AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Is Luke also the reason for the hunky man who now sits down in the lobby all day? I feel bad for how lonely he must be down there that I've even considered moving myself down just to keep him company."
Monica almost spit her coffee across the desk.
"Amelia," she gasped.
Her secretary had been with her since she moved to her new position. Most people assumed Amelia was shy and withdrawn but they didn't know her like Monica did. It was only when they were alone that she opened up and showed her true personality. She wouldn't go as far as saying they were best buddies, but she considered Amelia a friend at work.
"Oh, please. You know he's good looking."
"Yes, Ryker is good looking, but he's also a shameless flirt. That man has heartbreak written all over him."
Amelia didn't back down. "Who says I'm looking to get my heart involved? Sometimes a woman just needs a good roll in the sheets. Ryker seems like the type who can provide that."
Her friend wasn't wrong. Monica would bet Ryker was great in the sack but that's all he would ever be. At least that was the impression she got from him.
"I thought you were into the whole soulmates thing? You wanted the whole package, white picket fence, two point five kids, and the fairy-tale life."
She didn't think any of that was stupid, but that's all Amelia talked about. Her friend didn't date just to date. She dated with the intention of it ending with a walk down the aisle.
"That was a teenager's dream. I've realized to tamp down my expectations and let myself live a little. Soulmates is a fool's errand."
There was something Amelia wasn't telling her. Something happened to change her friend's mind, but she didn't know how to approach the subject without crossing the barrier that the two of them had drawn early on. Personal lives were just that––personal. Amelia didn't ask about her love life and Monica respectfully did the same.
Monica was saved from figuring out how to ask when Amelia's watch beeped.
"Oh, crap. That's your five-minute reminder."
Monica looked down at the time on her computer screen. She had five minutes until the board meeting.
"Shit," she hissed and pushed back her chair to stand up. "Can you grab my files while I clean myself up? I don't think I spilled any syrup on my dress."
She looked down at her outfit but couldn't see anything. Stepping into the connected bathroom, she took two minutes to go over her appearance. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun at the base of her neck. Not a single hair was out of place. Her makeup was subtle. She usually preferred to go a little heavier when she had to meet with the board but there wasn't enough time. Running a hand down her dress, she smoothed out any invisible wrinkles.
Shit, her jacket. The dress had small cap sleeves, so she would normally choose to pair a dress like this with a light jacket to give it a more professional look.
"Amelia, have you seen . . . "
Her secretary was holding the jacket between two fingers and a stack of folders in her other hand.
"Have I mentioned how much of a lifesaver you are?"
"I'll consider the impromptu breakfast as your way of expressing your gratitude."
Since the breakfast was more Luke than her, she would make sure to order lunch for Amelia again soon. At least she wouldn't be the only one becoming the size of a house with all the food the two of them planned to eat.
"Let's get this over with."
The board meeting was just as boring as she knew it would be. Once a month she was forced to smile through what was essentially the “good ole boys” club. The only thing that made it tolerable was the fact that Amelia was with her through it. Carmichael's dragon assistant was also in the meeting, but considering Monica was positive the woman didn't like her, she didn't count.
"Ms. Cole. A word, please?" Mr. Stull's sweet smile crossed her path.
Walter Stull was one of the few men who treated her kindly when she bought in as a partner. He cared more about her skills than her gender.
"Absolutely, Mr. Stull. Join me in my office?"
"Lead the way." He continued to smile at her as he waved her in front of him. With most men, she would wonder if they just wanted to look at her ass, but not Walter. He was a happily married man who idolized the woman he was married to.
"What can I do for you?" Since the meeting seemed more casual than business, Monica opted to sit on the couch.
