Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
It’s two in the morning. I should be asleep, but I spent the day helping Polly at her shop with Mac and Jake. What I told her is true: I am the boss, and I can make my own hours, but doing so sets me behind, so I’m catching up tonight.
But I have no regrets.
I had a great time today, and Jake had fun, too. I caught him and Polly laughing and joking around several times, and it made me smile. When Jake first came to live with me last year, he never smiled much. He was too bruised, physically and emotionally, but he’s healing, and it fills me with satisfaction to know that this ranch, and maybe being here with me, is what has made a difference for the young man.
I cross to the coffeemaker in the wet bar area of my office, pour myself another cup, and then return to my desk. I have another hour of work before I have to take a shower and dress for meetings all day, via Zoom. I’ll start at six a.m. with a meeting with my Zurich office, then London and Paris, New York, and finally, San Francisco. I try to schedule these weekly meetings all in one day, but that isn’t always possible.
My assistant and right-hand man, Arthur, sends me a message via our inter-office system, and it pops up in the corner of my screen.
Good morning, sir! We have a packed day today. Why are you up so early?
I smirk. Arthur’s been with me for eight years, back when I had only three companies to juggle and decided I needed help. He’s helped me grow this company into the massive business that it is. The man keeps me organized and schedules and handles pretty much anything I throw at him.
He also hovers like a worried mother hen.
Working, of course. It’s early in New York, too. Why are YOU up?
Within seconds, he replies.
Because I’m your loyal and trusted sidekick, who stays three steps ahead of you so I can anticipate your every need, of course.
It makes me laugh, just as he intended, but I also know that it’s partly true. Arthur has things to me before I even know that I need them. He’s excellent at what he does, and I pay him very well for his loyalty and hard work.
Call me in two hours, before the first meeting. I’ll speak with you then.
Yes, sir.
Two hours later, just before my call with Arthur, Jake comes shuffling into my office, his eyes droopy, a crease down his left cheek from his pillow, and his brown hair standing straight up in the back.
“Good morning,” I say to him as I adjust my tie.
“Mornin’,” he mumbles and rubs his face. Jake isn’t a morning person. “Want a bagel and cream cheese? I’m gonna make some.”
I grin at him. He always asks if he can do stuff for me. I haven’t quite figured out if it’s because he feels obligated because of all I do for him, or if it’s just who he is as a human.
I suspect it’s a bit of both.
“Sure, I’ll take one.”
He nods, and rather than make his way down to the kitchen, he crosses to my wet bar where I have everything he needs stocked.
I like that Jake wants to hang out in here with me, particularly in the mornings. While he makes us breakfast, I move into the connected bathroom to style my hair and make sure my tie is straight before putting on my suit jacket. When I return, there’s a bagel with cream cheese and a side of banana waiting for me on my desk.
“Thanks, buddy.” I take a bite and eye him. “What do you have on tap for today?”
“Chores this morning,” he says around a bite of his own bagel. “I want to spend some extra time with Firefly today. I thought I saw a limp in her back right leg a couple of days ago. I haven’t seen it since, but I want to make sure.”
My brother, Chase, wasn’t kidding when he told me that Jake was excellent with horses. It’s why I hired him last summer, and it is one of the best decisions that I’ve made. It’s as though Jake speaks their language.
“Thank you. If anything is going on, you have Dr. Randolph’s number.”
He nods thoughtfully. “Yeah, I’ll call her if there’s anything wrong. Then Chase invited me to go fishing over at his place this afternoon, so I thought I’d do that. I figured I could also help them out if they need it. The house is almost done, you know. I can’t believe how fast it went up.”
I grin at him. My brother decided to go ahead and hire a company—one I helped him choose—to build his new house out on the ranch, where we grew up. Chase’s property sits right by a small lake, with excellent views of the mountains, and Jake loves to go out there, sit at the end of the dock, and cast a line out into the water. I love that he enjoys spending time there with my family.