Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Both women are drinking champagne, though June’s flute is nearly empty. I flag down a server and point at June’s glass.
He places another in front of her. “Ma’am?” he asks Rachel.
“I’m good for now. Thank you.”
“What brings you ladies here?” I ask.
Stupid question. We all know why they’re here. Evangeline recruited them based on what the others and I want. Intelligence, ambition, social skills, an interest in a long-term relationship, and finally, attractiveness. We considered not making physical attributes a requirement, but then we figured an initial attraction was necessary or nothing would come of any of this.
Evangeline did her job well. All eight women are drop-dead gorgeous in their own ways, plus they’re ambitious, and I assume they’re ready to settle down. Our tastes differ enough that we figured the chance of two of us going for the same woman was unlikely. But if it happens?
We’ll figure it out. It won’t be the first time we’ve gotten out of a mess.
Seb and Brett are good at this conversation thing. Alex and I? Not so much. When I was younger, my mother used to tell me to pretend I was a talk show host and ask a woman about herself. But I already know what these women do for a living, what their hobbies are, their plans for the future.
“What do you like most about beef ranching?” June asks me.
“Working with the animals.”
“Doesn’t it make you sad, though? I mean, you raise them for meat, right?”
Damn. Good thing she’s got a killer body. What a thing to say to a rancher. These women are supposed to be equipped with stellar social skills.
“I’m more of a businessman now than a rancher,” I explain. “But yeah, I love all my animals. Feeding people is a noble calling for any animal, and I treat them humanely. They’re pastured and grass-fed and they live happy lives. That’s important to me.”
“Yes, of course.” June smiles. “I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise. I just figured it’s difficult to watch animals you love… You know.”
Her comment makes me think of my old dog Ernie and the day I lost him. He was a damned good dog. At least he didn’t get taken out by Old Man Larson’s bullet. He lived to a ripe old age and passed in his sleep before I left for college. But I don’t know these ladies well enough to tell them that story.
“People have to eat, June,” I reply. “Agriculture Today just did a spread on Barrett Ranch that details our focus on animal welfare and environmental sustainability. What my company does is called regenerative farming.”
“And that’s how you became a billionaire?” This from Rachel.
She raises a good point. My ranching business is thriving, for sure, but I became a billionaire by investing in Brett’s company. We all did, though we’re multi-millionaires in our own rights.
We made a pact—all four of us—twenty years ago. We swore that one day we’d never have to worry about money again. Every one of us got there on our own, and when the opportunity to invest in Brett’s business came up ten years ago, we all helped him…and we’re richer for it.
“It’s partly how I became a billionaire,” I reply. “I have outside investments as well.”
Rachel smiles. “I know we’re not supposed to talk about money, but—”
“Who told you not to talk about money?”
“Evangeline did. I mean, we know you’re all richer than God. But I’m curious about how you got there. It’s all very interesting to me.”
I can’t help a chuckle. “I’m glad it is, because I’m afraid what you do is not even slightly interesting to me.”
Rachel takes a sip of her champagne, clearly not at all fazed by my comment. “Sounds like maybe you took a physics class once and didn’t do well.”
Bullseye. “Maybe.”
She nods. “Physics isn’t an easy discipline. It requires critical thinking and excellent problem-solving skills. But once you get past the rudimentary parts, it’s fascinating.”
“You know what I find fascinating?”
“What’s that?”
“The fact that you aren’t upset by my saying physics isn’t interesting to me. It’s not even true, because I’m actually very curious about how you make a career out of it. I shouldn’t have been so frank, and I apologize.”
“No need to apologize. I’m not upset. I’d make a terrible beef rancher, I’m sure. I don’t even eat red meat.”
“Sounds like the two of you have nothing in common,” June interjects.
“You’re probably right.” Rachel grabs her flute—still half full—and rises. “I’ll leave you two to talk. It was nice meeting you, River.” She leaves with a smile that isn’t at all forced.
She truly isn’t upset.
But I am. I want to continue our conversation.
“I want to apologize too, River,” June says, “for my comment about your animals.”
“No need. This is a nerve-racking situation for all of us. There are bound to be some slipups.”