by Ella Miles
Not Sorry
Ella Miles
Copyright © 2017 by Ella Miles
EllaMiles.com
[email protected]
Editor: Jovana Shirley, Unforeseen Editing, www.unforeseenediting.com
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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Contents
Part I
1. Sean
2. Olive
3. Sean
4. Olive
5. Sean
6. Olive
Part II
7. Sean
8. Olive
9. Sean
10. Olive
11. Sean
12. Olive
13. Sean
14. Olive
15. Sean
Part III
16. Olive
17. Sean
18. Olive
19. Sean
20. Olive
21. Sean
22. Olive
23. Sean
24. Olive
Epilogue
Aligned: Volume 1
About Ella Miles
Acknowledgments
Part I
1
Sean
I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here. I promised I would never come back to Chicago. It’s too damn cold here. Still, I find myself stepping off a plane at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Why?
Because I’m an idiot.
And, when Jamie Parks calls me, saying she needs help, I come running. I would do anything for that girl, and she knows it, including marrying her, if she would only say yes. But I know that’s not in the cards for us. It’s been over a year since the last time I saw her. I’m just hoping she’ll let me take her on a date after I help her save her real estate company.
I wheel my carry-on bag through the airport and out to Arrivals where Jamie said she would pick me up, but I don’t see Jamie waiting for me anywhere. I sigh. Jamie always used to run late.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and get started on answering emails and returning daily phone calls to check in with my company. I pace back and forth as I talk, trying to stay warm, which is impossible due to the snow and cold wind that are whipping around the side of the airport and hitting me straight in the face over and over again.
Fuck this.
I head back into the airport to wait for Jamie. I text her that I’m just inside Arrivals and then continue doing work until she gets here.
I hang up on my latest call and glance at the time. She’s over forty minutes late. This is getting ridiculous. I should have just taken a cab to her office.
The doors slide open, letting in another burst of cold air that I’m getting more than annoyed with, but there isn’t anywhere else for me to wait. I glance at the woman standing in the doorway, hoping it’s Jamie, but I immediately realize that it isn’t.
Still, I continue to stare at the woman in the doorway, transfixed with how much of a giant mess she is. She’s wearing dark snow boots that look white from the snow that is covering them. Her legs are shivering because, for some crazy reason, she decided not to wear pants or tights or those yoga pant things women usually wear. And she is wearing the smallest yet puffiest pink coat I’ve ever seen. In her hand, she is carrying a cup of coffee from what I assume is a local coffee shop because I don’t recognize the brand on the side of the cup.
She nervously glances around the room and then smiles when she sees me. She walks over to me, and I think she is going to ask for directions or how an airport works because she looks completely out of place here. Hopefully, she is traveling someplace warm, which would explain her bare legs. I will admit, those legs do look hot—long and lean, just like I like. I guess it would be a waste of good legs if she covered them.
“Are you Sean?” the woman asks.
My eyes widen a bit in shock, partially from the fact that she knows my name and partially when I see that she is wearing makeup on only about half of her face. I laugh a little at the sight. I can’t help it. But then the door opens, and another breeze of cold air pushes through us. Her long, frizzy dark hair blows in her face, and my nose breathes in her sweet smell. Apples and cherries maybe?
This woman is clearly having an off day. I hope it’s an off day because I can’t imagine anyone going through life every day like this. But, underneath all of the mess, something has me intrigued.
“Yes, although no one calls me that.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Jamie didn’t tell me that you went by a nickname.”
I shake my head, chuckling a little bit. “I don’t go by a nickname.”
“Oh.” She frowns, unsure of what I mean.
“I go by Mr. Burrows.”
She bites her lip. “I’m sorry, Mr. Burrows. I’m just so happy I found you. You have no idea about the morning I’ve had.”
I snicker as I look her up and down and cock my head to one side. “I have a pretty good idea.”
She blushes. “Anyway, I’m Olive. I’ll be driving you to the Parks Real Estate office.”
I frown. Jamie couldn’t even bother to come pick me up.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Burrows,” Olive says as she leans forward.
I have no idea what she is doing. I assume she has to tell me something privately, so I lean forward a little, too, and the next thing I know, her lips graze my cheek before brushing against my lips.
I smile when her soft lips touch mine. I assume she is passing along a greeting from Jamie, and her lips are very nice. I will never turn down a kiss.
But, the next moment, I feel hot coffee all over my body, and I look up to see a blushing Olive with a cup of coffee in her hand that I’m sure is empty now.
“Oh my God. I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t mean to spill coffee on you. I bought it because I figured, with your early morning flight, you would need some coffee to get through today. And I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kiss you. Um…I’m sorry. I’m not used to the two-cheek-kiss thing you do in Europe. I’m sorry.”
I look down at my light-blue shirt and black slacks that are now covered in coffee. It’s just not as visible on my pants as it is my shirt. I packed lightly. Everything I brought with me is inside a small carry-on. I doubt that I’m going to be here very long. Jamie just said she needed some help. I’m sure I can have her company headed in the right direction in no time.
“It’s fine. I’ll just need you to point me in the direction of a dry cleaner later.”
“When you get to the office, you can change, and I’ll have this dry-cleaned for you by the end of the day.”
I nod. “Lead the way.”
I follow Olive outside and am thankful that she parked against the curb even though I’m sure it is breaking the rules. You aren’t supposed to park your car against the curb.
A security officer is standing outside of Olive’s Mercedes.
“Is this your car, miss? It’s a no parking zone,” the security officer says.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll move it right now,” Olive says, climbing into the driver’s seat.
The officer gives her a stern look but then nods. I toss my carry-on into the backseat and then climb in the front seat, next to Olive. She immediately pulls out and begins driving.
I glance around the interior of her car. It’s nice, really nice. “Your car is nice. Jamie must pay you well for you to afford something this nice.”
Olive blushes. “It’s not my car. It’s Jamie’s. She gave it to me to come pick you up since I don’t own a car.”
; I look around now, more amazed with Jamie. She’s doing well for herself if she can afford this.
“So, what do you do for Jamie?”
“I’m her assistant,” Olive answers.
I nod. It makes sense, although I’m not sure Olive is doing the best job she could as an assistant. Maybe that’s what Jamie needs me to do. Prune the employees who aren’t doing so well to help her continue to grow.
Olive surprises me with how she manages Chicago traffic for someone who doesn’t own a car. She drives efficiently and safely but quickly gets us to the office.
“Thanks for picking me up, Olive,” I say as I climb out of the car.
“Of course, Sean—I’m sorry. I mean—”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind if you call me Sean.”
She smiles and then leads me into the office building. Then, we ride up in the elevator to the floor that Parks Real Estate occupies.
We climb out, and to my surprise, it seems like the whole team has gathered to welcome me to the building. There are about fifty people gathered with all their eyes focused on me and Olive. I glance over at Olive, who also seems surprised at the gathering.
Olive begins speaking before I have a chance to, “This is Sean—uh, Mr. Sturrows.”
She bites her lip when she realizes she said the wrong last name and begins to open her mouth to, I assume, correct herself, but I cut her off.
“I’m Sean Burrows. I’m excited to work with all of you for as long as you and Jamie will have me. I’ve heard wonderful things about all of you. As for my stained shirt, I’ve heard that’s what happens when you work in real estate and when you have an assistant like Olive pick you up,” I joke.
The room chuckles and laughs, obviously used to Olive doing things like spilling coffee on a regular basis, but when I glance over at Olive, I immediately regret my joke. I expected her to look embarrassed or maybe a little upset with my joke. But she doesn’t look embarrassed. She looks downright angry.
“I’m so happy you could make it,” Jamie says, softly kissing me on the cheek.
“I’m happy to be here. I would do anything for you.”
She smiles, and I have a chance to study Jamie. She looks different. Her cheeks look the slightest bit fuller. In fact, her whole body looks slightly fuller. Not in a bad way, but in a perfect way. Her skin seems to be glowing, and her long blonde hair is shinier than I’ve ever seen it.
I realize immediately why she brought me here, and it’s not because she wanted another date or a one-night hook-up or anything to do with me other than she trusts me.
“You’re pregnant,” I whisper in her ear.
Jamie blushes, and I know it’s true.
“Have Olive take your clothes to the dry cleaners and get changed. We have a lot to discuss.”
Jamie heads to her office, and I can’t help but stare at her gorgeous ass as she walks.
“Come on, Romeo. I’ll show you to the restroom, so you can get changed, and I can get your clothes to the dry cleaners. Although no one believes it, I do have more important things to do with my day,” Olive says, walking toward the restroom.
I follow her. “Is it that obvious that I like Jamie?”
She shakes her head. “You are unbelievable. How about an I’m sorry?”
“Why would I say sorry?”
“Because you said something hurtful at my expense.”
“It was a joke. It wasn’t hurtful. It was truthful.”
“You should apologize instead of worrying if it’s obvious that you like Jamie. It’s obvious that everyone likes Jamie, so it’s not that unusual. No one but me notices because everyone else is already too busy pining over Jamie.”
“So, who’s the baby daddy?” I ask.
Olive stops and looks at me seriously. “She told you she was pregnant?”
“No, I just guessed. You confirmed.”
“I didn’t confirm anything.”
I smile. “Yes, you did.”
“Whatever. Just get changed, so I can take your clothes.” She pauses at the restroom for me to go inside. “Although you probably want to take them yourself since I will just ruin them.”
I begin unbuttoning my shirt and watch as her eyes drift to my chest and then abs. I remove the shirt and hand it to her. “Just take the shirt. It’s a favorite of mine. I’ll just buy new pants if I need them.”
Olive sucks in a breath and then walks away. I watch her ass sway in her dress. I watch her toned, tan legs move, and then I see that she is still wearing her snow-covered boots. She’s adorable and a tiny bit sexy. And a giant mess.
I could have her in my bed as many times as I want while I’m here. Or I could fire her because, if she is this incompetent in how she dresses, she can’t be much more competent as an assistant. It’s a tough decision—think with my dick or my business sense.
Jamie walks over to me as I pull a shirt out of my suitcase and begin to put it on.
“That wasn’t very nice—what you said about Olive,” she says.
I roll my eyes. “I was being truthful, and you know it. I don’t want to talk about Olive right now. If I do, it will be to suggest firing her. There are a million assistants out there who are better than Olive.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Wow. For once, you don’t want to fuck my assistant. I thought Olive was just your type.”
I laugh. “A complete mess isn’t my type.”
“Olive is anything but a mess. In fact, she might be the most put-together person in this office.”
“So, that’s why you pay her so well then?”
“I have my reasons for not paying her as well as I should.”
“Yeah. Greed?”
She shakes her head. “Well, I’m glad that you don’t want to sleep with Olive.”
“Why?”
“Because, as you have already guessed, I brought you here to run the company for me for a few months—a year at most.”
“A year? What the hell, Jamie? I can’t stay here for a year! I have my own fucking company to worry about.”
“Which is doing just fine. And, if I recall, last time we were together, you said the company could run itself.”
I frown.
“Anyway, the doctor said I needed to be on bed rest, starting, like, now. I shouldn’t even have come into work today. I just wanted you to get settled and to let you know that Olive is the woman you should go to for advice. She’s the smartest person at the company. She’s more than just an assistant. She is the only person I trust.”
“So then, why isn’t she running the company?”
She sighs. “You’ll understand soon enough. You aren’t going to fire Olive. Olive is my assistant, and I expect her to still be here when I get back. Plus, she’ll be reporting to me about everything that is going on. So, you’d better not fuck up.”
“And what if I do fuck up? It’s not like it matters anymore. I came here to try to get you back, but you have clearly moved on. What motivation do I have to do the right thing?”
She smiles and moves her lips close to my ear. “Because I know you, Sean Burrows. I know you still love me and will do anything I ask. And I know you’ve always wanted to own your own real estate company. That’s your next venture. I’ll make you a fifty-fifty partner after this year.”
“It would be easier to just start my own company than do this for a year.”
Jamie shrugs and spots Olive out of the corner of her eye. “Maybe. But maybe you wouldn’t find something better, something you’d never experienced before.”
“And what’s that?”
She glances at Olive, and I do, too.
“Real love.”
I laugh.
Jamie is crazy. She didn’t bring me here to run the company for her, although she definitely needs the help. She didn’t bring me here to entice me with an offer to own half of the company. She brought me here to play matchmaker.
She thinks Olive is the woman for me. She couldn’t be further from the trut
h. Olive is a nice girl with what I’m sure is a nice body underneath the bulky clothing. But she is also a complete mess. She apologizes every five seconds and has zero confidence in herself. She’s still an assistant. I want a strong woman, like Jamie, who can equal me in bed and in the business world. Not Olive.
“I think you’re crazy, Jamie, but you do have one thing right. I love you and will do anything for you.”
“So, you’ll run the company for the next year in exchange for owning half of it?”
“Yes, but me asking Olive out on a date is not part of the deal. She’s an unconfident mess.”
Jamie laughs. “Olive is the strongest, most confident woman I know. Who else would have the confidence to wear half of a face of makeup, boots, and no pants in winter? I know I wouldn’t.”
I laugh. “I guess that’s one way to look at it.”
2
Olive
I hate him.
Sean.
He’s an asshole.
I don’t know what he’s doing here, but he’s been in Jamie’s office for almost an hour now while I’ve been sitting outside, at my cubicle, waiting. All I was told was to pick him up from the airport. Jamie didn’t tell me anything else. And, even though we are best friends and she tells me everything—including that she found out she was pregnant from her boyfriend of a total of two months—she is often forgetful. I don’t think she would remember anything if it wasn’t for me.
But, still, I can’t stop thinking about how handsome he is. I can’t stop thinking about his dark brown eyes, the five o’clock shadow that covers his strong jaw, or how his muscles bulge beneath his clothing.