Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Have you thought about staying?” I asked my soon-to-be ex-assistant while my attention remained on the piles of paperwork on my desk. “Hastings wants you on his team.”
Hastings had been a surprise, and I wasn’t used to good ones.
Miller sighed. “No. It’s time for a change. Paul wants me to work for him, on the business side of the restaurants, but I’d like to stay married…so I’m thinking about going back to law school.”
My head jerked up, hoping that I’d heard him correctly, and an uneasy smile grew on Miller’s face. “It’s about damn time. Anything you need from me––anything––”
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he muttered.
“Miller…” I sighed. “…you’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met. Don’t be stupid about this.”
Miller’s attention fell on his nails. He drummed his fingers on his thigh. For all his tough talk, Miller was a sensitive soul. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“It’s not a compliment it’s the truth.”
“What about you? Plans?”
“For the first time in my life, no…I’m going to pack a bag, grab my passport, and head to the airport. I’ll buy a ticket when I get there.”
“I should sue him,” he sneered.
That brought an unexpected smile to my face. The workings of Miller’s mind were always good for entertainment. “For what?”
“Sexual harassment.”
As much as I wanted Scott to hurt, to taste a little bit of his own medicine, taking down Blackstone Holdings in the process wasn’t my idea of fun. “Stop it.”
Female laughter drew our attention out the glass-paneled wall of my office and across the cubicle-littered floor. Scott stood near reception with an attractive redhead in a sharp gray pantsuit, and judging by the smiles, they were clearly enjoying themselves.
“Who’s that?” I asked as my stomach knotted and an ominous feeling came over me. The redhead gazed at Scott with unmistakable lust in her eyes. I knew that look. I’d worn that same look on my face not too long ago.
When Miller didn’t answer right away, I cut him another glance. That’s when I knew I wasn’t going to like his answer. “Who is she, Miller?”
“New general counsel––the woman that’s taking your place.”
My gaze returned to the attractive woman. There was no mistaking that she was aiming to take my place in more ways than one. Things had just gotten worse.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Scott
Ten days. Ten days had passed since I’d taken control of this company. Since I’d essentially ended any chance of a reconciliation with my wife. In the meantime, I’d done a great job of burying my head under Blackstone Holdings. Figuratively speaking, of course. Although somedays it felt literal. Then again, I would’ve done just about anything to drown out all the feelings
I was still reeling from. Betrayal. Disappointment. Powerlessness so acute it made me want to smash things. The last one particularly devastating. Worse yet, I was trying desperately to hold on to my righteous anger, but it was hard when the person I wanted to be angry at wasn’t making it easy.
Sydney had been nothing but helpful, facilitating the transition every way I asked and even going the extra mile when I didn’t. There was no resentment, no bitterness, no threats of lawsuits coming from her. No tears either––which annoyed the fuck out of me.
She didn’t seem all that upset about being fired. I’d feel a little better about the situation if she was at least a little angry in return. Nothing would feel better than unloading on her. But, no, she’d shown me nothing but kindness and hard work.
For the past three nights, she’d stayed late to help Katherine Daly get up to speed. With no small amount of satisfaction, I’d hired her away from one of my father’s competitors. Maybe the one thing I’d done right since returning to this garbage dump of a rat-infested shit hole city.
I wondered what the old man would say if he could see me now, occupying his office, trying to fill his shoes. He was dead and I was still trying to get his attention. How fucked was that?
As I drummed my fingers on the keyboard of my computer, my bare ring finger caught my attention. Today I’d check to see if Sydney still wore hers. At some point, I’d get around to divorcing her, but not any time soon. I had a company to run after all.
“Scott, a word?” Katherine Daly marched right in without waiting for a reply. Which, of course, irritated me. Although almost everything did these days.
She took a seat in the wing chair stationed on the other side of my father’s desk and crossed her legs. Funny how I still thought of it as Dad’s.
“Did you see the game last night? We need a better DH.”
She was talking about the Yankees game which I had absolutely no interest in discussing. I tore my eyes away from my desktop screen, ready to tell her I didn’t have the time nor the inclination for idle chitchat, when I noticed her black skirt gapping open. It had spilt up to her thigh, revealing the lace band of her thigh high stockings.