Page 162 of Filthy Hot Billionaire
I smiled while I ate and listened to her run through everything that had happened during her day. Including the monotonous droning that she’d endured while interacting with the finance manager. I found it amusing, considering my entire fortune was based on financial wizards like him. I happened to have far more in common with him than I was willing to admit.
“Did you talk to Knox?” I prompted once we were finished.
“He called.” Her eyes held a hint of disappointment. “Said he had to go overseas, but he’d be back by the end of the week.” That disappointment faded quickly, her brown eyes glittering. “I told him not to worry. I like the idea of having you all to myself.”
Warmth filled my chest in a way I didn’t expect. “Do you?”
“Oh, yeah. Most definitely.” She scooted closer. “I was hoping you could stay for a little while.”
I smiled down at her, flipped the ends of her hair with my fingers. “I’m yours for as long as you want me.”
“Hmm. Don’t make promises like that, Mr. O’Rourke. I might just take you up on them.”
I leaned in, unable to resist the urge to kiss her. “Do your worst, love.”
30
Friday, November 18, 2022
Emily
My first week at Delta June’s wasnow in the history books.
Granted, I hadn’t made history or anything, but I felt as though I’d accomplished a few things. I had regular meetings set up with my staff, opting to receive updates that way rather than random one-offs that I would never be able to keep up with. The team was prepping for our first live auction scheduled for the first weekend of December, and there was a lot to be done before then.
Ultimately, I felt good about how things had gone. Sure, there’d been a couple of mishaps and a few grumblings from the staff. From what I’d gathered, based on information being fed to me by loyal employees, one of the auctioneers wasn’t keen on the idea of a “child running the business.”
I could’ve taken offense to his statement because I certainly was not a child, but instead, I’d let it roll right off. I figured proving my worth was the best method for solving issues such as that one, and the last thing I wanted was to put anyone else on the defense.
“Hey, boss.”
My head snapped up when I heard Emmett’s voice. I smiled, couldn’t seem to help myself because the man had a way about him.
“I thought I told you not to come in until Monday,” I said, leaning back in my chair and motioning for him to come into my office.
“You did. And I’m not officially on the clock. I just wanted to swing by, see if you needed anything.” He held up a shopping bag, dangled it in front of me like a treat. “And I brought you something.”
I narrowed my gaze on him. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to bring me presents.”
He smiled, his boy-next-door grin lighting up his entire face. “Consider this a gift for everyone else.”
I took the bag when he handed it over, stood so I could peer down into it.
There was a small shoebox inside, so I pulled it out, casting him a side-eye as I did. “What did you do?”
His response was a smile.
I opened the box, and there was what could’ve easily passed as a pair of ruby slippers. Only these were soft and cushiony, and my feet instantly sighed at the thought of having them on.
“I saw them and thought of you.”
“How did you know my size?” I asked as I pulled them out and took my seat. No way was I not trying them on.
“Zena's the queen of information. I called her, she told me.”
And I could only guess that Zena had gotten that information from someone who knew Kieran.
I exhaled with a groan as my toes uncurled inside the softness. Since I’d gone with power suits all week, my feet had been battered by the shoes I’d paired with them. Next week I was hoping to tone back my wardrobe a bit, leaning more toward casual comfort as I eased into my new role.
