“Twenty minutes.”
Josh nodded and moved around the corner where he climbed onto his treadmill for a cool down jog.
There was no need for the PA to follow, and he knew that, so he embraced the first bit of privacy he’d had since he’d warmed up.
Time was money in Josh’s life. There were very few moments where he wasn’t conducting some business or other, be it at a social event or at a meeting with a potential client. It was why he had a team of PAs, all under Ethan’s control, who managed certain aspects of his life.
As more sweat began to bead at his temples, he wiped his forehead with the back of his wrist as he felt his heart start to slow down.
“Sir? It’s Jasmine on the phone.”
Josh grimaced. “Tell her I’m busy.”
“I told her that last time, sir. She’s getting insistent.”
“Tell her I don’t appreciate someone insisting on my attention,” he growled out, uncaring if Ethan had muted the microphone or not and if his girlfriend of a few months had overheard.
Well, he said girlfriend, but she was more arm candy.
He’d slept with her a handful of times at the beginning of the relationship, then the situation with Samantha had developed and as he was supposed to be engaged to her, his time with Jasmine hadn’t exactly been at the forefront of his mind.
The only purpose for arm candy was to show them off at events. When he couldn’t show off anyone other than his so-called fiancée, then there wasn’t much he could do other than attend alone.
Or, he supposed, ask Samantha to join with him.
The thought deserved more attention, and he narrowed his eyes at the digits in front of him that counted down the length of his cool down. He heard Ethan murmuring into the phone, then, when there was silence, he climbed off the treadmill, grabbed a towel and dabbed at his sweaty forehead.
“It’s time for a gift from Jacobsons’ for Jasmine,” he intoned smoothly as he rounded the corner and faced his assistant once more.
“I thought as much, sir. I’ve arranged for an appointment tomorrow. Any preference?”
“No more than twenty thousand,” he answered, throwing the sweaty towel in the hamper at the other end of the room and scoring a hit. Rubbing the bac
k of his neck, he murmured, “The Anderson party tonight… it was with a plus one, wasn’t it?”
Ethan frowned as he scrolled through some information on the screen of his tablet. “Yes, sir. But then, most evening events are. You’ve been attending them alone recently though…”
“Is that a question or a statement?” Josh asked silkily, shooting the man a narrow-eyed stare.
Ethan gulped. “Just something that occurred to me, sir.”
Though he cocked a brow at Ethan, he dismissed his remarks as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed out on his way to the shower room.
“I’ll be out in five minutes. Confirm with the Andersons I’ll be attending with a guest.”
“Would you like me to call someone to invite them?”
“No. This has to be handled personally.”
“Personally?” If the man’s deep baritone could squeak, then Ethan accomplished it then.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Josh growled, annoyed at being questioned. Again.
“No, sir. It’s just…” He licked his lips. “Well, very unusual.”
Peeved, he jerked his chin up in dismissal and headed for the shower. As he washed away the grime from his workout, he silently asked anyone who was listening to teach Ethan better self-control.
He’d hate to have to fire the idiot…