Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“You know we have to make it last for a least a few weeks longer than that.”
“You get the gist of what I’m saying. We’ll be over, and I won’t owe you anything else.”
He stared at me for several moments without saying a word. Then he shook my hand, and every nerve in my body went wild.
“I’ll see you Saturday morning,” he said.
I twisted the ring to take it off.
“Don’t,” he warned. “Just keep it on.”
“For once,” he added, “do what I say without a comeback.”
My hand shook as I pushed the door open.
“Only if you stop making demands that hurt me to follow.”
I stormed out, clinging to the final word.
9
NICHOLAS
Subject: Change in Holiday Plans
Dear Employees,
Due to a recent change in my personal life, I will not be working the holiday week as I usually do this year. Due to my recent engagement with a very special woman who is the love of my life—a beautiful woman who I’ve spent the most time with here at the office—I will be taking several days off.
In the spirit of the holidays, I’ve decided that everyone should take off these days as well, with pay.
Thank you,
Nicholas Saint
Saint Industries
“So?” I read my drafted email aloud to Marshall. “What do you think about this?”
“You don’t really want me to answer that question…”
“I’m just making sure there’s evidence that can back up that this engagement isn’t fake.”
“It is fake,” he said. “It’s literally the definition of fake.”
“Do you think any of the employees will guess who I’m talking about?”
“Most of the employees already think you and Jenna are fucking.”
“They do not…”
“Would you like to bet on that?”
“Not right now,” I said, tapping my chin. “So, you don’t think I should send out this email?”
“No. Just tell everyone they’re getting the holidays off and leave it at that.” He reached for my laptop. “Actually, hand that over to me and I’ll do it.”
“Too late.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sent it twenty minutes ago.”
10
JENNA
Several Hours Later
“So, you’re engaged to one of the richest men in the city, but you don’t live with him?” Mr. Reaves asked me over the phone Friday afternoon.
“What can I say?” I squeezed the hell out of my stress ball before tossing it to Diana. “I’m stubborn and stuck in my ways. I’ll move when we’re actually married.”
“I see. But you can see why that gives someone like me pause, right?”
“Yes.”
“You sound a bit angry right now, Mrs. Saint,” he said, and the sound of that name made my blood boil. “Is now not a good time?”
“It’s not.” I shook my head. “It’s definitely not a good time, and I’d prefer if you called me back any other time.”
“Sometime tonight?”
I ended the call and put my phone on silent.
“Deep breaths, deep breaths.” Diana rushed over to me. “It’s going to be okay.”
“Did you see that ridiculous email he sent out?” I snatched jeans out of a drawer. “Now everyone is going to think I got promoted because I was sleeping with him.”
“Everyone already thinks that, so—”
“What?”
“I said, please take some more deep breaths,” she said. “And I totally respect the fact that Mr. Saint demanded that I sign thirty NDAs about this situation.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“But you can’t prove it.” She shrugged and smoothed one of my sweaters. “Look at the positive side. You get to spend time in your childhood home, hang out with family, and get paid a shit ton of money to pretend like you’re married to your boss.”
“That’s all the positives you have?”
“Depends on if you’re giving your favorite friend a bit of the bonus money. I’ll add that to the list if so.”
“You’re not my favorite friend anymore.”
She laughed and opened my bag for boots. “If I were in your shoes, I’d make the trip worth it and try to at least get some sex out of him.”
“So I can be even more disappointed in him?” I asked. “He probably has no idea what to do in the bedroom and—”
I sucked in a breath as my front door swung open.
Nicholas stepped inside, looking between me and Diana.
“Still talking shit about me, I see,” he said. “Too bad it isn’t true.”
“You can’t barge in here like that!” Diana gasped. “How the hell did you even get past the first door?”
“Jenna gave me her emergency keys years ago.”
His eyes landed on mine.
“Jenna, I don’t even have an emergency key for you…”
“Get out before I call security, Mr. Saint.” I stepped back.
“I came here for a reason.”
“Whatever it is, save it, because I could’ve sworn we agreed on certain things—and you’ve already broken what little trust I had in you.”
“Excuse me?”
“We agreed that we wouldn’t make any public announcements about us until after the holidays, and yet you send out that ridiculous email.”
“Did you see your name in it?”
“It might as well have been.”