Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
“I believe that.”
He chuckles although I wasn’t. “David?” He angles away from me, between two people, to shake hands with someone he sees. “David?” Signaling back with a nod toward me, he says, “Come over. I want you to meet the guy who’s killing it in Manhattan financing right now.”
The other man says, “The one you were speaking so highly about?” Our gazes hit like a head-on collision.
Although I’ll never forget Sosie’s father and his threats, I’m surprised he would remember me at all by how he tried to make me feel so small and meaningless. I was nothing more than an ant he tried to stomp out. Look at me now, fucking up his world on the recommendation of one of the most respected businessmen in Manhattan.
Still glaring at me, Mr. Stansbury clears his throat, plasters on a grin that holds no love, and shoves his hand forward. “David Stansbury.”
I take his hand, not moving toward him an inch. “We’ve met, Mr. Stansbury, at a holiday party you hosted at your house.”
The back of Mr. Young’s hand lands against my chest. “That’s the hottest ticket in town, Matthews. How’d you score an invitation?”
Mr. Stansbury laughs too loud, and it’s too forced to sound natural. Watching him squirm is a long-overdue reward. He keeps his attention on my boss. Guess he’s not comfortable with me seeing him for who he is. “I’ll make sure you and your lovely wife are on the guest list this year, Jeffrey.”
Refusing to deviate one millimeter from his discomfort, I reply, “I worked it. I was a server for the catering company they hired.”
“You always have been a hard worker,” Mr. Young says. “Did you know he graduated at the top of his class from NYU?”
“I didn’t.” David Stansbury looks me over as if he misjudged me the first time. “That’s quite an achievement. Berry & Young are lucky to have you.” His shoulders ease, which is his first mistake. The smile comes naturally, which is his second. “Seems everything worked out for the best then. Wouldn’t you say, Mr. Matthews?”
My boss redirects his attention to me as his confusion grows in the jagged lines of his expression. I don’t mind exposing this asshole for who he is, even if he’s friendly with Mr. Young. What I can’t tolerate is that smugness sitting on his face like he has a right to it.
Fuck him.
I reply, “Manipulating a situation with threats and—”
“Ah!” His eyes go over my shoulder, and he waves as if I wasn’t speaking at all. “My lovely wife and daughter managed to find me talking business.” My heart plummets to the pit of my stomach as the words I was going to say choke in my throat. I slowly look over my shoulder, not sure what to expect, only to be greeted by a goddess in a peach-colored dress. Sparkling beads only highlight the sparkle in Sosie’s eyes as she smiles at someone in another direction. As much as I wish that smile was for me, an ache tugs in my chest, remembering how leaving me came so easy for her. Her father whispers to Mr. Young, “I promised I’d take the night off.”
“I hear you,” he replies with a laugh. “I’m already in the doghouse myself for sneaking away from my wife’s side to talk to acquaintances I recently made. They were more interesting than hearing about the ladies who lunch together but gossip behind each other’s backs at the club.” He pats Mr. Stansbury on the shoulder. “You go on, and we’ll keep this meeting a secret. And the three of us should do lunch soon.”
“We should. I’d like to hear more about Mr. Matthews here.”
Never fucking going to happen. I can’t even summon a fake smile for him to make a good impression on my boss. So I glance back once more at Sosie, clocking how many seconds I have left before my world tilts on its axis like it did the first time with Sosie. Considering how fast my heart was beating, I knew she was near before I saw her. Now that I catch sight of her again, it’s hard to turn away. She’s stunning with her shoulders bared and her makeup light. Her hair is pinned up on one side, giving the large diamond earrings the spotlight. But it’s those pink lips that have me craving just one more taste of heaven again.
Despite the fucker her father is, the truth hurts. She didn’t want me and made that clear by never returning. I still have the necklace and earrings. They stayed wrapped around the tree in that studio until the day I moved out. Now they’re buried in a box in my closet that I’ve never unpacked.
“Excuse me,” I tell my boss and slip through the crowd and away from anything to do with a Stansbury. I finish my drink on the way out and push through the ballroom doors to the large corridor. The trek to escape in a timely manner is hindered by the maze of this hotel. I’m practically running by the time I reach the lobby.