Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
“Are you married, Ron?” I ask, dipping into my bag to find my phone.
“Divorced. She left me for a richer man.”
Wincing, I turn a sympathetic smile onto him. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. He’s bankrupt now.”
I laugh. “Karma.”
“No, Dec Ellis.”
“Huh?”
“Dec bankrolled my new business that put him out of business.”
“Oh my God,” I murmur. “Does he get a kick out of avenging people who have wronged him?”
“Dec wasn’t wronged.”
I shake my head. He’s right. “What business are you in?”
“Chauffeur.” He smirks. “Dec hired me ten years ago to be his personal driver. Like I said, it was just a stopgap until I got myself back on my feet. Naturally, when one’s being driven daily by someone, they slowly get to know them.”
“And Dec got to know you, found out your story, and stumped up endless cash to bankroll a new luxury private chauffer business.”
“You got it. I bought a fleet of prestigious cars, hired some men, bought some suits, and away I went. We made a deal. He put in half a million for forty percent and if I paid him back within five years, he’d drop to twenty.”
“And did you?”
He smiles across to me. “Within three.”
I blow my cheeks out. “That’s amazing.”
“He’s amazing.” Looking at me, Ron studies me silently for a few moments, and I feel wholly scrutinised.
“You’re wondering what my intentions are,” I say, upfront, asking his question for him as he returns his attention to the road.
“He’s an honourable man. In the ten years I’ve worked for him, I’ve only every known one woman.”
“His wife.”
“She’s a sore subject.”
“Understandably,” I say, turning in my seat to face him, prepared to tell him what he wants to hear. Because it’s true. “I love him. I loved him before I knew he was wealthy. I loved him before I knew about Albi. He’s saving my life one minute at a time, but what I’m struggling with is why he loves me.” I don’t expect Ron to know or even tell me if he knows. “He said he doesn’t want to be lonely.”
“Being insanely rich is very lonely,” he muses. “But’s that’s not why he’s fallen for you.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” I quip, making Ron chuckle. “So why has he fallen for me?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs. “Maybe it was your smile.”
“Maybe.”
“Your beauty?”
“He’s not that shallow. But thanks for the compliment.”
He laughs again. “No, you’re right. He’s not that shallow. Your comic genius?”
“Nope. Can you see why I’m baffled?”
“Why do we need to dissect it? Sometimes people fall in love and it’s unexplainable but beautiful. Accept it. Roll with it.”
“I half expected you to warn me not to hurt them.”
“I wouldn’t insult you.”
“What if he hurts me?”
“There are many things I know about Dec Ellis, and one of them is this. He doesn’t spend time on things that he’s not passionate about.”
“He spent time on his wife.”
He shakes his head as he pulls up outside my office. “Wrong. He spent time on Albi.”
And what can I say to that? “Well, thank you for the surprisingly insightful ride to work.” I smile and get out but stop, dipping to get Ron back in my sights. “If your business is flourishing, then why are you still driving for Dec?”
“Like I said, I’m attached.”
I nod my understanding. “Did your wife ever try to come crawling back?”
“She’s still trying. Have a great day at work, Camryn.”
I laugh a little. “Thanks, Ron.” Closing the door, I stand back and watch him drive off to go fetch Dec and Albi.
To take them to work.
In their power suit and policeman costume.
There are many things I know about Dec Ellis. And one of them is this. He doesn’t spend time on things that he’s not passionate about.
I chew my lip, very aware that I’m restraining my smile.
He spent time on his wife.
No, he spent time on Albi.
He really didn’t love her. And that feels like one weight lifted from the various weights on my shoulders.
I tiptoe across the snow and stamp my heels on the mat just inside the doors of my building, noting it’s quiet in the foyer. When I make it up to our floor, it’s no different. A ghost town. I pass Debbie’s empty desk and push my way into my office, dropping my bag on the chair and shrugging off my coat, hanging it on the hook, then I make my way to the kitchen to get a coffee. I don’t see one person on my way, and the kitchen is empty too. I scroll through my emails while I wait for the machine to spit out my caffeine, and sip on my way back, flagging and deleting as I work my way through my inbox.
The elevator doors open as I’m passing, and Thomas’s son steps off. “Morning, Anthony,” I say out of politeness, rolling my eyes when he grunts his reply.