Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,125

nicely to do your jobs. Please remember that when putting this event, and any other event, together and seeing it through until the end. I will never field calls like that again. Does it all make sense on how it was pretty unfair for you all to throw this last-minute stuff in my lap while I’m trying to do my job?”

“Absolutely, sir.”

“That being said, what you did organize was phenomenal. Everything ran flawlessly. I expected no less, and you didn’t disappoint. You’re all creative geniuses, and I appreciate every one of you. I would hate for any negativity to cloud my appreciation for your great talent. That is all, and you may return to work.”

I met Alex in the corner, a tactic we used in pointedly avoiding any kiss-asses after we had to bring it in to remind employees of their jobs and how they have to stay on top of shit. “I need to speak with Avery,” I said to him.

“Then call her to your office. Why are you telling me?”

“Just go escort her up here, please. I thought of something with that pet company in London. I’m going through the proposals. I need to start it now, though, because I have a feeling they’ll hate that I don’t like their company name.”

Alex laughed and waved his hand over as if he were making a rainbow. “Party Pets!” he exclaimed. “Taking your pet to a party in healthy ways.”

I rolled my eyes at him, the room now empty. “That’s why that damn name needs to go. The catchphrases would be ridiculous and distract from what this company could do for animal health and well-being.”

“I’ll go get your girl,” he said. “Handle your shit. It’s Kinder’s tonight, right?”

“Every Monday.” I smiled. “For now, anyway. If Avery and I finally move in the direction I want, then I’ll be passing on eating out. Unless, of course, you’d all like to change the venue to McDonald's with her and Addison.”

“I can see Jake and Collin now, fighting for the happy meals.”

“Get the hell out of here.” I smiled and was prepping myself to apologize to Avery for any inconvenience that the lunch letter might have caused her.

Chapter Thirty-One

Avery

The week went faster than I’d imagined it would, and Friday was finally here. Addy and I were packed up for our vacation on the coast. We’d be staying at Jim’s beach house tonight and coming back on Sunday night. It was the perfect getaway.

Little by little, we’d break her in like this; at least that was my plan. Jim was buried with a deal he was working on for his London office, and the only communication we’d had all week was through texts. When we tried to talk on the phone, he was always getting interrupted by calls that he couldn’t miss.

Around lunchtime every day, he would text me and tell me he wished he could join me and the others, which was a better alternative than sending a note after the last debacle. In the evenings after Addy was asleep, a text would buzz through from him telling me that he missed me and that London had just woken up—which, to me, meant that he was going to work with London office while I fell sound asleep.

It was pretty cute, and I could tell he was trying to keep what we had in Palm Springs going, but I wasn’t a complete idiot either. The man ran a fucking empire—I saw that with my own eyes at the gala. I missed him, but I worked and had a life too. Thankfully, I had Addy to fill the time when my mind would wander toward wanting desperately to see him again.

Luckily for me, I didn’t feel lonely. I had a routine and didn’t necessarily stop until Friday anyway. Weekends with Addy were spent like this weekend would be, doing fun things like going to the beach, the zoo, movies, or the park. Weekends without her consisted of going out with the girls when I could, but seeing my friends was few and far between on its own lately.

I’d not seen my sister in longer than usual, and I had a feeling that when we reconnected, she was going to shit a brick when she found out how things were going with Jim. I could guarantee that she’d throw up a million red flags in my face too. She would warn me off of dating the man for every reason under the sun. I guess I’d