Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“If that will make you feel comfortable, Maya, then go ahead.”
I sighed, gripped the end of the thick beige curtains, and slid them over. “Perfect.”
My hands shook at my sides. “So. . .let’s see if this will work.”
Eyeing me, Ethan strolled over. “See if what will work?”
“I’m going to tell you everything, no matter how crazy it is and you’re going to. . .decide I guess.” I held my hands out. “And maybe your waiter won’t kill me during that time.”
He touched his chest. “My waiter?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “Perhaps, the person is not truly working for you. It could be a guest or some person who just wants me gone. Whoever it is, they always come dressed in the gold mask and wearing the robe. Then, they kill me.”
“Let me get this clear.” Ethan placed the box on his desk and then leaned against it. “One of my waiters has been trying to kill you?”
“Not trying. They have succeeded in killing me. Twice.”
“O-kay.”
“Yes.”
“But, didn’t you just arrive here?”
“Good question.” I placed one hand in front of me. “However. . .okay. This is when things get crazy. Are you ready?”
“Try me.”
“Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I bobbed my head. “That’s what is going on with me.”
“You’re stuck in a. . .time loop?”
“Yes.” I bobbed my head again. “This night keeps repeating over and over. I am now living this for the fourth time.”
His skeptical expression hit me. “You are saying that you keep reliving my party over and over?”
“Basically. This is the fourth time. And, I’ve never got to enjoy this party because one of your waiters keeps killing me.”
“Three times?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Only twice. There was one time where I tried to drive away from the property and the moment started back over again.”
“So, for some reason you must stay on this property?”
“Yes.” I studied him. “You. . .believe me?”
“I wouldn’t say that I believe you. I would more say that I am thoroughly intrigued by this conversation.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I imagined this night going many ways, but this has all been a surprise twist.”
“Oh.” I grinned. “That’s perfect.”
“What’s perfect?”
“I can tell you what you were going to do. You did it the first time I came into your office.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes.”
A wicked smirk covered his face. “Tell me.”
“You gave me the diamond rose.” I pointed to the box. “That was of course after you had to leave because your mother had arrived—”
“Oh no. That couldn’t have happened. She hates when I have these charity events and has never come.”
“Well, the first time Jackson interrupted us walking to the maze to tell you she arrived—”
“You know my new assistant, Jackson?”
“I met him in one moment—”
Someone knocked at the door.
I tensed. “D-don’t let them in.”
“I won’t.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Yes?!”
A deep male voice sounded on the other side of the door. “Excuse me, sir.”
“Yes, Jackson?”
“We have a situation in the ball room.”
I pointed at the door and whispered, “That’s your mom. I bet you a million dollars.”
Ethan gave me an odd look and then raised his voice. “Jackson, what is the problem in the ball room?!”
“Your mother has arrived. She is in there. . .causing. . .some would say. . .a disturbance.”
“See.” I sighed.
“Jackson, I will deal with my mother at another time. At this moment, I am busy.”
“Yes, sir.”
I chuckled. “I’m pretty intrigued with what’s going on with your mother in the ball room.”
“My father has recently left her for another woman—a very young woman.”
“How young?”
“Too young for even me.” Ethan frowned. “I believe my new soon-to-be step mother just turned nineteen.”
“Wow. That is young, especially for his age.”
“Yes.” His frown deepened. “Regardless, my mother has been taking it hard and drinking more than normal. I imagine she is either insulting several people, wildly dancing on a table, or spilling champagne all over herself.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He studied me. “How did you know that she would be here, when I didn’t?”
“Time loop.” I smirked. “Guess what else.”
“Okay.”
“The diamond rose has an obsidian stoned stem. It’s breathtaking. You told me that the artist took a real rose that had been preserved and then coated it with diamond dust.”
He widened his eyes in shock.
“Then, you started talking about how you love my novels. You mentioned, Breathless in the Billionaire’s Arms and that you had been a billionaire for a long time, but it wasn’t until you read that book that you truly felt rich.”
“I. . .” He blinked. “I had practiced that line in the mirror tonight. So nervous, I wanted to. . .sound like one of your heroes. Was it too cheesy?”
“No. I loved it. In fact, I was ready to. . .”
He quirked his brows. “Yes?”
“I wanted to kiss, make out, and maybe even have you make love to me right on that desk.”