Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“Cool.” I stepped off the curb and headed for the SUV. “See you at the party.”
As I walked, I tried my hardest not to look back at her. I didn’t want her thinking I was desperate or anything. I was surprised I stuck it out as I rounded the truck.
When I climbed inside, I heard Javier ask Octavia, “And how many years of experience do you actually have?”
“I’ve been a caretaker for many years. My brother has special needs, so I take care of him a lot, but I got into nannying and babysitting five years ago.”
“Hmm. Well, I will have to look into it. Email your information to me anyway. Where is your phone?”
She dug it out of her back pocket, and once it was unlocked, Javier took it and typed something on it. When he handed it back, he gave her an agitated once-over before turning away and climbing into the SUV.
Octavia made a face like she was slightly annoyed with Javier’s demands and bluntness. She’d learn Javier was a very direct person and that the angry faces were nothing to take personally.
The SUV rolled away with us inside, and through Aleesa’s open window, I gave in to my urge and fixed my gaze on Davina.
She looked at me, eyes soft and sparkling, before tearing them away just as quickly.
THIRTY-THREE
DAVINA
The last place I wanted to be was at Chester’s.
It was enough having to deal with him for work and lunch during meetings with people like Kyla—not that I had a problem with Kyla. I liked her so far—but to put it simply, Chester was the kind of person you only spent time around for money’s sake. Not for fun.
I’d planned on spending the rest of the night reading for a little bit or watching TV while I sifted through emails, but that’d been pushed to the side, thanks to Deke. He knew exactly what he was doing, and I was not pleased that it worked.
Of course, my sister was excited to go. She looked up the address for Chester’s condo, and it was the definition of luxury, with its water views, its glass balconies, and a whole restaurant and bar on the main floor.
“I’m about to add every single moment of this night to my stories,” she said as we pulled up to the towering building in an Uber. “It’s so nice having a rich sister.”
I scoffed. “I am not rich.”
When the car came to a complete stop, we climbed out, and I braced myself for the night ahead. Once we were checked in with the doorman, we took the glass elevator up. Octavia held her phone up in the air to record a video of herself in the transparent box.
“You weren’t joking about adding every single moment, were you?”
“Uh, no. All my followers are about to know I’m that girl,” she said, tapping away at her screen. I laughed.
The elevator opened with a soft chime and welcomed us to the penthouse floor. I could hear music playing from a distance and spotted Chester’s room number at the end of the hallway.
“We aren’t gonna be here all night, okay?” I fixed my dress, a black bodycon with thick spaghetti straps. The dress was Octavia’s, and it was riding up my damn legs. I forgot Octavia liked her clothes a little risqué.
Other than the dress I’d worn to lunch, I had no other cute outfits to go out in, and something told me showing up to a party at Chester’s required a fresher fit. All that was left in my suitcase was a set of pajamas and a comfy jumpsuit that I was saving for my flight back to Charlotte.
“Okay, but if this is an open bar type of situation, let’s at least stay for an hour and take advantage of it.” Octavia finger-combed her locs as she peered at her phone screen, with the front camera open.
“We’ll see.” I gave the door a knock, and it was answered in a matter of seconds. A woman appeared, older, with pale skin. Her hair was mousy brown and stringy, and she had fine lines around her mouth.
“Hi! Davina, right?” she asked.
I threw my hand up. “That’s me.”
“Come in, come in!” the woman insisted, gesturing for us to hurry inside.
We walked into a spacious, dimly lit condo. Jazz music poured from hidden speakers, and there were at least twenty or so people here, with drinks in hand, mingling or laughing. “Chester has told me all about you! I’m his wife, Caroline.”
“Nice to meet you, Caroline.” I gave her hand a shake while trying to remember a time Chester mentioned having a wife. He didn’t wear a wedding band . . . then again, when I looked at her hands, I noticed she wasn’t wearing one either.
“Follow me. I’ll show you to him.” Caroline was already walking across the room, and I trailed behind her in my heels.