Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Still, that didn’t change my mind about making her life miserable. In fact, I’d make sure she earned every penny of that money, and I’d enjoy every moment it took.
She’d quit talking, so I glanced her way. Her brows drew together, and her eyes shone with blue fire. “You’re not even listening to me.”
I raised a brow. “We’ll talk in my office. I’m not a fan of airing my personal problems in front of everyone.” That may have worked better if there were more people around.
“Oh? You mean all the people here?” She gestured to the empty hall. “Yeah, I can see how you’d need more privacy.
Rolling my eyes, I continued to my office. It was at the end of the hall, right next door to my apartment. As I pulled the door open, it was tempting to let the door shut in her face, especially after that snarky remark, but my manners got the better of me, and I held it open for her.
“After you.” I motioned her inside, raising an eyebrow and not trying to hide my sarcasm.
Mouth twisting, she slid past me, keeping as much distance between us as possible. For some reason, her distance made my stomach twinge, but I pushed the feeling away. Maybe I could actually get her to quit.
“Well… have a seat.” I motioned toward the chair beside my desk. My office was only a quarter the size of Vanetti’s, but since I wasn’t there much, it hardly mattered.
She glanced around the sparse space. “Where’re all the security cameras?”
“In the office down the hall. I’ll introduce you to Forrest Slater another time, but he monitors the security cameras, and protects everyone’s computers from hackers.”
“Oh. So… what do you do all day? Stand around flexing in the mirror?”
I almost snorted. Almost. “Why? Is that what you’re hoping to see?” I stood up a little taller and winced as my shoulder and side pulled.
“You okay?” Her voice softened.
“Fine.” I huffed, lowering into my chair, hoping I wasn’t bleeding all over my shirt. I hadn’t had time for more than a cursory glance at my injuries. “Let’s cut to the chase.” I let out a breath, and met her bright blue gaze. “You don’t want to be here, and I don’t want you here. So there’s no need to pretend that you care, got it?”
“Absolutely.” Her jaw tightened, and she glared at me. “I’d hate to waste my energy on caring about someone like you.”
My stomach twisted, but I shoved the feeling aside. This was what I wanted, remember?
She very deliberately sat down in the chair beside my desk, her movements controlled and smooth. “So?” She set her shoulder-bag on the floor. “What do you have to show me?”
I stared Serenity down for a few seconds while I tried to come up with something. I didn’t actually have a folder full of suspects or anything. Hell, until today, I hadn’t actually accepted that someone was trying to kill me, and I couldn’t let her think I was an idiot. “I… uh… just a sec.”
I twisted to open the bottom drawer in my filing cabinet, which sent a sharp stabbing pain through my upper back. Ignoring the pain, I pulled the drawer open, blindly searching for something in there to show her. Even an empty folder was better than nothing.
She gasped.
Now what? I ignored her and kept digging.
“Stone… you’re bleeding.”
“What?” I straightened up. “Where?”
“Your back.” She pointed.
I raised my arm to look, only lifting it halfway before hissing in pain, and grabbed my shoulder.
“I think you’d better let me take a look at it. Do you have any bandages in here?”
“What? Now you’re a doctor?” Pain always brought out my charming side.
“Would you rather bleed all over your shirt?”
“No.” Point taken. The pain in my shoulder faded to a dull ache, and I let out a slow breath. “I have some supplies in my apartment.” I shook my head. “It’s right next door.”
“Great.” She sent me an overly cheerful smile, obviously enjoying my pain. “Let’s go.”
“Fine.” I took my time getting up, doing my best to act like nothing was wrong. From her raised eyebrows, I didn’t think I’d fooled her.
“Need a hand?” She smirked. I glowered at her, but she just grinned and hurried to the door. “Here, let me get that for you.”
Straightening to my full height, I stalked to the door. It might have been more impressive if I could have moved faster. But at least I managed to walk through the door without limping.
“Wow… so what hit you? A mini-nuke? It must have been huge to damage someone as tough as you.”
I growled and stepped past her to the apartment door. “You mean you didn’t see the fallout?” Unlocking the door, I held it open for her.
“Oh, I’m sure there’s plenty of fallout when you’re around.” She slowly scanned me up and down before raising a brow and sauntering past me, giving me a great view of her perfect little ass. Glancing over her shoulder, she continued. “But I haven’t seen it yet.”