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)
“That should be the tagline for your new condom brand.” Rook curves a hand in the air as if he’s revealing a movie marquee sign. “Wells Condoms. It’s a good fit.”
I chuckle, but that pales in comparison to the laughter coming out of Holden.
Rook finishes his beer. “A couple of my staff are helping him with that.”
Holden glances at me. “You don’t trust inside counsel to handle your condoms?”
Laughter fills the space again, but I just smile. “We’re thirty-three. Grow up.”
“I know you’ve talked about expanding your offering, so I can see the connection here,” Holden says.
I don’t look for Holden’s approval on anything, but he’s done well for himself in business. He’s currently the CEO of Carden Confectionaries. The company has had steady growth since he took over.
“I admit it’s a good move.” Rook moves to sit at the head of the table. “You better treat Abigail well.”
“Abigail?” Holden taps a finger on the neck of his beer bottle. “Is that the lawyer handling the acquisition? I don’t think I’ve heard you mention her before.”
“She hasn’t been with us long.” Rook looks at me. “Declan shared an elevator adventure with her and wanted her to handle this.”
“An elevator adventure?” Holden asks.
“We got stuck in one,” I say, not bothering to add that it was my fault that happened. “She handled herself well, and she’s around the same age as the owner of Llura. I want someone representing me who can connect with her.”
“Abigail will do great.” Rook nods. “I have a lot of faith in her ability.”
I do too, but I keep my thoughts to myself.
“Who would have thought that one day our friend, Declan, would have his own condom brand?” Holden shakes his head. “I didn’t see that one coming.”
“You never know what the future holds.” I glance toward the corridor. “Look at Rook. Who would have thought he’d be a dad first?”
Rook chuckles. “Not me, but I’m doing a fucking great job.”
“Most of the time,” Holden corrects him with a laugh. “If you’re going to force Kirby to take tap dancing lessons, you better be prepared to practice with her.”
Rook stomps his shoe against the hardwood floor. “I’ve got it covered.”
Holden shoots a glance in my direction. “There’s another tagline for your condoms, Declan.”
I shake my head. “Shut up. I’m going to grab a beer and order some food. I missed dinner, and I’m starving.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Abby
We all have our reasons for choosing the path we take.
Carrie decided to become a chemist because she wanted to prove to herself that she could do it. Another factor in her decision was that she was always experimenting with makeup. When we were teenagers, she would often combine beauty products. Sometimes she’d toss a bunch of stuff in a blender and smooth it over her skin.
That only resulted in disaster once when she chose to add beet juice to the mix. Her “revolutionary” eye makeup remover ended with her looking like she’d painted on a red eye mask.
Since she landed the job at Matiz Cosmetics, she’s overseen the creation of some of their best-selling fragrances. Scents are her specialty.
For me, the law was always my calling.
I’d dress up as a judge every Halloween and march around our neighborhood acting as if I owned it. I’d call out other kids for being “guilty of having a great costume.” My dad loved it because it mirrored the goal he had set for himself before dropping out of law school to take on a job at my granddad’s plumbing company.
Standing in the doorway of a conference room at Wells, I watch the woman who launched her own company when she was twenty-four. It started with a condom brand that she had a hand in developing. Since then, she’s expanded her horizons to include numerous products designed to give women the best sexual experiences of their lives.
I admire her, and now, I’ll have to negotiate with her so my lover can rebrand her condom division as his own.
“Abigail,” Declan says my name as soon as he notices me in the open doorway.
He’s dressed in a dark suit, white button-down shirt, and blue tie. I opted for something similar today. My blue skirt is a shade darker than his suit and my white blouse comes complete with a ruffle at the bottom of the sleeves.
At first glance, anyone seeing us together would think we coordinated our outfits.
“I want you to meet Kalina Ash.” Declan directs a hand toward the petite blonde woman standing next to him.
She’s dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt. Her black blazer matches the heels on her feet. She’s every inch the stylish professional. Even if I were given the leeway to wear an outfit like that to work, I doubt I’d pull it off so effortlessly.
“Hi, Abigail,” Kalina approaches me with an outstretched hand. “It’s good to meet you.”