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Chapter One
“I’ to kill you, Hudson Slowly With a spoon”
Sawyer Carlyle paced the five feet between his desk and the seating area in his office at the top floor of Carlyle Tower Usually his office was his sanctuary with its cool, crisp,s that overlooked Harbor City, but today it was his hiding place
When his executive secretary Amara Grant had buzzed him about the first mystery job candidate, he’d been confused By the time the tenth had arrived, he knew his brother had set him up
“You can’t killshit movies or I’ll tell the world you enjoy chick flicks,” Hudson said, his laughter coh loud and clear on the speaker phone “Anyway, you need me I’m the only person who can distract Mom from her mission”
Oh yes Operation Marry Sawyer Off Helene Carlyle had co period for their father with one thing—and only one thing—on herthe perfect wife for her eldest son How Hudson had ed to miss out on all the fun was beyond Sawyer, but Mom had doubled down on her firstborn So far all of the candidates had been slightly different versions of the saht things and played the Harbor City high society gahtly pained look of so in a fart It was all the fake shit that Sawyer really didn’t have ti while the international construction boom imploded
He stopped in front of his desk, the ridiculous ad Hudson had sent out everywhere was open on his computer screen
WANTED: PERSONAL BUFFER
Often snarly, workaholic, de outside distractions AKA people Free spirits with personal boundary issues, excessive quirks, or general squeaotiable Confidentiality required
Snarly Workaholic De So what? He ho he was and he wasn’t about to apologize for it
Sawyer drule item except his computer monitor, wireless mouse, and the phone “This damn ad is a joke”
“Still, you have an entire anteroom full of candidates I’ve already pre-screened to not cry at your first snarl, so stop your bitching”
Saasn’t “grumpy” He was busy Did no one understand the difference?
He pivoted and stared out the s at the expansive view He could point out the Carlyle Enterprises’ high-rises with barely a glance It was the salobe Their father, Michael, had made his mark, and noas up to Sawyer not to tarnish the old man’s memory In today’s market that was no easy feat, and it hadn’t been one he’d expected to take on quite so soon
At thirty-two, he was the youngest Carlyle to ever head the faenerations before He’d trade that distinction for having his dad back in a heartbeat “I never asked for this”
“Actually, you did,” Hudson said,Sawyer’s declaration “I believe it was after Mom cornered you with three potential wives at the ood little brothers should do in such a situation, I helped you escape, got you drunk, and then let you pour out your soul to me You’re the one who told me you needed a buffer from Mom”