The Romance Challenge, Complete Series Box Set: BBW Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance by Arlanna Sterling Page B
Authors: Arlanna Sterling
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little fishes,
coral."
"That's nice."
Definitely a chill coming across the air
waves.
"What are you all crabby about?"
"Vicky couldn't reach you today. She
called you, and you didn't answer. It was important."
I clenched my fist, then let it relax and
crossed my fingers, ready to fib again. I couldn't tell Michelle I had my
ringer turned down. "I was in a meeting. I got back with her, and we took
care of the problem. It's okay."
"What if something happens to me?
Something serious, and you aren't here?"
"Vicky is a licensed CNA. That's why
I'm paying extra money, to have someone with medical experience visit you. And
you know perfectly well how to call 911 if there's an emergency."
"Don't yell at me."
Pushing out a breath, away from the phone,
I lowered my tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I'm just saying, if anything
happens to you, I've got it covered, okay? You're safe, like you've always
been. Right?"
Silence. I'd been looking out my window at
the water and now rested my forehead on the cool glass. Only Michelle could
torment me by not saying a word.
"Right." The word, delivered reluctantly,
made me sigh with relief.
"I promise, even if I'm not there,
I'm thinking about you and taking care of you. I posted a picture to Facebook
today, of one of those fish. I hope it came out; I've been too busy to check.
Tell me how it looks."
Curiosity would drive her, I knew. Her
computer was always on, and I heard the keys clicking, then a giggle. My
shoulders dropped a notch.
"They're cute. Such big eyes."
"Yeah. Hey, maybe sometime you can come
down here with me, right?" My never-ending quest to get her interested
enough in something to leave the house.
"Maybe."
"Listen, I've got to get back to
work. I'm going to sit at the reservation desk and observe the employees."
"Have fun."
She was lost in her social media world
now. Though I'd rather she talked to people live or on the phone, her Internet
friends kept her mind active, so I didn't discourage that activity. We said
goodbye, I got dressed, and headed out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Amber had a secret. When Rose interrupted
us this afternoon, her face turned white as a sheet. Something about her
sister. Shannon, the Chicago office supervisor, told me Amber helped take care
of a sick mother. So she had a sister to deal with too? No, the look in her
eyes this afternoon combined worry and fear. Like she was hiding something and really
didn't want me to hear that message.
I didn't care if Amber had personal
issues. She had her shit together enough to do her job very well. Whatever went
on in her home life didn't matter to me as long as it didn't affect her work.
So why was I so curious? Because I wanted this project to succeed and didn't
want anything to fuck it up, that's why. Maybe. Or maybe because when Amber
walked into the conference room, looking hotter than hell in those cute shorts,
I wanted to know more about her.
Somehow, I didn't think that was going to
happen. She shared very little of her personal life when we communicated,
except about Pumpkin. I knew way too much about that damn cat. Cute cat, actually.
Only because she made him that way. Her creativity showed when he got brought
into our emails. One of the reasons I enjoyed our online conversations.
Smart woman, too. She said she'd type up
her notes while at the front desk, so the employees would act more natural, maybe
even forget she was there. And she had a good understanding of people. When I
lost my cool with Julia, she stepped right in. I handled that poorly, but when
the bookkeeper questioned my decision, told me there was no reason for an
audit, my first thought ran to deceit.
Damn it, I didn't want to think that way,
didn't want to believe everyone here had something to hide. Another reason to
keep Amber close by as I interacted with the staff. She read people well,
talked to them well, brought out the best in them.
Amber seemed to be happy, except for that
call this afternoon.
coral."
"That's nice."
Definitely a chill coming across the air
waves.
"What are you all crabby about?"
"Vicky couldn't reach you today. She
called you, and you didn't answer. It was important."
I clenched my fist, then let it relax and
crossed my fingers, ready to fib again. I couldn't tell Michelle I had my
ringer turned down. "I was in a meeting. I got back with her, and we took
care of the problem. It's okay."
"What if something happens to me?
Something serious, and you aren't here?"
"Vicky is a licensed CNA. That's why
I'm paying extra money, to have someone with medical experience visit you. And
you know perfectly well how to call 911 if there's an emergency."
"Don't yell at me."
Pushing out a breath, away from the phone,
I lowered my tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I'm just saying, if anything
happens to you, I've got it covered, okay? You're safe, like you've always
been. Right?"
Silence. I'd been looking out my window at
the water and now rested my forehead on the cool glass. Only Michelle could
torment me by not saying a word.
"Right." The word, delivered reluctantly,
made me sigh with relief.
"I promise, even if I'm not there,
I'm thinking about you and taking care of you. I posted a picture to Facebook
today, of one of those fish. I hope it came out; I've been too busy to check.
Tell me how it looks."
Curiosity would drive her, I knew. Her
computer was always on, and I heard the keys clicking, then a giggle. My
shoulders dropped a notch.
"They're cute. Such big eyes."
"Yeah. Hey, maybe sometime you can come
down here with me, right?" My never-ending quest to get her interested
enough in something to leave the house.
"Maybe."
"Listen, I've got to get back to
work. I'm going to sit at the reservation desk and observe the employees."
"Have fun."
She was lost in her social media world
now. Though I'd rather she talked to people live or on the phone, her Internet
friends kept her mind active, so I didn't discourage that activity. We said
goodbye, I got dressed, and headed out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Amber had a secret. When Rose interrupted
us this afternoon, her face turned white as a sheet. Something about her
sister. Shannon, the Chicago office supervisor, told me Amber helped take care
of a sick mother. So she had a sister to deal with too? No, the look in her
eyes this afternoon combined worry and fear. Like she was hiding something and really
didn't want me to hear that message.
I didn't care if Amber had personal
issues. She had her shit together enough to do her job very well. Whatever went
on in her home life didn't matter to me as long as it didn't affect her work.
So why was I so curious? Because I wanted this project to succeed and didn't
want anything to fuck it up, that's why. Maybe. Or maybe because when Amber
walked into the conference room, looking hotter than hell in those cute shorts,
I wanted to know more about her.
Somehow, I didn't think that was going to
happen. She shared very little of her personal life when we communicated,
except about Pumpkin. I knew way too much about that damn cat. Cute cat, actually.
Only because she made him that way. Her creativity showed when he got brought
into our emails. One of the reasons I enjoyed our online conversations.
Smart woman, too. She said she'd type up
her notes while at the front desk, so the employees would act more natural, maybe
even forget she was there. And she had a good understanding of people. When I
lost my cool with Julia, she stepped right in. I handled that poorly, but when
the bookkeeper questioned my decision, told me there was no reason for an
audit, my first thought ran to deceit.
Damn it, I didn't want to think that way,
didn't want to believe everyone here had something to hide. Another reason to
keep Amber close by as I interacted with the staff. She read people well,
talked to them well, brought out the best in them.
Amber seemed to be happy, except for that
call this afternoon.
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