Not just a billionaire

lack business card for the

prises. 77th Floo

tand, taunting her with promises

lars a week. Tha

nto a better school, stop worrying if the li

rking

e him didn't care who they scorched as long as they stayed warm. And yet.

ver a plain tee, and her cleanest boots and stepped int

fast her hea

open, she stepped in

in the air. A receptionist with red lips and a

appointment?"

lding up the card. "Bu

eyes flickered with

a Ca

d past a long corridor lined with men in suits who barely glan

ope

here

ne hand in his pocket, the other holding a tumbler of something

he said with

in. "I'm just here to tell you in person that I

smooth. His dark eyes met

you an

ctional insult dis

nd a week i

Because you think mon

. But it buys time. And contro

aw cl

for sale,

elp. Your mouth" he paused, that familiar smirk tugging at the corner o

what exactly would I be

alking to clients I don't want to deal with.

lorified b

e well co

you get bo

epping so close she could feel the heat

, chin high. "I don'

r asked

was no lewdness in his eyes-only intensity. L

ng to say yes beca

say yes because you're

aze landed on the massive oak desk, spotles

it up witho

-" he

older than sixteen, standing beside a stern older man

d it back

im," she sa

darkened.

still h

d between them l

d softly, his ton

ked up.

o me. Especially people who don'

range rush of guilt. She hadn't mean

"Fine. This was

rned t

en

d, hand o

ps and counting coins," he said. "You'll keep br

saves me from that?

t gives yo

narrowed. "What

low and serious. "You don't want to belong to anyone. I get that. Bu

his tone made he

're a savior?"

g into hers. "I'm the devil. B

ng to run. But her gut-the one that had ne

erous. But

she gave hi

he wo

th trial,"

lickered.

s. After that, I walk away

d slowly

erything i

pulling open a drawer a

cou

urs, expectations. Nothin

Respe

hed and

her with a look that made her stomac

else?" s

e," he said,

ed a bro

order, you don

ms again. "That so

's

t your

"You're my equal. But you work for me

up at him,

a contro

d to getting w

o you want

d to her lips f

back up, something

ime," h

ckled between t

contract copy. "Then I guess we'

ead high, heart racing, heat pr

n't loo

e follow her all the