Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
I bent her over the boardroom table after midnight strategy sessions, the city lights spilling across her bare skin.
She dropped to her knees for me in the elevator between floors. More than once, we disappeared into the dim hallway shadows and tangled together before anyone noticed we were gone.
Little by little, her presence seeped into my life beyond the office. She stopped being just my CFO.
She spent nights at my place. I went on condo tours with her while she searched. And before I knew it, we were sharing a town car every day.
I was spending more time with her than anyone else in my world—and somehow, it still wasn’t enough.
I wasn’t sure it ever would be.
THIRTY-FIVE
ANDREA
For the first Saturday off under Harrison, I gave myself something I hadn’t had in months—a night that was actually mine.
Desperate for something stronger than caffeine, I followed Everly and Lisa into our favorite bar and stalled at the doorway.
The only sign of life was the bartender wiping down a table and his girlfriend waving at us to come in.
“Wow,” I said. “It’s dead in here tonight.”
“It’s empty on purpose.” Everly smiled. “We rented it so we could have it all to ourselves to celebrate.”
“Celebrate what?”
“You, of course.”
I looked up, noticing the balloons and a “We Believe in You, Andrea!” banner hanging in the corner.
“You can’t hold off on checking your CPA exam score forever.” Everly held out her phone. “It’s time for you to look, so look.”
“I forgot my portal password.” I shrugged.
“Lucky for you, I know it, so I logged in already.” She smiled. “It’s the same one you use for everything.”
“Well, why don’t you just do it for me?”
“I don’t know your Social Security number by heart.” She deadpanned. “Put that in so you can know for sure.”
I let out a breath and took the phone, clicking over to the exam results page. I entered my course number and watched the calculator spin.
When it stopped, my final test score appeared.
I blinked once. Then again, just to be sure.
My chest tightened so suddenly I forgot how to breathe.
“So?” Everly asked.
I couldn’t answer.
“Is the zombie look on your face a good or bad thing?”
“I passed.” The words didn’t feel real in my mouth. “I got a perfect score.”
Everly and Lisa hugged me, and the bartender brought over a round of champagne.
“The gentleman at the rear booth insists,” he said.
I looked over and saw Harrison taking off his coat in a corner booth. He set his phone face down on the table, and I waited for him to pull out a laptop, but he didn’t.
He didn’t pull out any files either.
“I hope you don’t hate me for inviting him,” Everly whispered. “But if you do, this was Lisa’s idea.”
Their voices blurred into background noise as my pulse pounded in my ears.
I slid off the barstool and moved toward him.
He looked up, his eyes holding mine in a way that made the world around us disappear.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hello.” He smiled. “Congratulations on passing your exam.”
“What if I’d failed it?”
“Your sister has Fuck the CPA Exam printed on the back of the banner.” He smiled. “She said she would’ve gotten you drunk and made me your designated driver.”
“She’s a real piece of work.” I laughed. “I thought you were working late tonight with Ciara and Aaron.”
“I was,” he said, pulling me into his arms, “but being here for your special moment was more important.”
“Does it make you see why people need additional breaks and vacations, then?” I looked into his eyes. “So they, too, can celebrate special moments?”
“It only makes me see that you have an effect on me.” He tilted my chin up with his fingertips. “Off days and breaks are still reserved for the weak.”
“What does that make you right now, then?”
“A hypocrite.” He brushed his thumb against my lower lip before he kissed me. “But you’re worth the exception.”
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
THIRTY-SIX
ANDREA
Today marked the most important week in Sweet Seasons’ newest chapter: Meet Potential Investors Era.
It was what all the late nights and missing money mission sessions had led up to, and yet—I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a freight train.
My eyes were swollen and heavy, and every muscle in my body ached like hell.
Still, I figured whatever it was would go away with a cup of hot tea and a couple of aspirin.
Wincing, I sat up in Harrison’s bed and grabbed my phone off the nightstand. I stared at the screen for what felt like forever, trying to force my fingers to type a text message.
Even the phone felt too heavy in my hands.
What’s wrong with me?
“I think you have the flu.” Harrison stepped into the doorway. “The doctor does, too.”
“When did I see a doctor?”
“Hours ago.” He looked at me. “You were heaving and coughing in your sleep, so I called him over.”