Chapter 45

• He hovered over her desk waiting for her to arrive. She wasn't late. Office hours started at eight in the morning and it was 7:20. Any other day, Duke Copeland would be in his office, going over that day's schedule or coming up with new ideas on how to manage his clients. But today he couldn't bring himself to concentrate on anything. He'd tossed and turned all night long. When it was apparent he wasn't going to fall asleep, he got up and poured himself a glass of whiskey then started pondering about how he was going to apologize to Miss Rutherford.
• Christ. When had he become such an idiot? The moment she'd walked in his office he'd taken one look at her and decided she was trouble. Mr. Lachlan had called to ask if he could hire her and anyone who knew Vincent Lachlan knew that it was beneficial to have him owe you a favor. Hiring Miss Barret meant Mr. Lachlan owed him one. So why hadn't he stopped to ask himself who Miss Barret was and why it was important for Mr. Lachlan to get her a job? He knew who she was. With the Rutherford name alone, she was powerful. But with the Harringtons and Lachlans as her friends, she was exactly who they called her. A Princess. And he'd made her clean the bathrooms.
• "What is wrong with you Copeland?" he berated himself.