Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 434(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Yeah. Sarah introduced me to her yesterday morning,” Dylan says.
“No one’s asking me but I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Alec says. “Steer clear of employees, whether temporary or permanent.” Of course, Alec would say that.
“All work and no play has made Jace a very dull boy,” Dylan teases.
“She’s so young though,” I say, almost to myself.
“How old is she?” Dylan asks.
“Twenty-four.”
“She’s probably mature for her age.”
“Don’t mix business with pleasure. I can’t believe you’re even considering this,” Alec says.
I can’t believe that I’m considering it either but Olivia is a breathing, walking temptation. I’m not like Dylan or even Alec who, before they got married, had no qualms about engaging in a series of affairs. I prefer relationships but now I’m beginning to question how smart or realistic that is. From where I’m standing right now, a short, hot affair is very tempting.
“When was the last time you had sex?” Dylan asks.
I don’t bother answering that question. As close as my brothers and I are, I don’t discuss the details of my sex life with them. The last time I had sex was a year ago. Time has just flown by and no woman has caught my eye since Julie. That relationship had lasted less than three months.
I hadn’t introduced her to my family, thank God. Julie was constantly complaining about the time I spent at work. No surprises there but I’d grown tired of it. Our clinic took up a large chunk of my time and I loved it that way. I’d ended the relationship swiftly knowing that the complaints would become worse.
I finish the last of my muffin and wash it down with the last of my coffee.
“Did you think about my proposal?” Dylan says and pins me down with a stare. He’s like a dog with a bone.
“What would we do with our paying clients on that day?” I ask him.
“Not make appointments on the free day,” Dylan says.
I shake my head even before he finishes. “That’s not viable. We can’t turn away paying clients. That’s how we keep the clinic running and employ the best doctors, including yourself.”
A hard look comes over Dylan’s face. “If the three of us stand together, we’ll find a way.”
I shrug noncommittally and push my chair back. “I have to go.” I turn and leave but before I’m out of earshot, I hear Dylan say, “Bastard.” That makes me grin. I understand his frustration but I’m not going to be rushed into making a decision. The welfare of the clinic comes first and it always will.
My pulse quickens with forbidden longing as I get off the elevator on my floor. My lust for Olivia is blotting out all reason. It doesn’t matter that she’s way too young for me or that she’s my employee. My lust-filled brain has an answer for every defense I put up.
She looks up and smiles. My heart splinters.
“You have a meeting in ten minutes with the head of finance. I’ve printed out the figures he wants to go over with you,” she says.
“Thank you.” I remember from her resume that she hadn’t had as much experience as the other two women but from what I’m seeing, she’s very good at her job. It’s a good thing that she can’t read my mind. She would be horrified to learn that her boss thinks of fucking her at least five times a day.
I push away all thoughts of Olivia’s creamy thighs and what is between them and focus on the documents in front of me. By the time Brian, the head of finance comes in, I’m well-versed with the issue at hand. We meet at the beginning of the month to review preliminary financial results from the prior month.
“Speaking of cost, what would be the financial implications of having a free day at the clinic as CSR?” I ask him.
Brian frowns. He hates anything that starts with free but he also knows that as an organization, we live in a community, and that comes with some form of responsibility.
“We’ll sit down with my people and have the figures ready for you,” Brian says.
“Great.”
“Our running costs are rising and we need to cut expenses and push them back down,” Brian says. He’s good at his job and always keeps his eye on the bottom line. For the next twenty minutes, we discuss ideas for minimizing costs and then we agree on a follow-up meeting next week. The meeting with Brian has taken an extra thirty minutes of my time, which means that I can’t do my morning walk around the clinic. I’m more than a little disappointed. I was looking forward to showing Olivia around the clinic. Well, another time.
The phone rings and when I answer, I hear Olivia’s husky voice telling me that my next appointment is here. And the madness of the day begins, not that I’d have it any other way.