Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
His brows pull together before they shoot up. “Are you talking about the woman who shot you down?”
It’s not often that I get turned down for dates. Although, I also usually don’t look like a derelict lumberjack either.
“She was the blonde from the bar.”
“No shit,” Trent says in amusement. “So did she turn you down again?”
“She’d just gotten out of a relationship.”
“Or so she says.” Trent still derives a great deal of enjoyment from that whole situation.
“Anyway, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to talk to her again. Except I screwed myself, because now I’ve committed to a charity event at her hotel, and we’re going to include her business in the Teamology initiative. Which means dating her is off the table.” I flip a pen between my fingers. “And I couldn’t even ask her if she was still single because how inappropriate is that when you’re already involved in a business venture?”
“Can you back out of the charity event?”
“Then I’m an asshole, and she definitely won’t be interested in a date.” I tap my lips, trying to figure out a way around this.
“Is dating her even a good idea?”
“Well, I can’t date her, at least not right now.”
“Maybe that’s not the worst thing in the world. This way, you can take things slower and get to know her first. Make sure your instincts are right on this one, and she’s interested in you for the right reasons,” he says.
“I guess working with her will give me a better sense of whether or not that’s the case.” In the past, I’ve dated women who have been interested in me for my connections. And the potential for a cushy, pampered life. I don’t know London well enough to be sure either way.
“If you really want to date her, I can handle the charity event. That way you’re not working with her directly?”
I consider that for a moment. Trent handling all the phone calls, possibly having meetings with London. Nope. Not going to happen.
“It’s okay. I’ll deal with the charity event. I’ll just have to keep it strictly professional until it’s over. How was the meeting with Linc?”
“Good. He’s interested in the Teamology initiative. He and his sister have worked hard over the past few years to move Moorehead in a different direction, and he’d like to be part of this.”
“I think they’d be a good fit. I’ll give him a call later. Anything else I missed?”
“We need to start building relationships with the smaller media companies here in Colorado.”
“So they don’t think we’re coming in to buy them all out.” I’m not in the business of steamrolling smaller media outlets. I’d rather partner in whatever way I can and help them grow. “I’ve got a shortlist. We can get moving on that.”
Mitchell knocks on the door. He has my carry-on bag. The suits and casual clothes I brought with me on this trip will stay in Colorado.
“Excuse me, sir, but the car is waiting to take you to the airfield. If you leave within the next ten minutes, we’ll make the four o’clock departure. Otherwise, there isn’t a takeoff time until five fifteen.”
Trent grabs his things, and I make sure I have everything I need before I leave the office.
Mitchell falls into step beside me as we head for the elevator.
“Can we look at my schedule for next Friday?”
He brings up my calendar on his tablet, the same one I’m looking at. “You have a phone call with Spark House at noon and then a meeting with your financial planner at two in the afternoon.”
“I’d like to move the meeting with my financial planner. And don’t schedule anything for the rest of the afternoon. I’ll make up for it with longer hours on Monday. Also, I think we need to expedite preparing an adequate office space in Colorado, and I’d prefer Colorado Springs. And I’d like to secure an apartment.”
“A rental, sir? Do you have a timeframe for which you’d like to lease a space?”
“No lease. I’d like to own. I think I’ll be spending more time here in Colorado, and I’d like to prepare for that.”
6
AREN’T WE CHATTY
LONDON
My sisters come rushing out of Spark House to greet me with matching expectant expressions as soon as I pull into the driveway.
Avery opens the driver’s side door before I put the car in park. “So? How’d it go?”
“We got it. They want to work with us. And they want to host a charity event here!”
“Ahhh! Yay! That’s so awesome!” Harley practically tackles me with a hug. Avery throws her arms around both of us, and I absorb their joy and approval like a sponge.
This is one of the reasons I love working with my sisters. All the presenting might trigger my anxiety, but when things like this happen, it gives me the satisfaction and peace of mind I need. Working with Holt Media and their influencers could give us more stability, and that helps keep us together. My sisters are all I have, and as much as working at Spark House isn’t necessarily my dream, I don’t want to give up the closeness it affords us.