Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
I’m blind to the reasons the staff calls her the Ice Queen, but I get a taste from her lack of a warm reception.
She releases her breath as if her day is made as soon as he continues, “Thirtieth floor.” I can’t say I’m not relieved as well. The last thing I want is to watch some other guy come in and sweep her off her feet.
Wait, that sounds like I’m here for the job . . . I’m here to work, not the sweeping of Olivia Bancroft. We had a good night, but she’s made it more than obvious that’s the extent of it.
She’s been nothing but a pain in my ass since I walked in.
Her threats aren’t even veiled at this point.
And the way she grits her teeth around me makes me think she’ll slap me with a dental invoice any minute now.
It would be wise to be as good with the one night as she is . . . But I don’t know why I’ve wanted to dig a little deeper about her. There’s more to her story than she’s letting on.
“Congrats on the job.” We shake hands. His grip isn’t as firm as I expected. Or maybe mine is just a little firmer. I want to chuckle. “Noah Westcott.”
“Halden Myers.”
The elevator dings for his floor. “I just started on the forty-sixth. Guess we’ll be seeing each other around.” I angle to expose Liv to the conversation she’s worked hard to avoid. “This is Olivia Bancroft.”
Reluctantly, her hand goes up. “Hi,” she replies.
“Hi.” He smiles at her, and it’s a little too friendly for my liking. “Guess I’ll be seeing you around as well.”
Okay, fucker, eyes off. Sticking my hand out, I hold the door open for him, making sure he gets the message. “This is your floor.” Confusion embeds in his face as he searches for the highlighted number above the exit. Gut feeling—this isn’t the first time he’s been lost in an elevator. “This way,” I add, pointing out.
“Ah. See you around.”
As soon as he’s out, I remove my hand and push the button to close it in a hurry. “Yeah, see ya.” I re-situate myself with my back to her, knowing that drives her nuts.
When the doors close, she says, “You have a jealous streak.”
I glance over my shoulder. It’s not her self-satisfied tone that flames the fire inside me. It’s the smug grin sitting firmly on her face.
Through her insistence, I quit wading through her moods in the past few hours. She didn’t rattle me. But seeing the way this Halden Myers guy just checked her out like she’s something to conquer did.
It was great sex. That’s probably not something she wants to hear since the past seems to be forbidden to discuss with her, but who needs words when the memories live rent-free in your head?
I push the button in rapid-fire succession, not feeding into her ploy. Despite how hard she's trying, I won’t let her get to me. The doors slide open in the nick of time. I hand her the salad and step off the elevator. “The only thing I have is a meeting to get to.”
Her huff is heard as I cross the lobby, causing me to grin.
Audrina stands from behind the reception desk with a grin and a sway of her body. “Hi, Noah.”
“Hey.”
“Ms. Bancroft,” she greets Liv right after, but the distaste shadows her tone. I’m not sure what that’s about, but if Liv’s treating everyone as she has me, then Audrina’s reaction wouldn’t be such a surprise.
I tap Leanna’s desk as I pass by. “Ready?” Leanna has been an asset to me since she was assigned the new guy. Me. Working for the company for two years, she knows the ropes and has been teaching me how things operate around here. I’m not sure why she’s assisting when it’s obvious she excels at marketing because she’s already tossing out ideas that have some weight to them. If things go well for me, I want Leanna on my team in a more prominent position. Just give me a month or two.
“Sure am.” Grabbing her electronic notepad, she comes around her desk and follows me down the hall to Mr. Lowe’s office. “Did you get the Torres email?”
“I did.” I stop just before reaching his assistant’s desk. Lowering my voice, I ask, “I’m coming in late to the situation. He wants to discuss his future with Bancroft & Lowe over dinner next week but won’t give any details. Just that he wants a face-to-face with his new rep. What do you know?”
“He’s difficult, but his wife is five times tougher. Not that she’s unreasonable. She just won’t accept anything but perfection. Creativity is lost in the cost of perfection.”
“Did you just think of that?”
She grins. “Off the top of my head.”