Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I am fully aware of the privileges I’ve been afforded and, let me be crystal clear, I’m not complaining. I know I’m only here in my position at Elwood Hoyt because of my last name. Even though I got the grades, did the work, hustled hard just like my fellow peers…it doesn’t matter. No amount of dedication will ever wipe away my legacy status. Because of it, I carry a big target on my back, an invitation to take me down just because of who I am.
But that’s okay. Living like that for so long has forced me to toughen up. Sorry, Hudson, you don’t scare me. You’re no different than everyone else.
“Fine. These extra duties…what should I expect?”
This is the first time I’ve surprised him all morning. I like the little spark of curiosity in his eyes, love catching him off guard with my nonchalant response to his curt behavior. I consider it a win even as he starts to lay it all out there, confirming my fate with a smugness that grates on my every nerve.
“We’ll figure it out as we go along. I’ll email a list of admin tasks for you to take care of—”
“I thought you had an assistant.” I point toward his closed door. “Wasn’t that her outside?”
“Lucy, yes. Don’t bother her.”
My hand drops. “Right. And to be clear, am I reporting to you or Sophie?”
“Both of us.”
Great.
“Do the tasks you give me supersede those given to me by Sophie?”
I want to be sure I understand the chain of command.
“They’re exactly equal. Meaning, you don’t leave here each day until all the work is done. Understood?”
I’m about to shoot him a sarcastic salute, but I grind my molars together and muster up just enough patience to bite out a “Yes, sir.”
This is utterly ridiculous.
“And I suppose if you’re unhappy with this arrangement, you could phone your dad and he’d steal you away to some other partner.” He reclines back in his chair, cool as a cucumber. “It’s your choice. I really don’t care.”
Well isn’t that just great. He already knew what I was going to do the second I walked out of his office, and he’s calling my bluff. Stick it out or run and tell Daddy.
I’ll be damned if I call my dad now. Whether or not it was by mistake, I’m on Hudson’s team, and I’m not giving him the satisfaction of calling mercy.
This situation is nothing I haven’t dealt with before. He’s just another bully, no more menacing than all the rest I’ve had to contend with my whole life. It’s only hard to stand confidently before him today because I’m still getting used to his presence, I suppose. He’s intimidating, I’ll give him that—what with the broad shoulders and sculpted jawline—but I’ll get used to those cut cheekbones in no time. Those piercing brown eyes won’t even affect me by next week, just watch.
When I smile, it’s so genuine and real I feel a little flutter of satisfaction in the pit of my stomach.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to work with you, sir. I’m happy to do any extra tasks you require of me, and I promise, I won’t let you down.”
There it is—the saccharine words he never thought he’d hear from my lips during this meeting. Even better, they end up sounding like a big Eff you.
His gaze hardens as I turn for the door, dismissing myself. I’m about to reach for the handle when he speaks, stalling me for a moment.
“Why are you here, Scarlett?”
I wasn’t expecting his question, which means, for a moment, I’m almost caught off guard enough to give him the truth: to work hard and take my rightful place in this company, just like my brothers.
But under these circumstances, he doesn’t deserve to know the truth. So instead I look back at him over my shoulder, dropping the nice act completely.
“That’s none of your business.”
And then I wrench that door open and leave because some of us have extra work to do.
Chapter Five
Scarlett
It’s nearing lunchtime and I’m still jittery from my encounter with Hudson. Though to be fair, it could just be general first-day nerves. It might not even have anything to do with Mr. Tall Dark and Deadly.
I’ve had a busy morning. Once I joined Sophie and Kendra, Sophie introduced us around the floor so we could meet the other junior and senior associates, people we’ll be working with on a daily basis. Our tour culminated at our office. Yes…OUR office.
Kendra asked about it before I could.
“Surely there’s enough space in this huge building for everyone to get their own office? When I was here last summer, new associates didn’t have to share.”
Sophie smiled grimly. “It’s intentional. It’s not about the space, actually. I think there’s a memo about it waiting for you all in your inbox.”