Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
I swear food tastes better when you’re elevated.
I don’t want to think about Gen’s last message since I know she was just kidding. She didn’t say it would bomb. She said if. I’m just worrying about her and Connor and borrowing trouble that doesn’t exist. The rocky start Mont and I had earlier was entirely due to the fact that we didn’t know each other. I lied to him, his feelings were hurt, and he went on a path of revenge.
But it wasn’t all revenge.
Not if I take into account what Connor said. Some parts were right. I know that now. It was more than just wanting to make my life miserable. I personally would have just looked up my number if I were Mont. He had my name, and he knew where I worked. He could have been nicer about the whole thing. He could have spent less money and been less intense. I might be flattered he went to such lengths if I look at it from Connor’s point of view. In that mindset of abundance, as Gen so nicely put it as she decoded my dream, if I put a positive twist on our limited history so far, I can be hopeful for the future. A misunderstanding isn’t really being enemies. Even if Mont was annoyed after being duped and treated to the worst date of his life, he had a right to be. Even if buying the pudding company wasn’t entirely rational, it doesn’t make him impulsive on the whole.
He’s rich and owns lots of companies, but he’s down to earth. He works hard, he treats people fairly, and he doesn’t act like he’s above anyone else. I busted his balls pretty hard, including accusing him of not having any when it came to his family, but do I have all my own stuff figured out? No. He was ready to drop everything and go off to discover what he wanted out of life. He’s rich, and he can afford to do it, but most people wouldn’t do that, even if they could. It’s kind of nice that he doesn’t have a prescribed future set out for himself. It’s refreshing to meet someone who isn’t leading a scripted life. He’s worked hard because he thought he had something to live up to, and he wanted to leave something behind, but he’s left the rest of his story open. What I viewed as immaturity was him bucking the system. It was creativity. I thought he was living his life full of fear, but he’s more fearless than I’ve given him credit for. I just didn’t understand the vein of it.
I’m just nervous.
We work together, and there’s room for error if he stays. He’s rich, and I’m not. We have all sorts of familiar expectations and pressures from the rest of the aspects of our lives.
But it could work. We could work.
The man saved me from murderous hornets, and thanks to him, I didn’t get any other stings, and my nipple is just fine today. I’ll give Mont credit for that, too, even though it might just be time and science. He also saved me from the sheep’s butt last night. Also, we’ll always have crab and old movies in common. And pudding.
I think that’s a pretty solid ground to start on.
Or restart on.
Chapter fifteen
Mont
All week long, I saw Evilla. She seemed to be everywhere all at once. She was always, always in my mind and stamped into my brain. Maybe even a little bit of her has marked my soul. I felt like I belonged in the business world. My companies have always been a happy, secure place for me, but no building has ever felt like this building.
Even when I was in my office, and Evilla was nowhere near because she made it clear that being professional doesn’t include closed-door office interludes or any other interludes that might be construed as closed door even if the door was partially open, I knew she was in the building, and it brought a sense of comfort.
It also made me hard as hell. It’s definitely an inconvenience in a suit, but I spent all week learning how to live with it.
We tried not to be sneaky. Our fingers brushed a few times throughout the week, and we shared smoldering looks when no one else was around. Then, on Wednesday, she passed me a note at the end of a meeting.
I’m free on Saturday or Sunday. Take me to your favorite place in the world.
I’ve spent the rest of the week trying to figure out what that should be. The arcade? Silly. The lake? Probably too far for a short date. She didn’t specify that she wanted to spend the whole weekend away. She did write one or the other. There are special spots in this city, but I know they’re touristy and too crowded. The rose gardens, which I like, are always so busy. It’s also my mom’s favorite spot, and I’m not sure that sends the right message. It’s pretty, but does Evilla even like flowers or gardening? I could afford to literally take her anywhere in the world, but would she see it as me flexing my wealth? I don’t think she’d consider that as anything but low-level gross. It might only highlight the disparity she sees existing between us. She’s mentioned it before.