Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 519(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Jerilyn’s eyes are fixed on him, along with the smile on her face. She’d be a great match for him.
His laughter through the speakers pulls my gaze back to him, and my mind from matchmaking. He says, “Thank you for being here tonight.”
A bartender leans over and says, “Keep the path clear for the upstairs party.”
“Yes, it seems a publisher is upstairs celebrating, but down here everything is on the house for Lafoonery to begin.” I hold my expression, but inside, I’m cringing from that bad joke. Seems this is his audience, though, because they laugh. “Anyway,” he says, “I have some big announcements. The first is what I know most of you are here about. The bonuses.”
I sip my martini while tuning him out to tick through a few more items I need to remember—money. I’ll need money and fast before my father cuts my cards off and freezes my accounts. My passport. I could go to Paris, or somewhere exotic, and disappear for a while. London isn’t exotic, but it’s always a good time, and it’s a bonus that I speak the language. Other than the basics, what else do I take with me if I never have the chance to reclaim anything ever again?
My photo album and my laptop. I lose all my work if I forget to take those with me.
The roar of applause wakes me from my thoughts, landing me smack dab in the middle of a celebration. Jerilyn leans over and says, “Incredible, right?”
I glance at Gregory, hoping to find a clue to how much the bonuses were so I don’t get busted for letting my mind drift away. “It was a good year.”
“Sure was.” She’s still clapping when Gregory clears his throat.
“I know the bonuses are the stars tonight, but for me”—he places his hand over his heart—“I want to share something personal that would make my year.” His blue eyes land on me, and he grins like the cat’s out of the bag. Though I’m lost to what cat and what was in the bag to get it in there in the first place. “I’d like to invite my girlfriend to join me. Everyone, welcome Sosie Stansbury.”
Mortification sets in as every pair of eyes in the room is redirected at me. Jerilyn gives me a little shove from behind and encourages, “Go on, Sosie.”
My feet don’t take the command willingly, so I force the first step and then the next until people are parting ways like the Red Sea for me to reach him. “What are you doing?” I whisper. “You know I hate attention.”
His smile should be reassuring, but the embarrassment is too much for it to compensate. My face feels hot, and I’m beginning to sweat.
Running his hand over my shoulder, he’s still holding the microphone in the other when he says, “We’ve been friends since we were kids. I crushed so hard on you when we were in high school.” I start to blink, my breath coming too fast, my heart ready to escape and take cover somewhere else. I shake my head just enough for him to see and hoping no one else does. But he keeps going. “During the past few years, I’ve fallen in love with you, honey.” Honey? Oh my God, what is he—“I want to marry you, Sosie. Will you be my wife?”
Somewhere between honey and marry, my mind went blank, and I felt faint. Grabbing him to stay upright, I’m righted as he bends down to look me in the eyes. “I love you,” he says with the biggest smile on his face.
When the world comes rushing back, I look at all the people closing in to congratulate us while the thunderous applause almost hurts my ears. Gregory kisses my cheek, then whispers in my ear, “Smile.”
And that’s when I realize they’re all one and the same. Him. My father. And I have no doubt his father as well.
I pull myself away, feeling him hot on my heels as I hurry to the hallway to find my coat. It’s time. I’m leaving and never looking back. Yanked as soon as I hit the shadows under the stairs, I’m turned around so fast that I wobble on my heels. Pressing against my arm, Gregory holds me by the arm so tight that I find myself lifting on my tiptoes. To the side of my head, he asks, “What do you think you’re doing?”
“You’re hurting me.”
His breath is labored, each exhale a huff against my shoulder. “Are you going to calm down?”
I’m not calm in the least, but I’m in no position to fight my way out of this without causing a scene that I don’t want to be a part of. “I am calm.” He releases me, and I sidestep to catch my balance. “What are you doing? Marriage wasn’t a part of the agreement.” I throw my arms out to the sides of my body. “We’re not even really dating.”