Page 66 of Protecting Bianca

This goal of owning my own place was more than just a personal achievement. Saving my income and making sacrifices was a struggle and to let it go felt like I’d be giving up on myself.

Geez. Saying this in my head, it sounded selfish, and it was partly why I couldn’t say it to Jager. But he had taken it well.Better than I had expected him to take the rejection. But how long would he wait for me? What if it took several more months to save enough to move out?

We’d lost so much time. Was I risking losing more?

My head swam with all these thoughts as I scanned my thumbprint and then rode the elevator to the tenth floor.

Lizzie was the first to greet me as soon as the doors opened. She crossed her arms and cocked her hip. “Tell me everything.”

I smiled. “What do you want to know?”

“What does his apartment look like? Was the sex good? And is his chest as sculpted as I think it is?”

I shook my head.

“I’m serious, Bianca. I’m in a foul mood right now because of your brother, and I need something to pick me up.”

“Did you and River have a fight?”

She waved me off. “You go first.”

I sighed when I sat down at my desk. “His apartment is spectacular. The sex was incredible. And yes, I think my exact words to myself were that his chest would make DaVinci weep.”

She clapped her hands. “I knew it!”

I chuckled. “Why do you look so pleased?”

“Because I was right. I told your brother he was good for you.”

“You and River fought because of me?”

She shrugged. “He was in a pissed off mood all weekend after you left with Jager and worse when he found out you spent the night. I told him that Jager would be good for you. He told me I didn’t know who Jager was, and I should mind my own business.”

“He did?” I asked.

She folded her arms and raised one eyebrow. “Yes. So, we’re not on the best terms right now, especially after I told him he could go fuck himself.”

I laughed. “Good for you. Who does he think he is?”

“Exactly.” She pursed her lips. “I’ve never seen him like this. It’s like he’s another person.”

“Well, whoever he thinks he is, he’s not my keeper. And I’ll be telling him that later tonight.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll stay away until you two work yourselves out. Otherwise, I might never speak to him again.”

“He’d deserve it.”

Janis walked into my office before I could tell Lizzie I agreed with her. “Bianca, Mr. Towers wants to see you.”

“All right. Do you know what it’s about?”

“He wants the final details of the launch. He’s getting impatient.”

I sighed. “Well, it’s not like it’s been easy. The format’s changed three times already.” I picked up my laptop and followed Janis down the hallway toward Towers’ office.

Mr. Towers paced the carpeted floor as he shouted at someone over the speakerphone. “We haven’t been able to do anything yet because our hands are tied with this investigation. Oh, here’s Bianca now. I’ll call you back.”

“Mr. Towers.”

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