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The incessant beeping startles me.

Releasing a groan, I turn to figure out where the hell the sound is coming from to realize it’s my alarm, and I’d slept past the first one.

Shit.

In a mad rush, I grab my clothes to run into the bathroom to take a shower because the delivery guys are supposed to arrive any minute now. Thankfully, I still have another hour before having to leave for my first day at work.

By the time the stupid water turns warm, I multitask, washing my hair and brushing my teeth. So much for trying to take things easy this morning. The moment I turn the faucet off, the knock on the door is loud enough to hear from the bathroom.

The towel is sitting on the rack, so I quickly grab it, dry myself, and wrap it around my body. My hair is still dripping wet, but I leave it and run out of the bathroom. As I zig zag in between the boxes, I trip on one of Cruz’s shoes and fall onto the hard wooden floor.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The pain ricochets through my foot from the fall. There’s a knock on the door again, forcing me to get up and hobble toward the door.

I wince in pain but quickly check the towel is covering my body. As I open the door, my eyes widen in shock.

Masen Cooper.

Six

Masen

Incompetent idiots.

There’s no other way to describe the people sitting inside the boardroom, talking shit out of their asses likeI’mthe fucking idiot. The numbers are poor, and we’re over budget. They don’t realize poor performance will mean my ass is on the line too.

Lucky for them, Dad isn’t sitting in on this meeting. With Lex Edwards merging more companies, Dad is busy with acquisitions which involves a fair bit of traveling.

As for Mom, her hands are also full. The editorial team is three times the size it was ten years ago. I barely see her anymore, given she balances her time between here and our other office in San Francisco.

So, I’m left with the reins and not liking what I see—weak employees who need a goddamn wake-up call.

The meeting runs one hour over the scheduled finish. By the time we end, everyone walks out in a somber mood after I give them the cold hard facts. My blood was boiling the entire time, and I’d lost my temper more than I care to admit.

It’s late, almost dinner time, and the office is deserted. I send Mom a text, telling her I’m coming for dinner since I want to talk to Dad about a potential production issue. Living away from home has its perks, but damn, I miss Mom’s cooking.

On the drive to my parents’ place, my phone rang nonstop with urgent matters which needed attention. I find myself growing angrier by the minute, airing my frustrations through the Bluetooth while clutching the wheel and trying to control my speed. When I pull into the circular driveway, the call ends with an impromptu trip to Dallas tomorrow afternoon.

I throw my head back against the leather seat, turning the engine off to give myself a moment’s peace. My shoulders are tense, and the ridge of my spine is straight. I close my eyes to ease the tension, then lean my head to the left and then the right. The slight crack is somewhat of a relief, giving me the stamina to exit the car and hopefully enjoy dinner.

As I enter the house, the kitchen is empty. There’s laughter coming from the dining room, the sounds unfamiliar. I take small steps with caution, then when I turn the corner. I see the back of my brother’s head.

So much for an enjoyable dinner.

Sitting beside my brother is an unfamiliar brunette. Great, a girlfriend I need to be nice to.

Mom is quick to see me, but then the brunette turns around, and emerald-green eyes meet me.

The one and only Addison Edwards.

It’s been years since I last saw her—Cruz’s graduation from memory. I still see Ava and Austin often, but not Addison.

The years of growing up with the Edwards girls were fun because Ava was wild and didn’t care for rules. We ran the same circle and frequented the same parties, but Ava is more like an annoying sister who nags you if she doesn’t get her way.

We did, however, drift apart during her time in New York, then when she got knocked up. Now that she’s back in LA, I visit often and play ball with Austin when he has free time.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com