Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154890 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“There are companies and then there are powerhouses,” I say, leaning closer.
She folds her arms on the table and mirrors my movements. “There is also being patronizing, and then there is just being an asshole. Guess which one you’re being right now?”
“Both,” Polly answers. “He gets that from his father. Don’t worry, sweetheart. His bark is worse than his bite. Oh look, here’s the champagne I ordered!”
“I can handle both.” She smiles a little provocatively before bestowing Stefano, the server, with a dazzling smile. The kind that inexplicably makes me want to punch him in the face.
“Do you even know what we do?” My mouth works on autopilot as I try not to stare at those pink-painted lips, try not to imagine working my hand into her hair to hold her in place while I taste and tease them. While I bite. Because, oh yes, I would bite. Delicately at first, then less so, pressing my teeth into her neck, her breasts, and her—
“What kind of idiots have applied for this job?” she demands, snapping me out of my dirty musings. “Who goes for a new job without doing their research? Of course I know what your company does. In fact, I’ve been watching the company since start-up. I was super impressed when you decided not to go down the IPO route. Raising capital couldn’t have been easy.”
I’m not sure if I’m disturbed or taken aback. Of course she knows I wasn’t some rich boy with money to burn or else I wouldn’t have been staying with her family all those years ago. My start in this venture was pure bootstrapping. There was luck involved, of course, when Miranda, my cousin, suddenly married into money. It opened up a new world to me. I got to know the Becketts, a husband-and-wife angel investor team who, I’m pretty sure, consider corporate meetings as foreplay. They spar endlessly, then I think they go home to fuck because that energy has to go somewhere. Anyway, with their investment and acumen, I was able to raise the necessary capital.
“It wasn’t easy.” Polly brings the rim of her glass to her lips. “But Leif has always had incredible drive. He always gets what he wants.”
“Not always,” I grind out, refusing to look at my most recent failure.
“Well, it shows. VirTu is the banking of the future,” Mimi says enthusiastically. “I can see how you’ve been able to attract so much business, the way you operate. The e-money license was genius. Modern banking isn’t about depositing your money in brick-and-mortar institutions where it almost costs you to store it.” She’s been watching me when it should’ve been the other way around. I try not to be flattered even though she’s talking about my company. “Your money should work for you, no matter how little you have in your checking account. I love how with VirTu you can access cryptocurrency, stock trading, and other crossover services.”
“I can see you’ve done your homework.” It’s hard not to be impressed, not to be enchanted by her eagerness.
“But you’re still not convinced.” She sighs, and I try not to notice how her chest rises and falls with the action. Try and fail. I’m a pervert. Too old for her. And then there’s the promise I made to her dead brother.
Oh, so that’s the antidote to my stiffening cock. Good to know.
“Honestly, Mimi, I’m impressed. But you’re young. Jody has had years in the role and—”
“And is about to have twins.” My mother interjects. “Tell Leif how you were promoted in Tampa.”
“Well, I started as an assistant, basically admin for a bunch of accountants, but the exec PA for the FEO and CFO had a hiking accident, and I was asked to step in. I did, and by the time her leg was healed, they’d created a new position for me. She got the CEO, and I got the other guy,” she says happily, surely unaware of how sexual that sounded. Or maybe she is. She was certainly up for teasing me in the office.
“I can manage a diary like it’s nobody’s business,” she adds, “and while I don’t have any contacts in the travel industry, you can bet your butt I’ll have some soon. I’m fully conversant in Microsoft, and I have excellent verbal and written communications skills.”
I bring my drink to my lips as I consider she does vocalize her climax beautifully.
“Verbal you can attest to, dear.”
My head does a double take. How would Polly know…
Ah.
“I’m resourceful and innovative and an independent thinker. I’m proactive, and I work well under pressure,” she continues, leaning closer, her gaze solemn and her tone passionate. “I’m a hard worker, creative and detail-orientated. I can work on my own initiative, but I take instructions well, too.”
Dead brother, dead brother, I begin to silently chant as my cock perks up, beginning to pay attention.