Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
He’d ignored my pout and shot down my attempt of smoothing things over with a few little fibs. It looked like it was time to bring out the only other weapon in my arsenal—my money and my lawyer. Placing a smug look on my face, I turned to look at him and said, “Well, actually, no; I won’t have a different bodyguard by the end of the day tomorrow. You’ll still be here, whether you want to or not. I had a clause added into the contract that not only could you not quit before the three-week trial period, you couldn’t be replaced with another…less suitable candidate.” I gave him the same bored shrug he’d shared with me earlier. “Looks like you’re stuck with me. Sucks to be you, huh?”
I could actually hear his teeth grinding and watched as his hands fisted in anger. Too bad.
“I read the contract, Jinx. There was no such clause in it. Listen, kid, your bullshit might work on other people, but you’re wasting your time on me. Those long eyelashes and pretty blue eyes aren’t my thing. Try peddling your goods to somebody who gives a fuck.”
Now, see…that might have hurt my feelings. I’d die before I let him know it, but it did. I was so fucking tired of being surrounded by fuckers who didn’t give a fuck about me.
“First of all, I told you not to call me that. Just keep doing it if you want another punch in the face. Second, thank you for noticing my long eyelashes and pretty blue eyes…and they are everyone’s thing. Third, and most important, I added several things to the contract and since it was signed by the company, not you, I suppose Sammie didn’t deem you important enough to share everything with you. That’s too bad. Actually, it doesn’t speak much for your business sense. I’ve heard about people like you—all muscle and no brains.”
He kept staring at his phone, no doubt waiting on Sammie to confirm or deny what I’d just told him. My godmother had balked at the extra clauses I wanted added, but I think she knew enough about me and my insecurities to not give me what I requested. It looked like she’d underestimated Landon’s patience and my…my…my whatever the hell it was that made people dislike me so damn much. His cell chimed that there was a message, so I knew he was about to get really pissed.
After reading it and then shoving the phone in his pocket, he said, “I don’t give a damn what the contract says. Sue me. I have enough money to keep your lawyers busy for a few years.”
Of course, he would say that. “Well, actually, it wouldn’t be your lawyers I’d keep tied up—it would be Sammie’s company. She signed the contract, so if it goes into default, it’ll all be on her.” I batted my eyelashes at him. “I thought you two were friends? How could you do this to her? Sure, she has the money to fight me, but it’ll damage her company’s reputation.” I was flat-out lying through my teeth; there was no way I would sue my own godmother— I just had to trust he thought so low of me that he’d believe my lie.
Why was I so determined that he stay? I couldn’t be positive, but I thought maybe it was because he was the first male figure in my life that had actually stood up for me—acted like I mattered. Sure, I’d torn that apart in record time, but it didn’t mean I couldn’t try to redeem myself in his eyes. Hell, maybe it was because I enjoyed looking at him. Yeah, it was probably that.
He glared at me. “You would sue your own godmother?” He laughed. “You are quite the asshole, aren’t you?”
“Are you going to make me sue my own godmother…asshole?” I countered.
He didn’t answer.
Didn’t answer.
Still didn’t answer.
He was completely silent for the remainder of the trip back to my hotel. I slipped on my earbuds in an attempt to ignore him and tried to form a Plan B just in case he called my bluff on the whole suing thing. By the time my driver dropped us at the front door, I was in a near panic. The brief high I’d felt at the party had completely vanished and been replaced with pure, old-fashioned, butt-fucking panic. I thought that entire threatening emails and letters thing was total bullshit, but I still wanted Landon to stay. He was so…different. I liked different; I’d never been allowed to be different, or, in other words, be myself. I’d always tried to be what people expected of me.
When I reached for my door handle to exit the limo, he grabbed my upper arm, opened his own door, and yanked me across the seat and had me to get out on his side. I couldn’t help but notice how he used his much larger body to protect mine as I stepped out. It was early, so there weren’t a lot of paparazzi cameras flashing, but there were a few diehards waiting for what they hoped would be a money shot. When one got a bit too close for Landon’s comfort, he growled for the man to back up and always kept my body sheltered against him. I couldn’t remember the last time any of my security detail had even bothered to walk around to my side of the car. They’d been hired by my father—probably the cheapest security on the planet.