Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
28
ALLIE
I’ve never been so ashamed in all my life. As I hurry from the hot tub, bedraggled and wet in my hastily grabbed kimono, I have no idea what I’m going to say to Grace.
Jonas is right. If she tells Kirsty, it would be her word against mine. That’s what I have to keep in mind when I talk to her so that I don’t dig myself an even bigger hole.
Plus, what the hell is she doing here?
This is my assignment.
I don’t follow her when she’s given a job. This is interference on a grand scale and I’m not happy. I’m not happy at all.
As I rush past the pool, all eyes are on me. Stefan lifts himself out of the water in the sexiest, smoothest action ever and I momentarily lose my train of thought at his wet, toned body.
And this has been my problem from the beginning. How am I supposed to keep my head and maintain professionalism when there is so much temptation in this place? I was doomed from the start.
Inside, Russell and Theron stand at the counter, two sweating beers resting in front of them. There’s too much muscle on show in here. Too much bare skin and raw masculinity.
Music plays over the speakers and it’s something sexy and seductive that really doesn’t help my case.
Everything about this place feels like a porn set.
Grace is by the door, fussing to find her keys in her bag.
“Grace.”
She swivels her head in my direction, but only for a second before she’s back to rummaging. “Kirsty sent me,” she says. “Something about you being out of your depth. I was here to lend a hand…you know…provide some support.”
“I’m not out of my depth. Everything is completely on track.”
Grace glances at me again. “You call that ‘on track’?” I can hear the air quotes in the way she enunciates, and it makes me want to scream.
“The article will be written. That’s what Kirsty expects, isn’t it?”
“That’s your job.” Grace has her keys clutched in her hand, the metal parts poking out between her fingers like a spiked knuckle duster. “I mean, I’m all for having a good time, and we had a joke about this, but it’s work, Allie.”
“I’m doing my job.” My tone is firm, but Grace isn’t buying it. When she shakes her head and looks to the door, I take a step forward.
“Sucking dick isn’t your job,” she mutters, picking up her bag.
It’s like a slap in the face from a woman who always discusses her sex life in graphic detail in the office. I can recount every one-night stand she’s had in the past two years, including positions, cock sizes and marks out of ten, and I’ve never been judgy of the way she chooses to live her life. The fact that she’s turning her judgment on me now makes fury bubble up like lava.
“I know what my job is, Grace. And the article I write will be perfect. My process is my business and if Kirsty doesn’t trust me to do this job, then why the hell did she give it to me in the first place?”
“Because I couldn’t do it,” she says.
It’s like she’s slapped me around the face again, but this time with a brick. My chest rises and falls with angry, frustrated breaths and my hands flex at my sides. I could scream. I’m so furious, but no sound will come out of my mouth.
“Allie,” Jimmy comes into my sphere of vision and his worried expression only makes things worse.
Grace is humiliating me in front of these men, and I can’t take it. She’s ruining this place where I finally feel like the person I’ve always wanted to be. She’s stomping on my confidence with her black patent stilettos and the hopelessness and powerlessness that’s pressing down on me is awful. I put my hand up to Jimmy, halting his progress. I know he means well. Any man in this house would step in to defend me right now, but I shouldn't need their protection. I should be able to stand up for myself.
“We’ll, then Kirsty’s a bigger fool than I thought. I’m sorry, Grace, but you’ve overstepped here. You should have called first before you set out. You should have respected my professional scope on this project.”
“Professional?” It’s said in a scoffing tone, and I grit my teeth and shake my head, barely keeping my cool.
“Don’t push me.” My tone is grave. Quiet. Menacing. No one is going to reduce me in this way ever again. Something changes in Grace’s expression. The narrowing of her eyes and the tightness of her lips relax just a fraction. Her gaze flicks to Jimmy, and then to Theron, Stefan, Tom, Russell, and Gabe who have all moved closer to stand in solidarity with me. I feel their silent encouragement and support buoying me up.