Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
My heels click over the floor as I head straight to my office to grab the photo I came to pick up.
“So it just stopped and started on its own?” I hear Rook ask. “Maintenance has to check that. The last thing I need is a client getting stuck in there for hours.”
Declan is to blame for the elevator stopping and starting up again. After our kiss, he pulled the emergency button back into place and finally answered the phone to tell whoever was on the other end that we were fine.
“It was probably a glitch,” Declan reassures Rook. “It’s working fine now. If you’re spooked, take the stairs when you’re ready to call it a day.”
“I was just about to leave.” I hear my boss say behind me. “I’m going home to relieve the nanny.”
“I’ll tag along,” Declan offers. “I’ll wake Kirby so I can read her a bedtime story.”
“No fucking way,” Rook answers back. “You’ll have a beer and tell me why you’re smiling like that.”
That puts a grin on my face, and as I open the door to my office and step inside, I take a slow, deep breath.
That short encounter in the elevator reminded me of how dangerous Declan Wells can be. The man has the power to sweep me straight off my feet and into his bed.
I want that, but I need what this office and this firm offer me.
I can’t let good sex derail a career I’m already proud of.
By this time next year, I want to be taking on clients on my own, and in order to do that, I have to remain focused on my work.
That’s not to say that I can’t enjoy a little fun with Mr. Wells, but I won’t let it consume me, even though it would be easy to let that happen.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Declan
“So, what do you think?” I question my brother over morning coffee. “You’re on board, right?”
He leans back in one of the chairs that face my desk. “I’m surprised, but I fucking love this.”
That’s a relief, although I was prepared to pursue this venture alone until I could make him see what a solid investment this is for Wells.
When Sean came to me shortly after I graduated from law school with his dream to launch a men’s underwear brand, I thought it was a joke.
I laughed at his face until I saw the sincerity in his expression.
Our grandfather’s inheritance was enough to seed the soil on this endeavor, but it took a hell of a lot of hard work and long hours to launch the brand.
Through some smart marketing and a fair bit of luck, Wells took off.
The business grew so rapidly we struggled to sustain it at times, but we did it.
We handled it together, with Sean taking on the role of CEO. I’m the COO only because I drew a shorter straw from the fist of a friend when we first conceived the business.
We make virtually every decision together as a team, so I asked my brother to meet me in my office this morning.
“We’re rebranding this.” Sean points at the box on my desk.
I nod. “Absolutely. I see the product as part of our brand.”
“Smart.” He nods. “Underwear and condoms go together. Or not, I suppose. You generally need to lose one to use the other.”
I chuckle. “It’s a perfect pairing.”
“I see the potential.” He taps his palm on the top of my desk. “I’ve never heard of that brand. Are you thinking of a full-on buyout or more or a partnership?”
“Buy out,” I answer with no hesitation. “The owner of the company, Kalina Ash, is open to selling.”
Sean grins. “A woman who owns a condom company. I already like her.”
“She’s a powerhouse,” I say of the twenty-seven-year-old founder. “She’s branching out to other products, and looking to sell this division.”
“You’ve tested these, haven’t you? Or are you just jumping in dick first because you’ve always wanted your surname on a condom package?”
“Asshole,” I snap with a grin on my face. “I saw an ad for them online. The comments were positive, so I bought a box.”
“And some woman helped you test them out?” He perks a brow. “Or should I say women?”
I had used a few Llura condoms before I met Abby, but the experience I’ve had with her is next level. I can’t contribute that to the condoms. It’s all her.
“It’s a good product,” I say, ignoring his last comments. “Thin enough to offer a great experience, but you’re not going to end up regretting the decision to use one.”
“So, no leaks?” He laughs. “You didn’t break one yet?”
I scrub a hand over the back of my neck. “I’m going to bring in outside counsel to help with the negotiations.”
“It makes sense.” He smirks. “Since Rook was there when you bought your first box of condoms, I can see why you’d want him steering this deal.”