Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135847 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“I’m not annoyed about his intentions, I’m just…” Hale gave that a moment’s thought and admitted, “I don’t know what I am.”
“You don’t have to figure it out tonight.”
He took a sip of his drink, thanking fuck that was true.
“I’m gonna let you go, baby. You’re an early bird too.”
“I won’t call first thing.”
“I didn’t mind.”
“Okay then, maybe I will.”
“Whatever you want. Sleep well and see you tomorrow.”
“You too. ’Night, Hale.”
“’Night, Elsa.”
They disconnected and Hale twisted, lifting his legs to the couch and stretching out so he could look over the back of it, to the view.
And fuck him, he’d never really noticed it. He did, but that place was always about it being his father’s. That took all his headspace whenever he was there.
But it didn’t look anything like it did when his dad was alive.
And the view was incredible.
So Hale took his time finishing his drink, and he enjoyed it.
Then he put the glass in the sink, turned out the lights and went to bed.
CHAPTER 13
EXTREME HONESTY
Elsa
I was ten minutes late when I rushed through the busy restaurant to where my dad was sitting at a two-top.
He had his back to me, because if he was facing me coming in from the front, I wouldn’t get the better seat.
Pure Dad.
When I arrived at our table, I put both hands to his shoulders from behind and felt him jump as I bent in to kiss his cheek.
I then rounded him, threw myself in the chair opposite, and gushed, “I’m sorry I’m late. I had an unexpected meeting with the network, and it ran long. They got wind I was doing the Mankowitz interview, and they want it. Like, want it for a prime-time slot.”
“That’s fantastic,” Dad said on a smile. “And no worries, honey. I got your text.”
It wasn’t just fantastic.
It was phenomenal.
And the money they were offering was too, and that was before my agent Audrey got hold of them. She told me she was sure she’d get a lot more, and with recent experience of her negotiating prowess, I believed her.
“I don’t know,” I said, draping my tote on the back of my seat, then shrugging off my coat, and since I’d been carrying it, absentmindedly setting my phone by my place setting rather than tucking it into my bag. “It’ll be amazing for the Exchange.”
“How’s the money?” Dad asked.
I grinned at him. “Off the hook.”
His eyes twinkled at me, and the server showed.
I saw Dad had his old fashioned already, so I asked, “Do you have a good Sauvignon Blanc?”
“Willing to trust me?” she asked in return.
I nodded.
“I got you,” she promised then took off.
I picked up the menu sitting in front of me just as my phone illuminated.
It was a text from Hale.
I bit my lip in order to resist the urge to snatch it up and read it.
Suffice it to say, a chill Sunday night sharing Chinese and stories and kisses, especially Hale’s kisses, I thought was the best way on the planet to spend a Sunday night.
This was no crush anymore. Not even close.
I was really into the guy.
“Get it,” Dad urged, and I looked to him to see his eyes were on my screen. He turned them to me. “I’ll be fine.”
“It’s rude, and I’m already late.”
“You aren’t going to text him through dinner, are you?” he teased.
I shook my head and picked up my phone to read Hale’s text.
I’ll send my car for you in an hour. He’ll be waiting outside the restaurant. No rush, he’ll just be there when you’re ready.
God, he was so sweet.
I texted back, I have to run to my place to pack a bag.
He’ll take you there too. His name is Paul. It’ll be a black Escalade.
OK. Thanks. I’ve just sat down with Dad. See you in a bit. And then I added three kissy-face emojis.
Tell him I said hello.
I sent a thumbs up, a red heart and the red lips emojis.
“Hale says hello,” I told Dad as I set my phone down.
“When you see him again, tell him hello back.” Weighty pause then, “And we’ll talk about him later.”
Great. Dad wanted to talk about Hale.
“Now, catch me up on you,” he ordered.
I launched in and this took us through me getting my wine (it was a good call to trust the server, delicious), and us ordering our meals and getting our appetizers.
“So I’m going to need to crunch some numbers with you,” I said to finish, considering Dad helped me with my budgeting, and even if he was a CPA, he did all my bookkeeping, not to mention, prepared my tax returns. “I want to hire another assistant and promote Zoey.”
“Elsa, honey, you have a lot of money,” Dad said slowly. “And you’re going to have A-list talent coming into your offices. I’ve already advised you need to invest in atmosphere. You need to invest in staff. This isn’t a shoestring operation anymore. You can’t make money without spending it. And you’re in a business where appearance is important. Put a good foot forward, including with appropriate staffing.”