
I chose my best suit—tailor-made, silk tie, Italian leather shoes. I felt like a million bucks until my plan got punctured by the accusation. Checking my watch, I’m five minutes early.
So the woman impatiently tapping her heel as if I’m keeping her from something more important doesn’t sit well with me. Jet-black hair with a purple streak matches the purple collar of her fitted black dress. Pushing boundaries within the confines of corporate America? I’ll give her props for individuality.
A smile eases from her tightened lips despite the stern welcoming, and after tugging the waistband of her skirt, taking in a few deep breaths before releasing, she says, “We should start walking.” She grabs the door beside her desk and pulls it open. “Welcome to Bancroft & Lowe.” Holding her hands out like a game show presenter, she has a quick pace despite the rushed tour of the facilities. “The top marketing firm in the city, winning three . . .” Her words fade as I realize I’ve really made it.
I accomplished my career goals on the first day of work. I got the job that my magna cum laude grad school degree earned me. I didn’t nail an interview because I never had one. I was recruited to the big leagues, skipping the minors altogether.
The higher pitch of her tone squeaks back into my head. “And that’s how we ended up baking bread in the oven on the roof.”
How long was I gone? “Baking bread?”
She laughs. “I knew you weren’t listening. It’s all in the handbook, but I’m sure you’ve already studied everything you need to know about the company, considering you’re the first person they’ve hired straight out of college. They usually only hire seasoned pros into the marketing positions.”
“Graduate school,” I correct, kindly, of course. “And technically, Olivia Bancroft was the first person the company hired straight from university.”
“I knew you’d know the basics, but does the boss’s daughter really count?” She snaps her mouth closed. “Talking about the Ice Queen will land me in trouble. Keep that comment between us. Okay? I’m not looking to get fired, so I shouldn’t have said anything. Just consider it a warning.” This woman doesn’t appear much older than me, but she’s far more comfortable than I’d be gossiping about the boss’s daughter to a total stranger.
This does make me curious about how the Ice Queen got her name, but I sense some bad blood with this woman, so I’m not asking questions. “You’re safe with me.”
She grins, and it’s not the first time I’ve seen a flash like that in a woman’s eyes, the dilation of their pupils as they take in the sight of me. Women flirt with me all the time. My mom and sister call it the “Noah Effect.”