Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69018 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Fine. Fine. I did, but only because the attempt on Peach Lips became a worldwide thing that everyone has been talking about, blowing up my messages over, and commenting on, and I know I need to do something.
“Wrong,” he points out so very helpfully. “You are going to take my help for free. I can’t, under any circumstance, let you put that lovely, adored, gorgeous, amazing superhero of a feline at risk.”
He’s such an ogre. He has no manners, and he’s a sore loser. That’s just as obvious as the fact that the guy is cold, heartless, and a very good-looking monster. He doesn’t even attempt to pretend he’s the least bit warm-blooded.
That should not get me hot and bothered, goddamn it.
“I might be a heap of banana peels, but you, sir, have the emotional intelligence of a potato.” Yeah. Nice. Stoop to his level. That’s going to make him leave.
“That’s insulting.”
“You’re right,” I say with a sigh. I’m in this now that I’m the one who engaged. I should have just gone back and locked myself on the bus. Instead, I’m standing here holding my folded-up cart. Even though I have all of the rest of the day to set up and the parking lot isn’t even busy because no one else has even arrived, I’d still like to just get it over with. “Poor potatoes. What did they ever do to anyone other than be delicious? I can’t compare you to anything because that would be insulting.”
“Thank you.”
“To the object,” I add.
His face remains perfectly impassive. “Am I the object in this scenario?”
My hand tightens on the cart. It’s a warm day, and I’m in a strapless purple dress with a flared skirt that has orange felines all over it in various stages of dance. “Is it your goal to drive me to the brink of insanity, hoping that I’ll lose my mind and agree to this ridiculous scheme?”
“It wasn’t my plan, but would that work?”
“What was your plan?” I ask.
“Persistence, basically.”
“You mean harassment.”
He doesn’t blink. It’s freaky how long he’s been standing there without moving so much as an eyelash. “I’ve given you time to think. Logically, you must realize you need this.”
I slap the cart onto the ground and kick the metal sides open to unfold it. “You don’t give a furry feline behind about what I do and don’t need. I bet you’re not even a cat person. Or a dog person. Or a person person. You’re probably a nothing person.” He’s most likely a vampire person because he’d be most at home with their lifeless, cold, bloodsucking ways.
“Fine. I’m going to be brutally honest. I have nothing to hide. Last weekend was a colossal fuck-up as far as security goes. A big black stain. I’m trying to acquire another company. I mean merge. I mean…it’s complicated. I’ve been working on it for a long time.” I treat him to an equally blank stare as his own. “My offer is the most attractive one. It’s the only one you’ll get.”
I roll my eyes, but then it sinks in. I didn’t realize Thorn has the kind of clout to block anyone else from doing this job. Not just anyone in his own company but from any company.
“No doubt the most forceful and douchebaggy too,” I fire back.
“Yes, no doubt,” he responds, not the least bit bothered. “The merger was supposed to be a done deal, but the paperwork isn’t signed. Old man Smith is like me. Name and honor above all because, at the end of the day, that’s all anyone can lay claim to.”
I tap my bright purple ballet flat impatiently. The bus is still perfectly air-conditioned, so I’m not worried about Peach Lips being behind me in her carrier. It won’t start getting hot for at least forty-five minutes to an hour. “Not exactly, but do finish. I need to set up, which means you need to wrap up. Pronto.”
Surprisingly, he does. His level of transparency shouldn’t be refreshing. But it is. It shouldn’t be because it’s probably not even real. How would I know anything about his life? “He won’t sign if he thinks we’re anything less than perfect. Committed, capable, and ready to take what he’s built and what I’ve built and bring it to the next level.”
“Always the next level. Always.”
“Yes. Where else is there to go?” He still doesn’t give anything away by his expression or tone, but I can just tell he’s looking at me like he thinks I’m a few hairs short of a hairball.
“So this is just about money and prestige?”
“It’s about my honor and your safety. Peach Lips’ safety too. The whole world has read about the incident. And for me, it’s a kick to the nuts.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much. They appear to be made of stone, just like your heart.”