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Seven
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Bride Of The eccentric CEO Eight
RICHARD THE NEXT MORNING, WE BOTH acted as if nothing was different. Miss Elliott brought in my coffee and bagel, carefully placing them on my desk. She went over my schedule, confirming two meetings I had outside the office.“I won’t be back this afternoon.”She looked puzzled, checking her notebook. “You don’t have anything in your schedule.”“I made the appointment myself. Personal business. I’ll go straight to my two o’clock afterward. In fact, I won’t be back this afternoon. Take the time off.”“Pardon me?”I sighed. “Miss Elliott, can you not understand English? Take the afternoon off.”“But . . .”I pinned her with a glare. “Take the afternoon off.” I lowered my voice. “My place at seven, okay?”“Okay,” she breathed out.“If you need anything—business related—text me. Otherwise, it needs to wait.”She nodded. “I understand.”It was common knowledge Anderson Inc. monitored emails. Not one to take chances, I had my own cellphone, to which only a select few had the number. I knew
Bride Of The eccentric CEO Nine
RICHARD ASIDE FROM KATHARINE’S HESITANT INSTRUCTIONS, the drive was silent. The farther away we went from my neighborhood, the darker my mood turned. When we pulled up in front of a dilapidated house, I turned to Katharine.“This is your house?”She shook her head. “No. I rent an apartment in the house.”I slammed the car into park, yanking off my seatbelt. “Show me.”I followed her up the uneven path, double clicking the key fob. I hoped the tires were still attached to my car when I returned. In fact, I hoped the car would be there.I didn’t try to hide my displeasure as I looked around at what I assumed was considered a studio apartment. I considered it a dump. A futon, an old chair, and a desk that also served as a table were the only pieces of furniture in the room. A short counter with a hot plate and a small refrigerator posed as a kitchen. There were a half dozen boxes piled by the wall. A wardrobe hanger held the dowdy suits and blouses Katharine wore.I strode over to the on
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KATHARINE I couldn’t sleep. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t fall asleep. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, yet I couldn’t relax. The strangeevents of the past few days played on a constant loop in my mind. Richard’s unexpected offer, my even more unexpected response, and his reaction to where I’d been living. He’d been beyond disgusted and furious, with his usual demanding demeanor in full force. Before I could blink, my few possessions were in the trunk of his large, luxury car and I was back in his condo—on a permanent basis, or until he was done with his inane plan. The inane plan I was now entrenched in as deeply as my boss.The condo was silent. There was literally no noise. I was used to the sounds that surrounded me at night: traffic, other tenants moving around, yelling, and the constant sound of sirens and violence outside my window. They were the noises that kept me awake, sometimes fearful, yet now they were absent, I couldn’t sleep. I knew I was safe.
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KATHARINE THE MORNING WAS TENSE FOR me—even Richard felt it. He had little in the way of personal items in the office, but I helped him pack up some awards, books, and a couple shirts he kept on hand for emergencies. I shook my head as I folded one, trailing my finger over the sleeve. All his shirts were custom made, and his initials RVR embroidered into the cuffs; a decadent touch only he could carry off. His items only filled two file boxes. His office was as impersonal as his condo. Glancing around, I realized it didn’t look any different. No one would notice, unless someone was looking.A small piece of sculpture caught my eye and I stretched up, grabbing it off the shelf. “Did you want to take this, Richard?”He focused his gaze on the sculpture, but before he could reply, his office door flung open and David strode in. He stopped dead, looking at us. Richard was leaning against his desk, his resignation letter in hand, me standing, holding the sculpture beside an open box. David
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KATHARINE THE AFTERNOON WAS A WHIRLWIND. Richard had indeed told Amanda precisely what he wanted, and the list was endless, it seemed. Dresses, pants, skirts, blouses, suits—a vast array of materials and colors drifted by me. There were also new bathing suits, lingerie, and nightgowns. Item after item was tried on, discussed, and either discarded or placed on the ever- growing pile of clothes to keep.Thankfully, after watching me for a short time, the footwear she picked out was all low-heeled. Still stylish, she assured me, but I had a better chance of staying upright.The last straw was the exercise clothing she showed me. By that point, I was beyond exasperated. I couldn’t fathom a time I would need to have expensive workout clothes. He had a private gym in his apartment for God’s sake. When she indicated it was on Richard’s list, I threw up my hands and told her to add whatever she felt was suitable. I was done.I walked out of the store, carrying the outfit for the next day, wea
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KATHARINE I HAD TROUBLE SLEEPING AGAIN, so I tiptoed down the hall, pushing open Richard’s door. Tonight, he was on his stomach, one arm wrapped around his pillow, the other one hanging off the edge of his massive bed. He was still snoring—his low, raspy hum I needed to hear.I studied his face in the dim light. I traced my lips with my finger, stillshocked at the fact he had kissed me, held me in his arms, and we danced. I knew it was all part of his grand scheme, but there were moments, glimpses, of a different man than I was used to seeing. The flash of a smile, a twinkle in his eye, even a kind word—they had all caught me off-guard tonight. I wished he allowed that part of himself out more, but he kept his emotions—the positive ones—locked away. I had already figured that out. I knew if I said anything, he would lock himself down even more. So, I remained silent—at least for now. I had to admit though, kissing him hadn’t been bad at all. Considering the venom his mouth could prod
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RICHARD MONDAY MORNING, KATHARINE LOOKED AT me as if I had two heads. “We’re doing what?”I sighed, folding my paper and setting it on the counter. “I didn’t want toappear too eager, so I told Graham you and I had an errand to run this morning. He assumed it was to go get a marriage license, and I never corrected him.”She picked up our plates and carried them to the sink. I had to admit she was a damned good cook. I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten breakfast at home that didn’t come out of a box. Yesterday she had taken her car to do “errands,” and when she returned, it took two trips with me helping to bring up all the groceries she bought. I had thought she was crazy, but I was having second thoughts. Dinner last night had been some kind of delicious chicken and her scrambled eggs today were stellar. So was her coffee. I fully approved of the purchase of the new coffee maker.She slumped against the sink, scrubbing her face. “You can let him think it, but we don’t have
Bride Of The eccentric CEO 15
RICHARD SHE WAS SPEECHLESS. HER LIPS moved, yet no words came out. Then she did the strangest thing.She laughed. Huge, loud peals of laughter. She clapped her hand over hermouth, but it didn’t do anything to stem the flow of chortles. Tears ran down her cheeks, and still she laughed.It was a sound I’d never heard from her, and while I had to admit, her laughter was highly infectious—I wasn’t amused at why she was laughing.I leaned back, crossing my arms. “I don’t find this a laughing matter, Miss Elliott.”I thought hearing me refer to her formally would snap her out of her hysteria because that was what it had to be. The only effect it seemed to have on her, though, was she laughed harder.I slammed my hand on the granite. “Katharine!”She slumped against the counter, wiping her eyes. She glanced over at me, and it started all over. More gales of laughter.I shoved off the chair and strode toward her, not certain what I would do when I got there. Shake her? Slap her? I grabbed he
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