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)
"What if you promised him a separate room?" Mom suggested.
My attention wavered as I looked down to read the email that just appeared on my phone. It was from Roman, saying Davenport was currently talking with Cole Northman at a well-known restaurant in town.
My stomach clenched. I was sure we had the contract all but locked up. What was that snake talking to him about, and why was Davenport willing to meet him?
"Orion?" Mom was watching me with concern. "You've gone pale."
"It's fine," I said, shoving my phone in my pocket. "Just work things."
"Yeah," Remmy teased. "Just work, as if you don't treat work like it's life and death."
I left my mom's kitchen to sit on the couch and stew. My thoughts went from Davenport meeting with Cole to Ember and even to our conversation about legacy and my father's wishes for me.
I rested my face in my hands as I let it all wash over me.
To my surprise, I was most upset by the idea of Cole getting Davenport's business because I worried he would do exactly what I had planned to do. I knew Ember would be devastated if anyone tore down those factories. Without realizing it, my priority had somehow shifted from using this opportunity to catapult Foster Real Estate to the top to protecting those factories—to protecting Ember and Davenport's vision for their future.
The woman was turning me softer than fucking white bread, but I couldn't bring myself to regret any of it.
I only wished I knew how Cole was still stringing Davenport along.
I carefully ignored the little voice in my mind that told me I already knew how he was doing it. It was a fact that had become increasingly hard to ignore, but I was doing my damndest to keep it in the back of my mind.
Just keep focusing on what you can control, Orion. Keep moving forward, and don’t worry about… that.
Another email came through from Roman.
Mr. Foster,
Davenport called the office. He said he's concerned we have been stealing ideas and information from Cole Northman. Apparently, our proposals are almost identical to Cole's. He seemed like he was thinking about pulling out of the deal with both companies because he doesn't know who to trust.
Roman
I swallowed what felt like a ball of ice that settled deep in my stomach. I hated that my first thought once again went to Ember, the charity gala, and the knowing, smug look on Cole’s face when he noted that Ember was working for me.
But I pushed the thoughts away before any real conclusion could form. I didn't even want to take my mind there, because the idea of Ember betraying me hurt more than I wanted to admit.
It had to be something else. Some other explanation. Even if it sounded insane, I was almost certain I had begun to fall for Ember Hartwell. It wasn't a soft, graceful fall, either. I was falling at terminal velocity and without any fucking control. It was exactly the sort of thing I had avoided for years, and somehow I had walked right into it willingly.
There was a knock at my mom's door. I rushed to get up and pull it open before Remmy or my mom could emerge from the kitchen.
"I got it," I said.
"Love sick," Remmy sing-songed from the kitchen.
"Like a cute little golden retriever eager to greet its master," my mom agreed.
Ignoring them, I pulled the door open and stepped out into the apartment complex hallway to stand beside Ember.
She looked... worried. Her shoulders were tense and her eyes darted everywhere, seemingly unable to meet mine.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi..."
"I know you didn't want to know, but I can't keep this in any longer."
My stomach clenched in anticipation. I nearly told her to stop. I nearly kissed her, just to keep her from saying more. But all I could do was stand with my back to my mom's door and wait for her to drop the hammer.
“I know you don’t want to know this, but I need to get it out. I’m tired of letting this fester and get worse and worse because I care about you. I even care about Foster Real Estate, and until I get this out, I feel like I’m betraying you with every breath I take.”
“Ember…” I started.
She shook her head. “Let me do this. Please.”
I swallowed, waited, and then nodded.
"Cole Northman was my ex," she said. Her words came out fast, as if she was gaining momentum as she went, each word barreling into the next. "He cheated on me and was trying to promote his new girlfriend until she could make my life miserable at Northman Group, where I used to work. When I didn't quit like he wanted, he came up with another idea. He asked me to infiltrate your company and give him dirt on you—something he could use to get an edge. That was when I got the idea to work for Hate Notes. I saw how you bribed people to quit, and I thought maybe you would eventually offer me a job if I never took the bribes..." she trailed off as tears welled in her eyes.