AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I mean, their little family seems happy, and I’m happy for them . . . but it’s just not the life for me, even though Claire was a nice enough girl.
I just can’t see myself settling down with a wife and a kid like Luke is doing, even if my life has gotten a whole lot more stressful lately.
In effect, I’m the boss of InFini these days, and I have a whole lot of sway over the whole Alder business empire.
Luke, generous as ever, has made sure that I’m well taken care of, salary-wise, but it’s still quite an adjustment. From a glorified assistant to . . . whatever I am these days, is quite a jump. I know I can do it, but sometimes those nagging, doubting voices still like to make themselves heard in my head.
“This is the best we have, sir.” The assistant’s voice jars me back to the retail store, where a handful of lunchtime shoppers are browsing, clothes hangers clanking in the background. He’s holding up a blue shirt with great flourish, using both hands, no doubt trying to make it look as fancy as he can. “I think it’d look great on you. Would you like to try it on?”
I don’t have the time. “Nah, that’s okay. Here, give it to me, would you?”
I take the shirt, strip off my soiled one, and put on the new one, right there in plain view of the entire store. The kid’s eyebrows rise for a second before he gets them under control.
It’s probably not the most civilized thing to do, just getting half-naked in public, but I don’t really care. I’ve got bigger fish to fry today.
I take a look at myself in the mirror. This shirt is a pale imitation of the triple-woven luxury fabric of my ruined one, but it fits, and it’ll do.
“Thanks, I’ll take it,” I say to the slack-jawed sales assistant. I hand him a few bills. “Keep the change.”
Striding back out onto the street, I glance at my watch again. Half an hour late now.
Here’s hoping Nina’s the patient type. I hurry along the street—Infini HQ is only a couple blocks away from here, and the walk shouldn’t take too long, now that the lunchtime crowds are thinning out.
Five minutes later, I’m staring up at the huge, imposing skyscraper. Alder Industries is the biggest building in the state, but InFini isn’t far behind.
If someone had told me a few years back, when I was hanging around with Dean, that I’d effectively be the boss of a company like this, I’d have laughed in his face. But life’s funny like that sometimes.
I walk into the lobby and sweep the huge, expansive space with my gaze. When I spot Nina, my eyes stop.
Damn, what on earth happened to that awkward kid?
What a difference a few years can make. In my mind’s eye, Nina was still going to be that kid with braces and zits who couldn’t ever look me in the eye. But now? Well . . . it’s a good job this shirt fits well, or I’d have to loosen my collar a little.
She’s filled out . . . like, really filled out. Her lips are full and red, and her blond hair frames her face in a pleasing mess of curls, cascading down her back. Where there used to be skinny limbs, there are now beautiful, soft curves. And the swell of her breasts beneath her blouse . . . I’m struggling to focus on anything else in my immediate vicinity.
It takes me a few minutes to register that this is actually my friend’s kid sister because she’s changed such a lot. But yep, that’s her.
Well, this could get interesting.
I’m about to approach her, but then I stop and take a moment to let my blood cool down a little.
I need to keep a couple things in mind. Firstly, this is Dean’s little sister, and I’m sure he’s not going to want one of his oldest friends macking on his baby sister. Secondly, after what happened at the end of my last relationship, I’ve pretty much sworn off any kind of commitment. Sure, I use Tinder for hook-ups as much as the next guy, but something serious? Not interested.
So it would be better for everyone involved if I cast aside any thoughts whatsoever of Nina and me in anything except a professional relationship. No flirting, no innuendo, no nothing.
I take a deep breath, pull myself up to my full height, and make my way over to her.
She still hasn’t noticed me yet, but she looks uncomfortable and on edge, her shoulders tense, and her big, doe eyes darting all over the place. To be expected, I guess—who actually looks forward to a job interview, after all?
But I soon realize that it’s not the interview she’s nervous about. That much becomes clear when I’m around twenty feet away from her, right about to call her name and introduce myself. Before I can, a guy in dark sunglasses comes rushing over from the main entrance.
