Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“I’m Nolan, by the way,” he says once he finally peels his attention from the walking stick. “Jameson’s more talented business partner. I don’t think we’ve officially met.”
He holds out his hand for me to shake and pointedly keeps his eyes on mine. They don’t wander one bit. I don’t consider myself to be some impossible to resist seductress, but I admire the man for not gawking at my obviously attention-seeking costume. He must be a good friend to Jameson. “Hi. I’m Charli.”
“Jameson has tried to avoid telling me much about you,” Nolan says. “But his attempts to keep you secret kind of tell me all I need to know. He must really like you.”
“And he’s standing right here,” Jameson says. “Thank you for introducing yourself, Nolan. Now kindly fuck off. We have mixing to do.”
“I also want to say I’m sorry about your story. I’m really hoping we’re able to pry it back from Landmark’s hands and publish it for you.” Nolan takes one last longing look at the walking stick, then heads off to join a circle of men in costume who are having an animated discussion about something.
“So,” I say. We stop by a table full of finger foods. Jameson is happily filling a plate with a little bit of everything. I just stay at his side, holding his stick for him while he loads up because I’m too nervous to eat right now. I have to admit it is a nice stick. There’s something about the weight of it that is satisfying, and–nope. I’m not going to get caught up in how nice this stupid stick is.
“What’s the deal with all the joint stuff between Gray Wolfe and Landmark, anyway?” I ask. “If you guys hate each other so much, I don’t see the point in mixing.”
Jameson shrugs. “Before things got so tense, it was kind of a peacemaking idea. Nolan suggested it. I think Griffon only agreed because he wanted to use these to try to poach employees and ideas from us.”
“And you’ve kept it up all these years?”
“The poaching goes both ways. Besides, I love a good rivalry. It’s fun to hate their guts. I think Griffon sees these as an opportunity to remind us how behind they’ve put us.”
I shake my head. “If it’s anything like the way I’ve felt toward Vaughn since the breakup, I’d say it’s more like mentally exhausting. I can’t imagine willfully keeping it going for so long.”
“Well, you’re handling it like a champ. Seriously. Those pranks you pulled on him so far? Fucking fantastic.”
I smirk. “That is mostly just my friends. Roxie loves a good excuse for payback, and Gemmaline is just sweet, so she’s probably happy to feel like there’s something she can do to help. I do have to admit it was really satisfying to get your text about how much the pranks bothered him.”
“Well, you have good friends.” Jameson finally runs out of room on his plate. He stops a few steps from the table, eyes on Nolan, who is still with the same group. “Nolan and I have always been close, but running a business together changed things.”
“I can see how it would,” I say. “That’s a lot to manage with a friendship being thrown in the mix.”
“Yeah,” he says, and for a moment, he looks impossibly sad. Clearly, there’s something going on there, but I don’t want to push him to share.
“Um,” I say. “I feel like I need to tell you something.”
“Okay?” He looks concerned.
I bite my lip, trying to find the best way to put this. “When you mentioned you personally put money towards this, I realized this is kind of your party. And then I felt really bad for not running this by you before I did it. I could maybe still call it off if I get on the phone soon enough.”
His eyes narrow. “Call what off?”
“It was sort of Roxie’s idea. Well, not the details, but the thought of messing with Vaughn at the party. He is always so sensitive about being masculine and seen as this womanizer. I thought it would be hilarious if a squad of male strippers came in and gave him a lap dance here–especially if they make it clear that he hired them.” I wince. “I did ask them to dress Halloween themed, though, so it’s not like it would completely spoil the vibe of the party, right?”
Jameson laughs, throwing his head back. I think he would clap if his hands weren’t full with his plate in one and a little sandwich in the other. “Fuck! That’s amazing. Yes. Listen.” He sets down his plate on the edge of a table and cups my face with both hands. “Don’t ever apologize for hiring male strippers to embarrass your shitty ex. Understand? That is amazing.”