Page 30 of Broken By A King

Fifteen

STONE

I'm an early riser.

Five years of waking up when correctional officers tell you to will do that. I spend the first thirty minutes or so of my day working out: push-ups, planks, crunches a few simple stretches. It clears my head for whatever bullshit I'm going to have to put up with for the rest of the day and gets me focused.

I'm finishing up a set when Nate knocks on my door, fully dressed, and ready to escort me to my first day of work.

"Ariana is still sleeping, so we need to get moving before she wakes up to walk Bottle."

"Because you don't want her finding out that you're out of bed?"

"She's making a big deal out of a little cold."

"You look like crap, Nate."

I need him to stay home, and I certainly don't need him thinking that he has to take me to work every day. I'm never going to be able to get access to his files if he's there watching me like a hawk.

"I feel like crap, but that's not the point. When you own a business, you have to run it. I have to go in for at least a half an hour today and make sure everything is all right in there. If I don't, I won't be able to relax."

This man seems to carry a lot of anxiety. That's where I can probably be of assistance. If I can figure out what he's most worried about, what would relieve some of his angst, I could lock this whole job up in under six months. It's simple. Identify the problem, insert myself as the solution, then take advantage of the situation.

"Let me grab a shower, and I'll be ready in fifteen."

I climb the stairs quietly with my new bag of toiletries and briefly glance at Ariana's closed door. I can't help but smile to myself. I had a dream last night. A funny one. Ariana poured a bowl of chicken and wild rice soup over my head. Then I made her lick it all off.

I like Ariana, and I like that she doesn't like me.

That means she's tough.

She's also sexy.

And definitely smart.

Maybe a little too smart.

I'm going to have to be really careful that she doesn't catch on to my real agenda here, because it's for damn sure that she's paying attention.

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