Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” she said hoarsely. “Okay.”
She nearly stumbled down the stairs as Cammie walked up into her perfect house, with her perfect hair, perfect clothes, and perfectly horrid husband.
Hands shaking, Faith stripped off her onesie and pulled on her boring pajamas before braiding her hair and climbing into bed. The last thing she did was text Asta that she’d do the trial.
The sooner she got this job, the sooner her life would improve.
She hoped.
4
Faith stared up at the huge, imposing building standing in front of her. Stepping through the main doors, she saw that there was a busy café to her left and a welcome desk off to the right. She headed to the welcome desk.
After being set up with access to the building, she headed toward the elevator. According to the directory, Mr. Jones had level thirty all to himself.
God, she hated elevators. She had a fear of them suddenly plummeting to the ground.
Stepping out of the elevator, she shifted the Tupperware container she was holding into one hand so she could rub her lucky hair clip.
The container held her famous banana bread.
Everyone who’d tried it loved it.
She just hoped that Reuben Jones would fall into that category. It might soften him up at least.
Maybe he wasn’t as bad as he sounded.
After all, she didn’t mind grumpy men. There were plenty of grumpy men in her family.
It was when people got mean that she found herself struggling.
Glancing around, she saw there were passages to the left and right and a desk ahead. Several armchairs were placed strategically around the room to break up the big space.
There were no windows, and the room was a bit dark. The black and white tile floors really needed some rugs to soften them. The white walls were bare.
Some flowers could really warm the place up a bit.
She walked toward the desk. There was a door behind it and to the left. Did that lead to another office?
Asta hadn’t had a lot of information for her. Just an address and a time.
As Faith lifted her hand to knock, the door swung open and the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen in her life appeared.
He looked like he was a few years older than her. His dark hair had hints of gray, especially around his temples. Glancing up, she took in his stunning face as brown eyes glared down at her.
“Who are you?”
“I, um, hi, Mr. Jones. I’m Faith.” She held out her free hand.
He stared from her hand to her face. Wow. Talk about arrogant and self-confident.
He was . . . dark, dangerous, a tempting perfection.
And she didn’t even come close to ‘all right’ on a good day.
“Blossom.”
“Excuse me?” he drawled.
“I’m Faith Blossom.”
“That’s your name?” He raised his eyebrows.
“Urgh. Yes. I’m, uh, I’m your new assistant?” Shoot. She hadn’t meant to word that as a question.
“I don’t think so.” He glanced at his watch. Then he moved past her. “I need to go.”
“But . . . Winkleman Agency sent me. They said you knew I was coming.”
“I really thought they would have given up by now,” he muttered.
Huh?
What did that mean? Did he want them to stop sending him assistants?
That was . . . strange.
“Does anyone really take you seriously with that name?” he asked.
“Um. Yes. I think so?” She’d never thought about that before. She’d always been Faith Blossom from the Blossom family who owned Blossom Farm.
Okay, that sounded ridiculous, but no one had ever questioned her full name.
“You’re wearing a butterfly hair clip.” There was a look on his face that she couldn’t decipher.
Her hand rose to the clip in her hair. “It’s my lucky hair clip. My grandma bought it for me. She loved butterflies and flowers. All of nature, really.”
“Lucky hair clip, of course. Now, I’m going.”
“But . . . should I come with you?” she asked as he locked the door behind him.
“Nope.”
“Is there anything you want me to do?” she asked.
“Leave.”
She sat on a chair in the waiting area as he disappeared into the elevator.
“Well. That went well.”
Reuben walked into the elevator and closed his eyes.
The employment agency that Cat contacted just kept sending him assistants. The others had been easy to send away. They’d all looked at him like he was a meal ticket.
Someone they could eat.
But Reuben Jones was always the predator never the prey.
However, they’d really sent someone to test him now. Faith Blossom? Seriously?
He’d almost thought it was a joke. A butterfly hair clip in her dark ringlet hair. Those big, pale blue eyes. That ridiculous dress with more flowers all over it.
No. Nope.
She was too much. A distraction. She looked . . . sweet.
Reuben couldn’t be near sweet things. He’d destroy them.
He was certain she’d be gone by the time he got back.
Walking out of the elevator, he pushed Faith Blossom out of his mind.