willing the email to disappear. Subject line: Executive Assistant P
ks ago. Yet here it was: an offer letter, salary figure with too many zeros, be
ting on her kitchen counter-her father's final treatments, the ones insurance hadn't covered. The
alled
y considering it," Elena sa
, I'd be inside the belly of the beast. Access to files, convers
very media outlet in the city when he figures out you'
ho I am. He followe
wed you? Like, personall
said I'd made myself
not a threat, babe. That's i
ck. A really good one. And maybe a chanc
spectacular fashion when he r
. I don't know. Something about the way he looked a
hemistry, Soph.
keep my head down, do the job, gather wha
a long moment. "Pr
ha
e you're dessert instead of an e
e herself. "Deal. No
r again, and typed her acceptan
ng arrived l
, dressed in her best "I'm professional and not intimidated" outfit: black tailored trousers, cream blouse, low heels she could run in if n
ng windows with views that made the city feel small. A receptionist who loo
erling is expecting
ffices. Heads turned. Whispers followed. She caught fragments: "Tha
at a set of double doors.
ushed th
arcoal suit, sleeves rolled to his forearms, revealing corded muscle and a expensive watch th
eyes
room felt smalle
oice smooth as velvet ove
"You asked for 8 a.
hair across from his
ands folded in her lap. N
rms crossed, studying her like she was a
cepted
ed th
use. "Though I suspect ther
sking whether I'm here to sabotage yo
ed-almost a smi
act. Non-disclosure agreement, standard emplo
Salary. Benefits. Vaca
y the CEO to select public and private events as required for business purposes, including but not limited to galas
"You want me to
fifty billion in play. The lead investor is old-school. Family man. He prefers
ou're going to parade your new
eaned in, voice d
ked. "What do
." His eyes held hers. "Depen
k. "I'm not sleeping with you
x. And I don't coerce it. But if we're going to sell this-whatever 'this' becomes-you need
nd if I say no to
severance, of course. But t
This was insane. Dangerous. Exactly the
seat to the man who'd destroyed her father's legacy. And
er. "I'll sign. But
a brow.
is merger closes-or whenever you decide the charade is over-I walk aw
ng moment. Then he extende
ea
O hands weren't supposed to feel like they'd built something real once.
ased he
ce was low, almost intimate. "Your first assignment sta
ng her blouse. "Wh
ow, predatory, an
the world we'
office with her head hi
old her soul
oked like he enj
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