Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 32313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
“Get out.” I tell him, throwing a ball at him.
“Seriously. You need to find yourself a friend. Someone you can have an arrangement with. You know...no strings.”
“Like a hooker?” He laughs at the growl, but I am a second from choking him.
“Hell no. Like a socialite that needs the media attention.” I am not sure that is even better.
“No thanks. Not interested.” Standing, I grab my keys and walk out with him. Might as well go. Maybe this conversation will cease.
“Should I be worried about you buddy?” he asks, slapping me on my back. “I mean, you don’t play for the other team, or anything do you?” Stopping, I turn to him. He laughs and throws his hands up. “Just asking.”
“Asshole. Pussy is my favorite flava. I just so happen to believe in soulmates, and I am holding out for mine.” A lesser man would be embarrassed by this admission, but I have seen what an arrangement filled with cold nothingness looks like. That is not the life I want.
“I never took you for a softie.” Smack. I hit him over the top of his head.
“Ouch. It's not my fault you are a pansy ass. Soulmates...schmolmates.” I am going to kick his ass.
Chapter Three
LILAH
Three hours. That is how much sleep I got yesterday. My mind was busy going over the number of ways this could be a disaster. I am not graceful in my everyday life, so I am biting my nails off in anticipation. I finally went to sleep, convincing myself he would be gone, and I could get in and out without incident. I mean he is the governor. He has the fate of the entire state to worry about.
The dossier my mom had for him was very detailed and used words I know my mom would never say. No doubt this was prepared by his office. His house is cleaned every Tuesday morning and Friday evening. It specifies her prefers his bedroom be cleaned last, with the windows left open so it smells fresh for him. It details how he likes his toiletries lined up on the sink with his hand towels rolled and placed just so. The write up also gives the name of his working house staff and the hours they keep so I know who I am answering to when I am there.
Standing in my closet, I have no idea how much time I have spent looking through my clothes, pondering what to wear. Stupid I know. Who the heck cares what I am going to be wearing? I know one thing, if I don’t hurry, I am going to be late. I grab a pair of leggings and a flowy shirt. Comfort over fashion. Of course, that is why I picked it. I need to be comfortable. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that my size twelve sometimes, depending on how stressed I am, sized fourteen thighs and butt look in them. Right? I mean he is certainly not going to be checking out my butt.
Managing to convince myself of my motives, I grab my coffee cup, see all of my sisters have left already and walk out the door. I am halfway to the corner to meet the uber when I remember I left the folder with all of his info, including the gate code and the spare key to get in, in case his staff is elsewhere. Damn it. Thank God I have on gym shoes. I sprint down the sidewalk and back into the house. Luckily, everything was on the side table in the bedroom.
I make it to the uber just before they start charging you that fee for being behind schedule. The ride is quicker than I anticipated and before I am mentally ready, we are at the security booth going through the protocols and filling out information about myself for background checks. I peek my head out of the window as we are finishing up, looking up on the hill at his expansive mansion. “Here goes nothing, Lilah.” I take a deep breath right as my phone buzzes. Pulling it from my pocket, I smile when I see a message from Markis.
“How are you, sweet girl? I was finally able to find some time to come and see you. Miss your smile. I will call you tonight to discuss. Markis.” My heart does tiny flip flops when I read it and I let the feeling carry me the rest the way to my destination.
Pulling up to his house, now done with security, I thank the Uber driver and get out while trying to swallow down the bile of nervousness that keeps trying to come up. My instructions say not to ring the bell. Instead use the key left inside of the pouch inside of his file to come in and get to work.