Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78249 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
She shrugged. “I know you think this whole grouchy boss thing you do completely hides the real you. But I’m your sister. I still remember how you used to love dump trucks and how good you were at the hula hoop. You could keep that thing going for hours, Orion.”
“We agreed you would never speak of that again,” I said.
She sipped her drink, smiling.
I let out a sharp breath through my nose, trying to focus on anything else. A nearby painting, the way the jazz band was slightly off tempo, the champagne bubbles rising in my glass—literally anything other than Ember. But I couldn’t stop noticing her.
She moved through the room like she belonged there, laughing softly as she joined one group and then another. It reminded me of watching my sister circulate through a crowd, but there were subtle differences.
Remmy was like calm background music or a pleasant ambiance. She put people at ease in a way that almost kept her invisible. People felt happier and more themselves, but they usually didn’t even register it was because of my sister.
Ember, on the other hand, drew attention. She derailed conversations to spill into stories of her own, drawing laughter and smiles. She laughed loudly and talked louder, attracting curious glances from separate conversations.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one who found it hard to ignore Ember Hartwell.
Soon, I noticed she was working her way toward the center of the room where several big players in the real estate world were gathered.
“If you stare any harder, you might burn a hole in her dress,” Remmy said.
“I’m not staring,” I said, pulling my eyes away from the curvy woman in green. “I’m just wondering what the hell she thinks she’s doing.”
“Hmm,” Remmy said. “From the looks of it, she’s enjoying the evening, like a normal human being would. Believe it or not, standing in the corner and glaring at people isn’t most people’s idea of a fun night.”
“Most people are idiots,” I said. “She’s not—” I started, but my words died as I looked back over the crowd to find her and saw who she was talking to.
Huxley Cane.
Irritation and something completely foreign to me bubbled up as I watched the two of them laughing easily—the way he put a hand on her bare arm and let his fingers linger there.
The man was pushing fifty years old. Maybe he would be considered handsome by some, but he was far too old for her. And why did she seem to be laughing so much more easily with him than she had with anyone else?
Another wave of annoyance flooded me for caring. I didn’t get jealous, even when I genuinely felt interested in a woman. Jealousy was a useless emotion. It was something people who were powerless to change their circumstances felt. It was a form of defeat—an admission of helplessness.
Remmy tilted her head at me as a slow smile formed on her mouth. “Oh my, my, my. What is that red blotchiness in your cheeks, Ry? Your cheeks only flush when you’re really pissed. And the only thing I see is Ember flirting with that handsome old silver fox over there. Jealous, much?”
I didn’t dignify that with a response. Instead, I started across the room, weaving through the crowd.
By the time I reached Ember and Huxley, Ember was mid-laugh, a hand brushing against his arm.
“So, what do you do?” Cane asked her.
“Oh, I’m just... between opportunities at the moment,” Ember said breezily.
“I need to speak with you. Now,” I said, eyes fixed on Ember.
Cane turned to me with a grin. “Orion. I wondered when you would join the others to lap at my feet and beg for a contract.” His grin was smug and obnoxious. “Well, let’s hear it then. Why should I choose Foster Real Estate to build my building?”
“That’s not why I’m here,” I said curtly. “Our reputation speaks for itself. If you want the project completed on time and up to your standards, you’ll choose us. Simple as that. Now, if you don’t mind—” I jerked my head for Ember to follow.
Huxley stepped closer, touching Ember’s arm in a possessive way I didn’t like one bit. “Let’s say I do mind. I was enjoying this young woman’s company. Why should I let you steal her away, Foster?”
I clenched my jaw. I wanted this man’s business, and I had to be careful not to burn any bridges.
Huxley pulled a business card from his pocket, turned it over, and wrote a phone number on the back of it. “This is my personal cell,” he winked, handed her the card, and gave me an icy look before disappearing into the crowd.
“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded once he was gone.
“Enjoying the party,” she said innocently.
“That man was an extremely important potential client. We worked with him in the past, and he has been dangling a project in front of the big real estate firms in the city for months now.”