Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“What do you think, Ronan?” The corners of Belinda’s painted lips crook upward with a secretive smirk. “Should staff caught in compromising positions be terminated?”
If so, then I sure as hell wouldn’t be here, and neither would Belinda.
I haul my sweaty body out of the seat, dying for air-conditioning. “I say let them fuck and get it out of their system, but ask Mike. He’s the HR manager, and I’ve already fired someone today.” I feel bad for that girl who fell for Sloane’s ex and lost a promising career.
If I ever see Cody again …
My fist clenches with the thought.
Belinda’s gaze rakes over my chest, settling on where my collar sits unbuttoned. “Minnie sent you both decks on every person invited to the media open. Spend the next thirty-six hours memorizing them, especially those whom you have scheduled time with. I expect you to know the names of every person before they introduce themselves to you.”
I plaster on a wide, fake smile. “You got it.” Fat chance.
“Favorite flower is the daffodil. She has two Shih Tzus named Rocky and Noodles,” I read out loud, scrolling through Shelby Singer’s bio from the comfort of my desk. “Are you kidding me? This has to be illegal.” There’s a dossier on every journalist, politician, and corporate bigwig coming, and they include far more than their credentials and a professional photograph. This one in particular is a fifty-three-year-old congress member in a pantsuit with two American flags in the background.
Archie lounges in the chair across from me, squeezing an orange stress ball that matches the color of his hair. “It’s all public stuff. The GMs make us do it for media days. It’s helpful, according to Belinda.”
“It’s helpful that I know Shelby enjoys competitive duck herding in her spare time? What the fuck even is that?”
He grins. “It’s when you guide ducks through obstacles using dogs.”
“Why would someone do that?”
“Sport? I don’t know. I had to look that up.”
“And why do I need to know all this? Am I supposed to pretend that I, too, herd ducks through obstacles on my days off so I can bond with Shelby Singer?” I pat my chest for embellishment.
Archie’s grin widens. “I don’t know, man. I just do what I’m told. Belinda scares me.”
“You and me both.” I flip through the other bookmarked dossiers. “The ones with the stars are all the people I have one-on-one meetings with?” Three travel magazine journalists, two news reporters, two politicians, and three company CEOs.
“Yeah, but Belinda wants you to read through all of them.”
“Not just read. Memorize.” I flip through the starred ones. “All of my meetings are with women,” I note.
“And all of Lena and Belinda’s meetings are with men.”
Doubt that’s a coincidence. “Fucking diabolical.” How exactly does Wolf want me to impress these VIPs? Because there were rumors aplenty about his relationship with one of these media open travel journalists at the Alaska location. In fact, that woman played a big part in Henry and Abbi’s breakup. I guess I have her to thank because Abbi would never have given me the time of day otherwise.
My phone chirps with an incoming text, and I dive for it, holding my breath against hope that I’ll see Sloane’s name.
Tasha:
So … Two nights seems like such a short trip. Any chance you have an extra room at your place in case I wanted to stay until Sunday?
Fuck me, I should have seen this coming. Connor did, back in Miami. Can’t wait for him to grind me about it. I guess it’s fine, though. The house is big, and Tasha is not the woman I’m pining over anymore. Plus, I have a door lock on my bedroom.
Yeah, lots of room. I won’t be around much but Britt and Dani are staying there too.
They can hang out together if they want. I sure as hell don’t have time to entertain anyone. With that taken care of, I flip over to my calendar to see where all these kiss-ass meet-and-greets fit in. “You have me booked for two breakfasts on Friday.”
“Order something light?” Archie counters.
I frown. “And three coffee meetings at the Coral Cafe on Wednesday afternoon.” The hotel’s coffee shop is quaint but small.
“You love coffee.”
“Yeah, but are you trying to kill me with caffeine?”
He tosses his stress ball in the air and catches it. “Drink decaf.”
“Screw that.” I note 7:00 a.m. tee-off times on Wednesday and Thursday. Worse, with Henry on my team. As if I want to spend all morning with him. “What’s Axis Core?” Because we’re golfing with a pair from there the first day. Thursday is a media open tournament that runs all day.
“A global consulting firm. They hold their yearly meetings at Wolf locations.”
Two rich assholes who probably golf seven days a week while conducting business. Can I get out of that? Highly unlikely. “Do you know anything about golf?”