Waking Up With You Read Online Free PDF Page A

rhetorically. “Look, I don’t really think it’s a good idea for you to work for the firm.”
    “Jake, I’m offering my time. That’s all. If you don’t want me to work for your company—fine. I just want to keep busy while waiting for school to start.”
    “Well, our social media specialist, Elise, is going back to Sweden. And…”
    “Yes, I could do that,” I interrupt excitedly.
    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t offering you the job. The thing is that ours is a boutique firm. All of our clients come through word-of-mouth, so we really don’t need to do any marketing at all.”
    “Oh,” I say dejectedly.
    “However, even though we don’t need it, I think it’s good to maintain visibility in the social media, just because we can engage and educate people that way. It keeps our profile high. Anyway, it can be done on a part-time basis, even from home. You can use one of the spare rooms as an office. Matthew from Human Resources will call you about salary, benefits, etc.” His manner of speaking has become business-like.
    “I just told you that I don’t want to get paid. I just want to help,” I protest.
    “Emma, we had this conversation this morning. Your duties as my wife are in no way related to the work you’ll be doing. Don’t undersell yourself. Your time is just as valuable as anyone else’s.”
    Duties as a wife? I want him to say more but, of course, he doesn’t. Instead, I content myself with, “Thank you, Jake. I can’t wait to start.”
    He gives me a brief nod and then says nonchalantly, “Two things to remember: One, our private life is off-limits. Two, school is your priority. If this thing gets in the way of your school responsibilities, then I will ask someone else to take over.” It sounds very much like an order, but I don’t take offense since I completely agree with him.
    “One last thing, you’ll be coordinating with my Executive Assistant, Dan. He’s savvy about these things. He can fill you in on whatever big events we have coming up. Everything can be done by email or phone.”
    I immediately understand that he does not want me going to the office, nor wasting his time. “Of course,” I reply in my most professional tone. Seeing that our plates are clean and neither of us seems to be inclined to have more pasta, I stand up to start clearing the dishes.
    “I should be doing that,” he stops me.
    “Nope,” I counter.
    “You’re tired. Why don’t you have a shower and relax?”
    “I’m really not that tired.”
    “Okay. But you haven’t changed out of your clothes since the ceremony. And I’m sure you’d love to get out of those heels.” He smiles encouragingly.
    “Well, you may be right. But, don’t you have anything to do?”
    “I’ll finish up here and go to work for an hour or two.”
    “At seven in the evening?” I inquire with astonishment.
    “Work is my life,” he responds mildly. “Besides, we are in the last stages of completing plans for a museum in Orange County. I have to make sure that we don’t get behind schedule.”
    “If that’s the case, leave the dishes so you can get going. I’ll take care of them when I get out of the shower.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Of course. It’s just a couple of dishes.” I start to gather the dishes and put them in the sink. I turn around and bid him farewell, “I’ll see you later then.”
    “Emma, why don’t you use the dishwasher? It’ll be less effort on your part.”
    “That’s okay. It’s no big deal to wash a few dishes.”
    “Okay. No need to wait up. I’ll see you in the morning.” He goes to his room, ostensibly to change. After ten minutes, I hear the front door close. I wonder if I will be spending all my nights alone. I feel the dull ache of foreboding.
    I go to my room to unpack. The walk-in closet is huge. After slowly unfolding everything, I have a dozen dresses hanging on the stainless steel rod and I barely fill up the shelves. The effort leaves me rather tired and I take