Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Care to have dinner with me?” he asks.
“I have Oliver tonight.”
“Bring him,” he says, and I give him a skeptical look. “I’m serious. Bring him. It’s casual anyway.”
“You’re willingly inviting me, and my son, to dinner?”
“Yes, at my apartment,” he adds.
“Umm… that’s a lot.”
“It’s not. I have a chef, and you need to eat. So, come. What’s his favorite food? I can get the chef to make it.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It is. Don’t overthink it. Just come and have a glass of wine with me while we eat.”
I should tell him no.
I don’t bring my son around strange men.
But I guess I can introduce him as my boss?
Can’t I?
That wouldn’t be as weird.
“I’m telling him you’re my boss.”
“Whatever you need to do.” He winks and heads to the front of the office. I follow, and we ride in the elevator together. He pushes the button, and we stand in awkward silence as the car descends a few floors. Then, all of a sudden, his hand is sliding around my waist, and he’s pushing me back against the wall, his body pressed against mine, his other hand cupping the back of my head.
And he kisses me.
He’s kissing me.
In the elevator.
At work.
The elevator doesn’t stop as we descend to the lobby. His tongue tangles with mine, and I drop my bag so I can wrap my fingers around the lapels of his suit jacket.
We have to stop doing this.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
But it feels so fucking good.
And I don’t think I can stop.
Just before the doors open, he pulls back and gives me a lust-filled look. “I’ll see you later.” He winks and strides out.
And I can only stand there, dazed.
The doors begin to shut, and I hurry out, catching my reflection in the shiny metal doors and seeing that my pink lipstick is smudged.
It was so worth it.
One of the highlights of my day is collecting Oliver from after-school care. I check my watch as I stand at the front and wait for him. He’s usually always out first when he knows I will collect him. So, when the kids keep coming, and I see no sign of Oliver, I immediately go to where his class is. His teacher smiles when she sees me. “Oliver, have you seen him?” I ask her, looking around.
“He was the first out as usual. Is everything okay?” she says when the smile on my face drops at her words.
“He wasn’t out there,” I whisper. “I was only a few minutes late, but he wasn’t out there,” I manage to say again.
“Miss Knight, what about his dad? Did he collect him? It happens more often than not, the wrong parent comes, forgetting about their day.” She laughs it off, but the pit in my stomach is dropping even lower.
Noah and I never get our days wrong.
It’s something we are good at.
I press call anyway. Noah answers, and immediately I rush out, “Is Oliver with you?” He goes silent on his end.
“No.”
My phone drops from my hand, and my heart starts racing faster and faster than ever before. I could not think of anything worse. Oliver would never have walked off without a parent or someone he knew. It’s just not who he is. He knows the rules.
“Miss Knight, is everything okay?” I glance at her, a haze covering my eyes, and I realize it’s getting blurry. “Miss Knight, who can I call?”
“911, I need to go to the police station. I need…” I collect my phone and run as fast as I can.
Where is Oliver?
THIRTY-TWO
SOREN
Why did I invite Cressida and her son to my house for dinner? At first, I considered her an annoyance. Somehow, she’s worked her way into my life, into the parts of me I keep behind walls of steel. I’m not the type to focus on a woman like this. I don’t do attachments. I don’t have soft spots. And yet, here she is. It’s not just lust or a passing convenience. It’s quieter, deeper, something I’m not used to, something I don’t know I can handle.
It isn’t easy because I’ve never once focused on a woman the way I focus on her. I always thought doing so would hinder me and my career. Sure, I could fuck a woman, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give them anything more. Not that Cressida would ask for anything. She is definitely not the type for that. I had to argue with her just to get her to accept my job offer. So, I know it’s not the money side of things that is keeping her around.
I check my watch again, noting that she’s late.
The chef almost has dinner ready.
She said her son’s favorite food is pizza, so I got the chef to make pizza, mac and cheese, salad, and some cupcakes, since I’m not sure what a kid eats. I had to Google it.