Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (bts books to read TXT) 📕

I’ve got some gum in my purse, so hopefully I don’t nuke blast anyone with my breath. At the red light, she lets out a big sigh.

“What?”

“I just wish I woulda got to knee Caleb in the balls. At least once, especially after that last little comment of his.”

I laugh. “Who knows? You might get your chance someday.”

Cassie chuckles. “Come on, we’re here.”

We pull up to the building and make a stop at our desks on the fifth floor, doing a last-minute breath and mirror check to be ready. I’ve got on my best pencil skirt, the black one that cuts off right at the knees, and after eating better and exercising on the island, it fits better than ever. I’ve got my best tight white blouse on, and my hair is swept up just right to balance power with looks.

Cassie stops by my desk, also looking her best, her makeup flawless. “Let’s go in here and let the ‘suits’ know what bad bitches we are.”

“Excuse me?” I ask, and I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “I’m the bad bitch. Remember, I hit something with my arrows.”

“It is not how many arrows you send home. The true bad bitch receives without lifting a finger,” Cassie says with a fake Wesley accent. “You’re just the wannabe.”

I laugh. I can’t help it. “Whatever, oh master of the rabbit style.”

We take the elevator up to the twenty-third floor, and as we cross the expensive marble floor of the executive reception area, I feel like we’ve earned the right to walk across such hallowed ground. I know my heels for damn sure appreciate it. “Hey, Ruby,” I greet the receptionist, who used to work down on five with us. I hand over the bag of muffins in my hand. “Here, picked these up for you.”

“Thanks,” she says. “You’ve got about ten minutes, by the way. Heard you two rocked. Congrats.”

We thank Ruby and head in, where Cassie sets up her laptop while I make sure I have all the hard copies ready. Right at ten, Myra comes in, dressed sharp as a tack in her best power suit, the silver piping on the black perfectly matching with her hair, her smile evident as she closes the door behind us. “Have a seat. I’m looking forward to hearing the details.”

The meeting seems to take a decade, as before Cassie and I can present, there’s seemingly endless board minutiae. Finally, it’s our turn, and Cassie and I stand in front of the board. “Ladies and gentlemen of the board, thank you for the chance to deliver the results personally. First, let me say that yes, Aurora Holdings has secured the contract to Wesley Mobber’s estate, as you can see from the copies that Miss White is distributing to you all now.”

“So, you got Mobber to sign, did you?” asks Lois Zeigler, CEO of Aurora. Just as Myra’s been sort of my mentor, Lois was Myra’s. “How did you manage that?”

I take a deep breath and smile, while Cassie chuckles. We start our presentation, explaining that upon arriving at the eccentric owner’s estate, he was less interested in Aurora’s offer and finances and more focused on ensuring that his legacy continued. I described the challenges, showing some of the best photos I took during my stay, highlighting some of the estate’s unique features that will benefit Aurora for marketing and development. As we come to a close, I finish up by giving a nod to Cassie. “Cassie was an invaluable asset and more helpful than I could’ve imagined. I’d like to say that there’s no way I could have succeeded without her help.”

Cassie’s beaming as I wrap it up, but as I look out at everyone, I see stony, unimpressed faces. The comments start almost immediately.

“Games?”

“Mud pit?”

“Hiking?”

Lois clears her throat, giving us a totally nonplussed look. “It sounds more like a spa vacation than any actual work, Miss Fowler and Miss White. But I guess your methods bore results. So congrats, I suppose. Now, moving on . . ."

I exchange disbelieving glances with Cassie. Did you just hear that? I want to tell her, and I can see the same reaction on Cassie’s face. Didn’t they do their homework on Wesley and know it wasn’t going to just be a matter of discussing numbers? Did Myra not fill them in at all along the way?

This is most definitely not the response we were expecting. We were expecting fanfare and to be heroes for scoring an impossible deal, some recognition for working our asses off for this! I didn’t even mention Tony and me and how I had to watch the first man I’ve ever truly loved walk out of my life.

“I can’t believe that!” Cassie fumes after we leave. In the elevator back down to five, she explodes. “They didn’t care about us. We’re nothing to them. I wish I could knee her cunt through her nose.”

“Myra didn’t even speak up for us,” I add, keeping my jaw clenched to prevent me saying more. If I got fired after all of this, I might die.

“Yeah, that was total bullshit too,” Cassie says, sighing. “I expected more.”

She’s telling me. I mean, I didn’t expect to be given the keys to the executive washroom, but I did expect at least some sort of recognition. A thank you for your service. Hell, maybe even a promotion. But instead . . . it all just feels empty.Anthony

I let out a sigh, placing my head against the window as the plane begins its descent. Walking away from Hannah and getting into the rental SUV to drive back to Honolulu was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I want her to be happy. I hope this brings her the happiness she deserves.

Deep down in my heart, I know I did the right thing. But fuck, I miss her.

Beside me, Caleb is a little quiet. I haven’t told him what I’m going through, although I’m sure he can guess. But I don’t