Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Un-fucking-believable. I will fire her ass if we are not sitting at the governor’s table.” Her voice grows louder and her chest flushes.
I nod and pocket my phone, not quite sure what to make of this. “You forgot that your daughter is flying in today?”
Her eyes dart back to mine. “I’m busy. You’re not the only one who works,” she grumbles, twirling a strand of her hair. It’s an annoying habit of hers. Bugs the shit out of me. One time, I actually saw her sucking on the ends.
“How does this happen?” I demand, pushing that distasteful memory away and focusing on the fact that Rachel has not once mentioned her kid coming to visit.
“How does what happen?” she retorts and marches past me toward the bathroom.
I grab her arm. “Your daughter is coming, and you forgot to tell me? Or yourself, apparently, if that phone call is true.” Her hazel eyes narrow on mine.
“Raven and I don’t get along.” Her voice is flat. “I was hoping she was going to spend the summer with her father like she usually does. But shitty Frank has impregnated his stupid girlfriend, so yes…” She takes a breath. “It appears my daughter will be spending the next couple of months with us.”
Letting go of her arm, I frown. This is wrong on so many levels. I have great parents. My mother adores me and my brother Brett.
“Rachel, you forgot your own child? What the fuck is wrong with you?” I almost start laughing because I knew she was a cutthroat, shallow bitch, but this is… well, I’m not really sure what this is.
“Don’t judge me,” she snarls. “You don’t have kids—”
“Exactly. I don’t. For this reason. But I think I’d remember if my kid was coming home for the summer.”
“Stop.” She sighs. “Raven is… different from me. We have zero in common.” She walks toward me. Rubbing her hands up and down my dress shirt, she playfully tugs on my tie. “I did mean to tell you. I really did, but with work and the wedding…” She closes her eyes, then opens them. “This sounds bad, but I just forgot.”
I look down at her. I’m no saint, but if my mom had forgotten that I was coming home for the summer…
“I’m late.” I remove her hands. Christ, her flowery scent is now saturated into my suit.
“Jett, I’m telling you this is not a big deal. She has a boyfriend, and she should spend most of the time with him,” she calls after me. This would be a major red flag if I wanted anything more from her than what she already gives.
“Please don’t be mad at me. This is nothing but a slight inconvenience.” She smiles but her lips twitch.
I raise a brow at her, shaking my head. “Whatever, I don’t care.” Because I really don’t.
She nods, then goes into wife mode. “Do you want me to have your tuxedo sent to your office, or will you come home first?”
“Office. I have a full day. And, Rachel?”
She looks up from her phone.
“If you need to stay and maybe… bond with your daughter tonight—”
“Stop, Jett,” she whines.
I snort and shake my head. “You just keep being you, my love.” Looking at my watch, I head down the stairs, needing to get the fuck out of here. I’m in court this morning, defending my client, a pro bowl player. Jeremy is being mistakenly charged with possession of cocaine at a party. It’s nothing but a jealous girlfriend trying to get back at him, a cliché setup… and that is exactly how I’ll spin it.
With a grin, I turn sleep mode off, loving the feel of my phone’s nonstop vibration as it tries to catch up with all the texts sent from my many assistants.
“Mr. Jett?”
I’m so involved in reading my messages I barely register the small, middle-aged Hispanic woman who stands over in the corner of the foyer. Maria? Mary? I know it starts with an M. She’s the only person Rachel insisted I keep on my payroll.
“Yes?” My voice is cordial. She takes a step forward, her face looking miserable, as if I’m the last person she wants to talk to.
“I’m sorry, but Ms. Rachel needs me to pick up Miss Raven.” She holds up her phone.
“Who?” I look down at my own phone to view the latest text from Rebecca, my secretary.
“Raven… Ms. Rachel’s daughter.” Mary sniffs and straightens her shoulders. I cock my head at her, then text Rebecca to hold on.
“Sorry, Mary? I’m a very busy man—”
“Maria.” She corrects me with a disdainful sniff. This does get my attention. She’s got balls—no one corrects me.
I grin while she continues to frown at me. Clearly, she doesn’t find my smile as charming as most. “Maria, yes. What is it that you need?”
“My car is not starting,” she states flatly.