“It was fake, though,” says Cindy. “Just like you’re fake. You think you can treat people like toys. You think you can buy us all just because you have more money than God. Well, you can’t. Maybe you can have all the toys. But I can break them. I can make sure you never get to play with this one again.”
Several things happen at once. Angela screams. Cindy gives Maya another shove in the back. As Maya spins to face her, Cindy raises the pistol and aims it at Maya’s face. I’m in motion at the same time I realize that I’m moving. There’s no plan. There’s no time. There is only the prayer to an unknown God that I can decrease the distance between us.
Chapter Twenty - Maya
This crazy bitch. I’ve been planning for minutes how to turn and knock her teeth out, but there’s no time. I close my eyes, wondering if I’ll feel the bullet, wondering why my life isn’t flashing before my eyes. The roar of the gun tears through the world and I can’t believe that this is how I die.
Then I open my eyes as two heavy objects hit the floor. One is Cindy, pinned beneath Conrad. The other object is his bleeding body. The bullet entered his torso and left an exit wound in his back, just above his belt. I rush forward and take the gun, which has fallen on the floor. Angela is scrambling for her phone. I hear her calling 911. The last thing I see before everything goes dark is Mike, the pilot. He’s standing in the doorway.
30 minutes later I watch the EMTs load Conrad into a helicopter. They’ll life flight him to the closest hospital. I’m sure he has an army of private doctors he could pay, but not out here. Mike drives me and Angela. The police have already taken Cindy away. I might feel sorry for her later, but right now I just hope they lock her up. They can get her the help she needs after they lock her up.
That stupid man, Conrad. He saved my life. I can’t believe how close I came to dying. And now I’m driving to the hospital to see him. The EMTs wouldn’t tell me anything about his status. They looked worried, unless I’m reading too much into it. If he dies protecting me I don’t know what I’m going to do, or how I’m going to live with that.
“He’s going to be fine,” says Angela, as if she can hear my shrieking thoughts. As if she can feel that future guilt and wants to snatch it away from me. “He’s a tough bastard. You’re lucky, in more ways than one.”
I turn to look at her.
“Not everyone has someone who will die for them, Maya,” she says. “He did that to protect you, and he’s paying for it. But you know what? I bet he’d do it again, a hundred times out of a hundred.”
Maybe. I just want him to be okay.
When we get to the hospital they tell me that he’s in surgery. I won’t be able to see him for a few hours and they won’t tell me his condition. So Angela takes me upstairs and we set up camp in the most depressing cafeteria ever. Even though my nerves are raw, I manage to doze under the fluorescent lights. When I wake up someone has joined us at the table.
It’s Zima. She’s obviously been crying.
“What is it?” I say, fearing the worst.
Amazingly, she takes my hand. “No, it’s not that. He’s not out of surgery yet. I’ve just been upset.”
“How did you hear about it?”
“I’m his sister. Mike called me. God, I’m so scared. He must really love you, you know. I hope you appreciate this.”
His sister?
“Why are you working at the firm if you’re his sister?” I say. “Shouldn’t you be off doing billionaire things?”
“I’m not a billionaire,” she says. “I’m just someone who wants to work hard and stay close to her brother. I fucked up a ton when I was young and caused our parents a lot of grief. I needed a lot of help, and I think sometimes he has resented me from how much hurt I caused them. He saved my life. He was always there when I needed him. I’m protective of him, so sue me. You have no idea how badly he’s been hurt. Women use him. He can’t let anyone get close. But I can’t tell there’s something different with you, about how he looks at you. You better not be jerking him around.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, squeezing her hand. “I’m not. Let’s just get through the next part.” The next part takes three hours. Zima and Angela get to know each other. I get to know my anxiety and guilt even better. I entertain all sorts of nightmare scenarios. There are reality shows like Anesthesia Nightmares for a reason. These doctors had better be competent. These surgeons had better not mess up. I start thinking about the horrible things I’ll say about this hospital in my videos if anything happens to him. They’ll never know what hit them. They’ll...
Finally, a doctor appears. He tells me I can see Conrad. I want to cry when I see him in the hospital bed. He still looks enormous and muscular and virile, but no one looks their best in a hospital gown and an IV in their arm. Zima kisses his forehead and he winces when she punches him in the shoulder.
“Hey you,” he says to me. “How’s things?”
“She’s been really worried,” says Zima. “We both have.”
“Do you know what they did with the bullet?” says Conrad. “Tell me it wasn’t a clean exit wound. I really wanted that bullet. I could make it into an earring, or gauge my ears and wear it as a warning to all of my enemies.”
Zima takes her cue and leaves, promising to be back soon.
“How are you feeling?” I say.
“This wasn’t part of the experiment,” he says. “But I think I know what I needed to learn. I think I learned it.”
“Conrad,” I say, taking his hand. My voice is shaking. “You probably saved my life.”
“Think it might be worth writing about?” he says.
“How do you feel about it, tough guy?”
“I feel a little bummed out that we’re going to have to end the experiment early,” he says. “We were supposed to have ten more days out there at the cabin.”
“Who says we can’t? The doctor says that you’ll be able to go home soon. I’m sure you could pay a bunch of hot nurses to come tend to you out there.”
“I don’t want a bunch of hot nurses and there’s no point to testing it out for another ten days.”
“Why not?” Maybe I’ve been wrong about everything. Maybe what we felt was temporary, or imaginary.
Conrad rises up in his bed like a macho idiot. “I feel like I didn’t need two weeks to fall in love with you. I didn’t need those videos either. Or the research. I just needed to have you around. Will you stick around?”
Maybe I just don’t know myself as well as I thought. Or him. Not many things are as exciting as not knowing what’s going to happen next, provided that you’re with the right person. This is a shared moment.
I lean down and kiss him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
This is a moment that belongs to us. There will be other experiments we can try. Together.
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Billionaire CEO’s Beauty
Chapter 1 (Elaine)
It was my first day on the job. I was both excited and frightened, my stomach tightening around the bagel I had forced myself to eat that morning. I stood at the entrance of Fly Tech, my head tilting back just so I could see the top of the looming skyscraper.
The sky was a bright blue. A few fluffy clouds lingered here and there, making the scene look almost like a painting. A large passenger plane flew overhead, about to land at the local JFK airport.
“Excuse me.” A man in a purple polo walked past me, a leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder. With an air of confidence, he grabbed the door handle and swung it open. “Are you coming in?” He asked, glancing back at me.
He looked around my age, a head full of shaggy blonde hair. His eyes were a murky green, swimming with intelligence. In his shirt pocket, a fancy-looking pen reflected the early mor
ning sun.
“Oh! Thank you.” I followed the gentleman inside.
Instantly, the New York humidity faded away as I stepped into the air-conditioned lobby. My heels clicked against the polished tile floor.
“Wow…” I mumbled to myself, taking in the luxury of it all. A two-story water fountain with a built-in LED light display. State-of-the-art touchscreen devices lined the back wall, allowed employees to clock in with a single tap or guided confused customers through the building.
The man in the purple polo had his palm pressed against the screen. “Um, excuse me.”
He stopped and turned around, the screen behind him flashing his employee picture and full name.
Lopez, Fredrick.
“Uh… I’m new here.”
“Ah.” His eyes wandered up and down my body, almost as if he was checking me out, but in an oddly, non-sexualized way. “So, you must be the summer intern.” He stuck out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Name’s Freddie.”
“I’m Elaine.” I stood there, waiting for him to say something else, but he just kept looking at me, as if he didn’t know what to do in the presence of a woman. I sighed softly. This had to be yet another computer science nerd whose brain turned to mush whenever they were approached by a decent-looking girl like myself.
Maybe that was the reason I had never started dating. Studying software development had always been my passion, but it didn’t bring me in contact with men. Someone who knew exactly what he wanted, how he wanted it, and exactly how to get it.
“Um, do you mind giving me a hand? I’m not really sure where I’m supposed to go for employee orientation.”
“Oh. Right, right. I’ve been here five years, you know. I’ve almost forgotten how confusing it can be on your first day.” He boasted. “Do you have your ID number?”
“Yes… give me a second.” I rummaged through my bag, looking for the email I had printed out this morning with all my information. I cursed myself for not being more organized.
Finally, I found it, hiding at the bottom of my purse. There was a red stain in the corner, probably from the fruit snacks I never finished.
“Um… X556BHJ2.” I said, squinting at the number. “I think.” The ink was a little smudged.
“Okay. Well, you punch in that number here and then it’ll prompt you to place your palm on the screen, but since you probably aren’t in the system yet, I’m sure it’ll direct you to Mrs. Kilroy’s office. She’s the person that handles all the newbs. Now…” He paused to look at his watch, which looked suspiciously like it belonged on the set of a 90s cartoon. “… I really should get going. I’m debugging the latest software update so I have my work cut out for me. I hope to see you around the office.” With a friendly smile, he waved before disappearing down a hallway.
Beside me, a woman in a black pencil skirt and a tight white blouse punched in her number. Her hair was done up in a perfect bun. Not a single strand of hair was out of place. Her red lips were pursed together, connoting her seriousness. Her black heels were spotless.
Suddenly, I felt inadequate in comparison. I had on some maroon slacks and a black peplum shirt. It was the best I could come up with that could pass as business casual. I definitely didn’t own a pantsuit like some of the other women that walked by.
I gulped down my anxiety. It’s going to be okay. I’ll make it through this. I mentally pep talked myself.
Finally, I entered my employee number. A loading symbol spun on the screen before a generic profile picture appeared, along with my position, shift, and break times.
Welcome!
Warren, Elaine.
Please proceed to Mrs. Kilroy’s office.
A map replaced the prompt. A blue line traced the path I was supposed to follow. I committed it to memory.
I was just about to walk away when the screen changed.
Would you like to take your employee ID picture?
Yes. No.
Feeling obligated to do so, I pressed the bright green button labeled Yes.
My face appeared on the screen. Even in ‘Portrait,’ it looked huge on the 72’ display. As expected for a company like this, it was of the highest quality, putting all my imperfections on display for everyone to see. My pores looked outrageously big. My eyeliner crooked. My eyebrows unkempt.
I looked around, praying there was no one else in the lobby. Thankfully, the only other person was a cleaning woman who looked much more interested in her phone than my picture.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped back, standing on the little X marked on the floor. Once I was in the appropriate position, a bright light flashed, along with the familiar click sound.
I blinked, trying to regain my vision.
Thank you! We hope you enjoy working at Fly Tech!
Once the picture was taken, there was no option to try again. The machine started to make a loud noise before a fresh ID card was printed below the screen.
I grabbed it, feeling the warm plastic between my fingers before I glanced at the screen one more time. It was back to its default setting, waiting for the next employee to step forward. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a line of irritated workers, tapping their feet as they waited for me to finish.
Quickly, I scrambled out of the way and down the hall, toward the elevator I was supposed to take. The woman in the black pencil skirt was still there, her lips pressed into a disapproving scowl like she was annoyed that she would need to share the elevator with me.
Ding!
The elevator arrived and we both got in. She pressed the button to her floor but didn’t bother to ask me where I was going. Sighing, I pressed the button to the fifth floor. As we started our ascent, I felt my stomach twist into a knot and sink to my feet.
I counted to ten in my mind, trying to calm myself down. I had already gotten the job, there was nothing to worry about.
Ding!
I reached my floor and stepped out, not bothering to glance at the woman who stared a hole into the back of my head. Once the elevator doors closed, I realized that I had no idea which way I was supposed to go.
Left… or right?
Cursing myself for my bad memory, I looked up and down the hallway, looking for some kind of a hint.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cavernous hallway. I turned my head and spotted a very handsome man in a black suit, slicked back hair, and the most gorgeous eyes I had ever seen. He walked with his hands in his pockets, his manner nonchalant and yet somehow serious, as if he owned the world and knew it.
“Um… excuse me…” I stepped forward, hoping to get his attention.
He stopped and faced me, raising an eyebrow in question, but not saying a word. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
“Do you mind telling me where Mrs. Kilroy’s office is?” I asked, hoping that this wasn’t someone important. I really didn’t want to make a fool of myself on the very first day.
The man grinned, the hard lines of his face softening ever so slightly. The corners of his eyes crinkled, his high cheek bones dazzling in the overhead light. He just seemed to stare at me for a moment before he thrust his thumb to his left. Right beside me was a door marked ‘Kilroy.’
My face turned red at the realization. “Oh… um… sorry, I don’t know how I missed that…” I stammered, hoping this man didn’t think I had asked him for directions just because he was attractive.
He nodded before disappearing down the hallway, leaving behind an air of mystery. Who was that man? Why hadn’t he said anything? These questions buzzed around in my mind until I heard the sound of a door opening behind me.
I turned around to face an older woman with blotched skin and glasses that were much too big for her face. Even as she stood there, they slid down her nose. “Ah! You must be Miss Warren. Please, come in.” She pushed back the door, revealing an extraordinarily neat room. “I thought you had gotten lost.”
Quickly, I shook my head. “
No, I’m sorry I took so long, there was a bit of a queue for the elevator.” I lied, hoping she would believe me.
“Ah. That happens sometimes.” She nodded, grabbing a colorful pencil from a cup on her desk. “Okay, we just have to get you properly set up in the system and then I’ll show you to your desk.” She started to type, using the end of the pencil to press the keys. “It looks like you already took your company photo and had your ID printed out.”
It was only then that I realized I still had the plastic card in my hand. “Oh, yes.” I nodded.
“Good, good. That makes my job a little easier. Now, for some questions.”
***
After what felt like hours, we were finally finished. Mrs. Kilroy clapped her hands and got up in a flurry, her large, colorful skirts turning into a blur. “Come along now. You’ll be working on the 7th floor with all the other IT people. They’re a nice bunch. You should have no problem getting along with them, but if you do encounter anything… troubling… just let me know, and I’ll take care of it.” She smiled, looking back before she opened the door to the stairs. “I don’t like the elevator, I hope you don’t mind.”
CEO's Christmas Party: A Bad Boy Billionaire Boss Romance Page 55
