Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
It was on the tip of my tongue to say that I didn’t need to take any time to think about it. I could accept right this second. I didn’t have to look at the pay offer. There was no doubt in my mind that it was very nice. Throw in that I would be in a position of executive management and working for a charity in an area that was very near and dear to my heart. How could I turn it down?
But she was right. I needed to look over everything and seriously consider whether I was up for the challenge. My college education was in business management, and I’d worked on many projects with different department heads, but it had always been with the feeling that I was Sebastian’s voice, borrowing his power. This would all be on my shoulders.
“Yes, I think I should be able to decide by Friday,” I agreed, my fingers tightening on the packet of information. The weight of it was daunting, but I was sure it held my future. A much brighter future that could not only help me, but also my mother.
“Excellent, and don’t worry if it feels overwhelming at first. I’ll be there every step of the way. I’m not going to just toss you in the deep end with the sharks.”
“Thank you,” I murmured. I stared at the packet and repeated those two precious words a little louder. “Thank you so much for considering me for this opportunity. Regardless of what happens after I leave here today, I am very honored that you believed I would be a good fit for this role. And it would mean a lot to me on a very personal level to help with your charities.”
Danielle’s smile grew so wide that her eyes became narrow slits and sparkled in the afternoon light. “That makes me so happy to hear. You’re very welcome.”
After that, the interview was done. We shook hands and she walked me to the door, but my feet dragged. Now that the business side of things was complete, there was a personal matter that was screaming loudly, demanding that I at least ask.
“Mrs. Courtland?”
“Danielle,” she corrected, but I didn’t change because this was something else entirely.
“May I ask you a personal question?” I stopped walking, and she turned to face me, her expression silently inquisitive. “How is he doing?”
That warm grin became wickedly sly. She returned to my side and slipped her hand into the crook of my arm before directing us to the sitting area we’d just left.
“Oh, that is personal. And how long have you been wanting to ask that question?”
“Pretty much since you confirmed that this wasn’t a job offer out of pity or guilt.”
She chuckled as we sat at the same time. “To be honest, he’s a mess. Does that make you happy?”
“No!” I shouted in her face, but I didn’t care. The idea was abhorrent and disgusting. “Of course not! I’ll admit that I was pissed at him that first day, but I was angry at a lot of things. Mostly myself. But what happened wasn’t his fault. It was mine. He’d made a lot of silly promises that deep down I logically knew he couldn’t keep, but I let myself believe them because I wanted to believe them. I wanted to go out on one date with him. I’d had a stupid crush on him for years, and I thought I could be happy with one date. Afterward, we would realize that we were being silly and return to our normal working relationship.”
“Uh-huh. And how’d that work out?” she teased.
“Like shit,” I muttered. We were talking about personal things now. There wasn’t as much need to worry about my language being unprofessional. “One date wasn’t enough. I needed to see him on the weekend and for dinner during the week. I wanted to know all the crazy things he was thinking. We’d both stopped thinking about the consequences of our stupidity because we were so damn happy.”
“I believe it. I can’t remember a time I’ve seen Sebastian happier with someone. Or more depressed since losing you.” She nudged me with her elbow so that I would lift my eyes to her face. She smirked. “So, what are you going to do about it?”
“I—”
What the hell was I going to do about it?
“Would he even still want me? Asking for space hurt him. My entire world was falling apart, and when I looked at him, I felt anger. I didn’t want to feel angry with him. He didn’t deserve it. At least, no more than the anger I felt at myself. Do you think he’d give me a second chance?”
Danielle picked up my hand and held it between both of hers. “Sweetie, I am pretty sure Sebastian would give you a million chances if it meant having you in his life.”