Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Didn’t your boss tell you to spend whatever was necessary?” Wren asked, reminding me of what I’d told her when we’d first arrived.
“Yes, but—”
“And didn’t he recommend this place?”
I sighed. “He called his sister-in-law, Fallon, for a recommendation.” Fallon was married to Simon’s other brother, Noah. “He might not have realized how expensive everything would be.”
Wren’s lips twitched. “Isn’t he rich?”
I turned away from the mirrors to face her. “Do you always have to be so reasonable?”
She laughed. “I’m afraid so. Now, what do you think of this dress? Have we found the one?”
My heart fluttered at the idea of actually wearing this gown to the gala. I’d never attended an event like this before, but I knew that walking in wearing this dress would make a statement and fill me with confidence.
“I think so,” I said, trying to convince myself while suppressing a wince at the thought of Simon seeing the charge on his credit card statement. I was too practical and just couldn’t help it.
“Perfect!” Wren tipped back her champagne flute to drain the rest of the sparkling liquid. “Now we need to find you shoes.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Maybe I should just wear ones I already own. I have black heels that would work.”
“A woman can never have too many shoes.” Wren set down her empty glass with a decisive clink. “And I really don’t understand why you feel guilty about this. Your boss sounds intense and demanding. In my opinion, he owes you a nice dress.”
That bluntness was typical Wren, and I was starting to regret sharing some of the more stressful aspects of my job with her. Yes, Simon’s task lists were long, but I liked it that way. I thrived on staying busy, and there was deep satisfaction in leaving the office each day knowing I’d accomplished everything he’d asked of me.
“He’s not that bad,” I said with surprising conviction.
“He sounds exhausting. All those tasks he assigns you every day?” She pursed her lips. “It almost seems like he’s testing you.”
In all honesty, I suspected Wren was right. At least in the beginning. It hadn’t escaped my notice how he’d hovered those first few days, as if waiting for me to fail. When I didn’t, his surprise was almost palpable. I wasn’t sure if he was simply an uptight micromanager or if past experiences had given him reason to doubt people, but he’d relaxed somewhat after I’d proven I could handle the workload.
I still wasn’t sure he fully trusted me, though. “I like the job,” I said, meaning it. “It’s challenging, and an easy job would be boring.”
“And your boss?” She arched a knowing brow. “Do you like him?” Her lips curved into a slow, sly smile that told me she already suspected the answer.
If this were anyone else, I’d deflect. But this was Wren.
“Simon is… complicated.” I chose my words carefully. “He seems like a uptight grump on the surface, but there’s more to him. He’d probably deny it, but I’ve seen glimpses.” I paused, considering how to explain. “Did you know we’re not just attending this gala for business? Simon is donating a significant amount to the charity—anonymously.” I knew this because he’d had me send the funds via Silent Donor out of his own personal account. “Instead of using it for publicity or even crediting the company, he’s just… quietly helping people.”
Wren looked thoughtful. “I suppose he’s not completely terrible, then. For a wealthy businessman.”
“He’s not terrible at all.” The defensive edge in my voice caught me off guard and I quickly softened my tone. “He’s more than just a businessman. He’s close with his family. A few days ago, I reminded him about his twin nieces’ upcoming birthday party, expecting him to send me out to buy a gift. But he insisted on doing it himself. He wanted it to be personal.”
Wren didn’t respond immediately, just studied me with that sharp, calculating gaze that always made me feel like she could see straight through me.
“He’s just intense about work,” I continued with a shrug, filling the silence. “It matters to him, so he has high standards. That’s not a bad thing.”
The sales associate, Diana, approached then, a perfectly timed interruption. She’d helped us when we’d arrived and provided Wren’s champagne, then had given us space to browse.
“That dress is stunning on you,” she said with a bright, professional smile. “Is this the one you’d like to purchase?”
I offered a weak smile in return, suddenly having second thoughts. “I think I should probably text my boss before I buy it, just to confirm that the price is okay.”
Wren made a disapproving noise, but I ignored her.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Diana said. “Mr. Powers called ahead before you arrived. He specifically asked me to help you find a complete outfit for the gala.” She paused, looking slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry—I thought you knew.”