Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
He wanted Chip and me to work out, but I also resented how much of a suck-up Chip was to my father. Dad claimed he saw right through him but still supported Chip after the breakup. I was just the mean one, the Ice Queen, and Chip was the innocent.
It makes me wonder if my dad would still side with Chip if he knew the truth.
Feeling every bit of my childhood insecurity, I rush to the door. “Hey, Dad?”
He turns around, and I think I see a smile in his eyes when he looks at me. “Yes?” I don’t get my hopes up just yet. I’ve been burned before, which is one of the reasons I don’t force him to have a relationship with Maxwell. I'm winning if I can spare my child the same pain I grew up with.
I shouldn’t set myself up for disappointment, but I can’t help but hold on to hope that one day we’ll be close. “Do you think someone would be lucky to catch me?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Olivia. You’re my daughter.”
His daughter. Not because I’m good enough or even stand on my own, as a separate human being. He believes my value lies within him.
I nod, staring into his eyes, wanting to wither. I don’t. I won’t. I lift my chin and say, “Have a good lunch.” I don’t question why he’s leaving at nine thirty in the morning to have lunch with Noah. It’s really none of my business.
What I do know is that he didn’t have even ten minutes for me all week, but has made room in his schedule for Noah to slide right in. For him, the great catch, he has time. For me, nothing until next week at the earliest.
Sounds about right.
7
Noah
Anger courses through me, my heart pounding in my chest as I pace my office. I strip my jacket off, hoping to cool the rage. It doesn’t help.
I would have leveled that prick if we’d been anywhere other than in the office during my first week of work. Bitchy? Laughing at her? Chip is a real piece of work. I got a taste of his asshole behavior at lunch with the bosses the other day, but he’s good at the masquerade. The fucking suck-up. His dad practically eats every word he feeds him as if he’s God’s gift.
It goes beyond pride. Mr. Lowe believes Chip walks on water. It’s a damn boys club, and they’re the only members.
Mr. Bancroft played along and laughed where he was supposed to, but he wasn’t engaged in the conversation. He did better than I did. It may be my first week, but I won’t blow smoke up that asshole’s . . . asshole. That would go against how I was raised. I’d rather side with the genuine underdog than gain favor with the higher through lies.
Though I have no interest in Chip Lowe himself, one thing is clearly obvious after this morning’s display between him and Liv. They used to date. Which honestly surprises me. Everything about Liv gives the opposite of Chip.
She’s whip-smart, can hold her own in an argument, and independent. Chip is a spoiled and entitled toddler who needs to be put in time-out. What could she have possibly seen in him?
A soft rap on the door is followed by Leanna dipping her head into my office. “There’s been a change. Mr. Bancroft and Mr. Lowe want to meet at Salisbury’s. I added the lunch to your calendar but wanted to check with you before replying. Confirm?” As soon as the question is asked, she quirks her head. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. You can confirm.” At a standstill, I glance out the window. Lying is not something I favor. I’ve told my fair share, and I’ll do it to get by, but I want to earn respect, not be known as untrustworthy.
She leans her shoulder against the wall just inside the door, crossing her arms, and sports an all-knowing grin. “Want to try again?”
Fuck it. I ask, “What does Chip do exactly—”
“Ah. Chip.” She shuts the door behind her and comes to sit down.
“I get he’s in marketing, but he doesn’t—”
“Ever seem to work?” Tapping her nose, she adds, “Ding. Ding. Ding.”
I return to my desk and sit across from her. “I came onboard to be part of a team, to build something greater than what’s already been achieved.”
“That’s noble, Noah.”
“I’m trying to be noble. I want to succeed. That means making sure the company is profitable.” Resting forward on the desk, I lower my voice. “Chip operates differently.”
“He sure does.”
“I’ve known plenty of guys like him. They’ll stab you in the back to get credit for your work. Is that what I’m dealing with here?”
Her back is straight, and her gaze has shifted beside me as she appears to mull the answer she’s comfortable sharing. When her eyes come to me, she replies, “I’m not one for gossip, but I wouldn’t be upset if Chip were gone. For good. He makes everyone’s life miserable.”