Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
“Why not?”
“You know what she’s after, Dad.”
“A few connections? Again, what’s the harm? She gets what she wants, and I get what I want.”
My father likes to date younger women—though twenty-five is young even for him. He’s never serious. He’ll spend money to make a woman happy, and she’ll spread her legs to make him happy. Tit for tat, literally. I turn a blind eye because I don’t care if my father gets some. But he’s also never dated someone who works for our company.
“That’s not even the point. Did you have to bring her tonight? When I brought Skye for the first time?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because…” I shove my hands into my pockets. Why does it matter? I don’t fucking know, but it does.
Skye is special.
“What if she wants marriage? This Kathy,” I ask.
Dad scoffs. “She doesn’t want marriage any more than I do.”
“You don’t know that.”
“All right, let’s assume she does. She’s not going to get it—not with me, anyway—so what does it matter?”
I shake my head again. “You’re playing with fire. There are laws.”
“No law against two consenting adults having a little fun, even if they do work together.”
“True, but there are laws against sexual harassment.”
“I’d never do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t, Dad. That’s not the point.”
“I see. You think she might make accusations. Why would she do that?”
“Do I have to spell it out for you? To get her hands on your fortune.”
“When did you become such a cynic, Braden? That’s not how I raised you.”
I roll my eyes. “Really, Dad? You want to play that card?”
He inhales. “I’m sorry.”
“Look, I got over blaming you a long time ago.” In fact, I now blame myself for what happened to my mother, but I can’t let myself go there. “You don’t have to apologize. But we run a billion-dollar business, Dad. I have to protect that.”
“I get it. But Kathy’s not a threat, I assure you.”
“Let’s find out.”
“How?”
“We go back in, and we’ll just see.”
Dad and I enter the house, and I lead him to a hallway where we can easily be overheard.
Sure enough, a moment later, Kathy enters the powder room.
I nod to my father. “See?”
“That’s nothing.”
“She thinks we’re talking about an investment,” I whisper. Then, “It seems like a no-brainer,” I say. “We could make a killing.”
“You think so?” Dad plays his part.
“Yeah. Getting into gemstones right now could be very beneficial. The mining in Australia is really taking off.”
I have no interest in gemstone investments, and Dad knows this. We’ve discussed it before.
Dad huffs. “I’ve had enough of this.”
He returns to the living room, and I follow.
Exactly sixty seconds later, Kathy returns as well. I resist the “I told you so” look.
Kathy dominates the conversation, interrogating Ben and me about our legal department. I let Ben take the lead, as he likes to talk, and I know he won’t say anything out of turn.
I watch Skye.
Her sexy lips are parted, and she’s thinking. She’s not listening to the conversation, and I can’t blame her. It’s dreadfully dull.
Until Kathy turns to Dad. “Bobby, the Humbert Trio is playing at the Stage tonight. I’d love to go.”
Dad nods. “I think some jazz sounds perfect. We can have a nightcap there. Do you boys want to join us?”
“I’m down,” Ben says. “But who will I dance with?”
“I’ll save a dance for you.” Kathy gleams. “But I’m sure there will be many ladies who’d love to meet you. How about you, Braden? Do you and Skye like jazz?”
“I love it,” I say. True words. Jazz is my favorite. I even own an old speakeasy in downtown Boston where I hire jazz musicians to play. “What do you think, Skye?”
“About what?” she says, her cheeks blushing.
I knew she wasn’t listening.
“About going downtown and listening to some jazz tonight,” I say, a smile tugging at my lips.
“Sounds great.”
“Wonderful,” Kathy says. “I love jazz, don’t you, Skye?”
“Sure.”
Sadie enters the living room and waits for a lull in the conversation before she says, “Mr. Black, dinner is served.”
“Excellent, thank you, Sadie.” Dad stands. “Ladies first, of course.”
Kathy leads the way. So she’s been here before. A little tidbit Dad neglected to mention to me. Skye follows Kathy to the formal dining room. Dad holds a chair out for Kathy, and she sits.
Ben takes a seat next to her, while Dad sits at the head of the table.
I hold out the other chair next to Dad. “Skye,” I say.
She sits down, and then I take the empty seat next to her.
Kathy helps herself to a piece of bread and then hands the breadbasket to Dad.
Yes, she’s definitely been here before. She feels right at home.
I’m done worrying about Kathy Harmon. If Dad likes her, he likes her. I just hope he remembers to think with the head on his shoulders, not the one on his dick.