Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
He nodded his appreciation and proceeded to tell me a story about his previous job and their horrible meetings. I tried to pay attention, but heat buzzed along my skin, and I knew it came from the way Lucian watched me.
I hummed and smiled, attempting to appear like I heard what Jeremy said, but in reality, all my attention was focused on how I angled myself, hoping to tease Lucian with a view of my cleavage. On how I slid my tongue along my lips before relaxing them into the perfect pout. On trying to guess which part of me he was looking at based on the heat burning along my skin.
My father entered, claiming the seat at the head of the table. Just before the meeting started, I stole a glance across the room, worried if I’d find Lucian’s attention on Emily, and I made his stare on me up.
I hadn’t.
His gaze held mine. One brow raised enough to know he was calling me out for my every move.
“Let’s get started, shall we?” my father began.
I broke the connection, happier than ever before for the start of a business meeting. Dad introduced Lucian to the table of directors and managers, and I refrained from looking his way for the rest of the meeting.
Not even when I wanted to see his reaction to Mark from finance announcing that I accrued the highest earning contracts for the quarter. God, I bet he scowled and rolled his eyes. He probably assumed I slept my way to those numbers or batted my lashes as I tossed around the daddy card to be so successful. Just imagining his irritation was enough to keep my eyes glued to the packet in front of me.
“Miss Quinn,” Shiloh called from across the table when it was my turn to present updates to the group. “Why don’t you tell us about your latest acquisitions?”
“Of course.” I beamed, still keeping my eyes averted from the looming shadow calling my name. Other than running like a madwoman to exhaust myself every night and avoid thinking too much, I also threw myself into work. I usually saw one-to-three concerts a week, but I needed more to distract myself. “I attended five concerts last week. Unfortunately, three of them were a bust. However, the one band Ash suggested was quite good.”
“Ash Killian from Haunted Obsession?” Lucian’s deep voice cut in.
As much as I wanted to continue my no eye contact streak, I couldn’t look petty and ignore a direct question. “Yes,” I answered, giving him a bored stared.
“Do you often take suggestions from band members, or do you have a more friendly relationship with Mr. Killian?” he asked.
My father snorted. “Ash and Aspen have known each other since we first signed the boys. She’s close with all of them. But it is also common to receive information via word-of-mouth from our current artists.”
“Interesting,” Lucian said. The small tic in his jaw hinted to his irritation.
I didn’t understand his ire and brushed it away. He probably thought I earned special privileges through my friendship with Ash, like he assumed I did with my father. Just another negative tally in my column.
“Anyway,” I said, looking back at my notes. “I have a meeting with the band’s manager scheduled for next week to possibly sign them to Quinn Music Group. While the other bands didn’t interest me, I did stumble upon an opening act solo artist that I also scheduled a meeting with.”
“And the fifth concert?” Lucian asked, speaking up more than he had with any other employee’s summary at the table.
Again, with the most blank stare I could muster, I met his gaze, raising my brow in question.
“You said you attended five concerts?” he clarified.
“Oh, the last one was for personal purposes.”
“On the company dime?”
I held his stare, imagining the members of the meeting looking side to side, watching us volley pointed questions and statements back and forth. “On my dime.”
“Hmm,” he hummed.
“Although,” I announced when he started to drop his gaze. “I did make notes at the event, which could be counted as a research endeavor for the company. But I’m fine keeping it on my dime.” I offered an icy smile before dismissing him and turning to Jeremy. “Which was my last point to discuss before passing the baton. I figured I could get with you about a new approach to concert marketing that I noticed the band use at the concert I attended. Off the clock.”
“Of course,” Jeremy agreed, bouncing his gaze between me and Lucian.
With my notes covered, I closed my folder and sat back with a victorious smile. Again, heat stroked along my skin, and I knew it was from Lucian’s direction.
Eat your heart out, Mr. D&D.
I kept my gaze away from his for the rest of the meeting and planned on darting out to avoid him all together until Jeremy stopped me to schedule the conversation I mentioned. By the time I made my escape and managed four steps closer to freedom, Lucian blocked my path.