Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“The day I came back and couldn’t find you, I left after lunch and went back to New York. He knew something had happened because I was whisked to the Hamptons, and was hanging out on their yacht, and stranded during a hurricane with his daughter.”
I take a moment to process everything Zane’s told me. The fact that Bamford chased—hounded him, actually—to take this internship is unethical at best. Zane didn’t even go through an interview process which itself is shady. But, manipulating Zane to stay in New York when he had plans, suddenly introducing him to his daughter, giving him the high-profile clients. It all boils down to one thing. “He groomed you for her,” I tell him.
“What?”
I nod and sit up slightly. “I’ve listened to everything you’ve said and processed it, and there’s only one explanation. You fit the mold of what he wanted for his daughter. Think about it. He’s at Harvard for a job fair—the owner of this mega law firm—and he handpicks you? No offense, but you didn’t go to Harvard or Yale. Why not pick someone from there?”
“Because . . .” Zane looks lost in thought. “Whoa. It’s all fitting together like a jagged puzzle piece. How did I not see this earlier?”
“Because he manipulated you into what he needed you to be. A husband for his daughter.”
Zane rubs his free hand over his face. “I was so stupid.”
“Money does that to people. Especially when you don’t have much to begin with. He found your weakness and exploited it in the worst possible way.”
Zane pulls me into his arms. It feels good being there, with my head in the crook of his neck. I wiggle and squirm until the pillow is removed from the middle of the bed and relax in his arms.
“I think you’re right and I’m so angry I didn’t realize it sooner,” he says, placing a light kiss on the top of my head. “Can we sleep like this?”
“No funny business.”
Zane chuckles. “Believe me, anything I want to do to you isn’t funny.”
We’re quiet for a long moment, the television giving off some background noise. The lights from the screen flicker until he turns it off.
“I’m never going to forgive myself for falling into that trap.”
“That’s okay. I’ll forgive you.”
EIGHTEEN
ZANE
We are officially a week away from Christmas and this is the happiest I’ve been in over five years. It’s all because of my dad and Evangeline. After a long talk with her about my dad’s store, I came up with a plan to help him revitalize the store without violating the historic value. Eve said preservation was key. The best part, I have the funds to cover everything, thanks to living rent free, which I’ve come to agree with Evangeline on—Bamford primed me for his daughter. It’s sick and twisted, but sadly there isn’t anything I can do about it. I benefited financially from the arrangement by not having to pay any bills. Now, with my salary banked, it’s allowing me to help my dad.
There’s been a positive shift with Evangeline as well. Ever since my sleepover, I’ve been there every night. Things between us are moving at the pace she set, even though the last couple of nights we’ve been doing a lot of things over our clothes that are driving me nuts.
We’re relearning each other’s habits, our likes and dislikes, and how to be together without her wondering if I’m going to bail. It’s going to take time for her to build trust in me again, and I’m okay with it. I’ll wait for everything until she’s ready.
If she calls, I’m there. I have every alert set on my phone for her number. I’m unwilling to miss any moment with her.
I’ve asked her for a job. It’s better than opening my own practice and taking business away from what she’s established in town. I don’t mind working for her. In fact, I think it’s a bit exciting and scandalous to have a love affair with my boss. The bonus is when—and if—the mood strikes, we can go upstairs to her apartment. But I also see us taking a day off together, staying in, or working from home. Despite the lack of walls, the set-up is perfect for when we need to work from home.
It's amazing how a week ago, my home was at my dad’s, and now when I say home, I mean Evangeline’s. I never knew this four-letter word held so much power. Back in college, Eve and I would only spend a night together, usually on Saturday. We thought it would be easier on our roommates. We’d always planned to move in with each other in our last semester, and then I completely messed things up for us.
There will be no messing up this time. Evangeline and my dad are my priorities. They should’ve been this entire time.