Running From Forever by Ashley Wilcox Read Free Book Online Page B

Miles ushered me towards
the black Suburban waiting by the curb with his hand on my lower
back. Even though it was a nice day and I’d have preferred to walk,
the SUV seemed more private, so I didn’t offer any resistance. The
car smelled of leather and was as large as a small bus inside, with
two full rows of seats in the back. I entered first, holding down
my skirt to prevent showing the world, and Miles, my panties. He
snickered as I did it, doing all that he could not to look, causing
me smile. He was definitely different than I was used to. Not the
typical college pig.
    I seated myself comfortably in the seat near the
farthest window; Miles took the one on the other side. As I
fastened my seatbelt, Miles leaned forward to speak to the
driver.
    “Basil Leaf, Hank,” he ordered in an
authoritative tone.
    “Yes, sir,” Hank answered, pulling out into the
New York City traffic.
    “Basil Leaf?” I asked once he sat back. “I’ve
never heard of it.”
    “It’s a few blocks down. Great sandwiches and
soup.”
    I just gave a pleased grin in response. Unlike
last night, there was awkward silence for the first few minutes. I
didn’t know what to say, mostly because I didn’t know what we were.
Were we dating? I was really jumping the gun thinking this was any
sort of date, though it wasn’t really a business meeting; or was
it? Nothing had been established—hell, we’d only known each other a
few days! Slow down before you make yourself crazy,
Kayla!
    “Connie tells me you’re interested in anchoring.
Is that right?”
    I looked at him, confounded. He’d talked to
Connie about me? FUCK! “When did you talk to her?” I couldn’t
help it, the words slipped right off my tongue. I hadn’t seen
Connie at all yet today because she had back-to-back meetings and a
luncheon with a client. I wouldn’t have known if she was pissed or
not. Though, knowing Connie the little amount I do, if she was
pissed about something, I’m sure I would’ve heard. She, worse than
me, had no issue speaking her mind.
    “We’re partners,” he reminded me with his
trademark grin. “We speak frequently about our employees.”
    I wanted Miles to elaborate. I wanted to know
how in depth they spoke, but I didn’t want to seem needy,
obsessive, Ms. Twenty-One Questions.
    I covered up my previous word vomit and need to
know more with a more appropriate, professional reaction. “That’s
right. It sometimes slips my mind.” Of course that wasn’t true.
Their relationship was at the forefront of my mind, but I couldn’t
go digging for dirt just yet. I needed to calm my anxious nerves—he
would think I was a lunatic if I didn’t, though I’m not so sure I’m
not a lunatic—I am interested in the CEO of my company. I’m
pretty sure I was flirting with insanity. Christ, Kayla.
Focus! “But yes, it’s true. That’s my goal—anchoring is what I
went to school for.”
    “We’ll have to get you shadowing Charlotte in
the near future. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind showing you the
ropes.”
    Immediately my heart started thumping
ecstatically and my smile grew so big that it reached each side of
my face. Charlotte Manning was my idol—the one woman I looked up
to; the one person I aspired to be.
    “I’m presuming you wouldn’t be opposed?”
    “No. No, absolutely not!” I practically praised
him, elated.
    His laugh echoed from his stomach, causing every
last emotion to come alive in me. I wasn’t so sure I would be
granted this opportunity if I weren’t in some sort of relationship
with Miles, but I wasn’t about to modestly decline. If having a
relationship with the CEO meant I inched my way to the top a little
quicker, I wouldn’t muster a complaint. We lived in a world of who
knows whom and I would use that knowledge to my advantage.
    A few moments later, we pulled alongside a tiny
little bistro tucked away on a quiet street. I was amazed when we
stepped outside the vehicle and could only hear the horns beeping
from