Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
It was a little weird, but it wasn’t all that weird—there were plenty of celebrities who looked freakishly like each other—so Miles didn’t think it completely explained Caldwell’s strange staring.
No, Caldwell wanted something from him.
But what?
At first, Miles had thought the man simply wasn’t over his ex-wife. That would explain the staring if Caldwell was still in love with Miles’s look-alike. Except apparently Ian Caldwell was the one who had filed for divorce. So the pining ex-husband theory was out.
But what other theory was there?
“Why didn’t you tell me I kind of look like his ex-wife?” Miles said sulkily.
Sofia frowned. “You do?”
Miles stared at her, utterly confused, before remembering that while Sofia had worked for Rutledge Enterprises for decades, Caldwell had become the CEO—and her boss—just a few weeks ago. Since she didn’t seem to be the type to read gossip blogs, it was unlikely that she’d ever seen Caldwell’s ex-wife.
Silently, Miles pulled up Regina’s picture on his phone and showed it to her.
“Huh,” she said, eyeing it. “I do see the resemblance, especially at first glance, but the more I look at her, the less similar to you she looks. It’s all in the details. It’s like she’s a rough draft of you.”
Miles snorted. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Her face is more delicate and feminine.”
Wrinkling her nose, Sofia shook her head. “Yours is more striking.”
Chuckling, Miles just shrugged even though he disagreed. “Do you think he’s such a prick to me because I sort of look like his ex?”
Sofia raised her eyebrows. “Dear, don’t take it the wrong way, but Mr. Caldwell isn’t treating you any worse than he treats everyone else. Yes, he’s demanding and his standards can be quite high, but he isn’t an abusive boss. He’s never nasty or rude for the sake of it. Was he nasty to you?”
Miles went quiet, thinking about it. “Not really. He’s just…” Too much.
It might be a weird way to describe someone, but that was what Caldwell was: too much. When he was in the room, it was impossible to ignore him. He was like a black hole dragging Miles’s attention to it. Coupled with the fact that Caldwell stared at him all the bloody time, the effect was more than a little disconcerting. Miles had considered himself a mild-natured, laid-back guy, but he felt nothing like one in the past week since meeting Ian Caldwell. He felt so on edge that he was this close to snapping at Caldwell and asking what the hell his problem was.
Maybe he should just do it.
Miles sat straighter, considering the idea. Why not? He had nothing to lose. Being fired would be a relief, actually.
“I’ve got an idea,” Miles said, getting to his feet. He already felt better, his mood vastly improved now that the decision was made. Either Caldwell would finally fire him for his cheek, or he would finally get his answers.
“Good luck!” Sofia said at his back as he entered Caldwell’s office.
Caldwell lifted his gaze from his computer and quirked his eyebrows. “Didn’t I send you to get me those documents from Caldwell Group headquarters?”
“I told the courier to do it,” Miles said. “You know, the guy whose job it actually is.”
Caldwell gave him a look that conveyed exactly what he thought of his cheek.
Miles gave him an innocent one. “Is there a problem?” Come on, fire me.
Caldwell didn’t fire him. He cocked his head to the side slightly, still looking at him with that unreadable, intense gaze of his. Staring. Again.
Miles drew in a deep breath. “Look, what do you want from me? What’s up with all the weird staring? Do you want me to suck your cock or something?”
Caldwell blinked before giving him a look of exasperation. “No, thanks. I don’t want you to suck my cock. I’m straight.”
Well, that was… a relief.
“Now I’m even more confused,” Miles said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What’s up with all the staring, then?
Caldwell sagged back in his seat, his expression unreadable. “I’ve been observing you, that’s all. I have an idea, and I’m still not sure whether it’s a good one or not.”
“What idea?” Miles said, walking closer to the desk before dropping himself into the chair opposite Caldwell’s without being invited to. He pretended not to see his boss’s unimpressed stare. “Well?”
Caldwell averted his gaze before looking back at him. “Are you aware that I have a son?”
Miles just nodded, waiting for an explanation.
“A year ago, he went through a… traumatic experience,” Caldwell said in a stilted voice. “Since then, he’s been very skittish, avoiding all social interactions. He’s… difficult. I think he’s scared of people.”
Miles frowned. “You think? You don’t know for sure? You can’t ask your son?” As far as he remembered, Caldwell’s son was three. Miles was far from being an expert on children, but he was pretty sure three-year-olds talked reasonably well. At least his nephews had at that age.