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