Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45531 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“You can tell me about these stories in the meantime,” I say, looking at Maddie.
I’m making my woman—damn, this is hard… I’m making Maddie squirm. She fidgets on the spot, looking at the floor because she knows that I already know about her story. We’re playing a strange game here. Once Veronica has gone, I take a step closer to Maddie.
“Do you want to see the meditation room?”
She must sense the tone in my voice. There’s need in there, but also a gruff command.
“Sure,” she murmurs.
I glance over my shoulder, watching as Veronica climbs into the elevator. Already, Maddie and I are sneaking around. I’m conscious of not letting my real feelings out just in case the security guards or my other employees milling around the marble lobby are watching me.
Headlines jeer from the future.
Scandal! CEO Bags Woman Half His Age… And She’s His Assistant’s Daughter!
Once Veronica is gone, I lead Maddie through the turnstile and past the elevator. She walks just behind me, her head bowed.
“Do you think you’re in trouble?” I say.
She flashes a look at me. It’s from the same breed the employees aim at me, with that hint of fear. I’ve never enjoyed it, and I like it even less now.
“You don’t work for me. You didn’t break any laws by lying. I’d be asking myself if you were trying to steal trade secrets, but clearly, you’ve got a connection to the company. Or maybe you’re just a very clever spy.”
She laughs quietly. “Oh yeah, that’s me. Super spy. It’s just… when a very, very, very serious man leads you down a quiet hallway, you start to wonder.”
She’s right. It’s quiet here. We’ve turned the corner from the main lobby. The meditation room was purposefully situated to reduce foot traffic, noise, and any disturbances.
I should stop, but I don’t. Instead, I stand over her, then even closer, staring down into her eyes. She gazes up at me with her mouth slightly open. It’s like she’s expecting a kiss, which is madness now, which always was madness.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Duh. But am I going to walk in to find a team of lawyers waiting for me? Are you going to threaten my website? And my interviewee is still waiting for me.”
“Cancel the interview. You need to rearrange.”
When she gasps, I can feel her breath on me, a preview of the heat we’ll share. I didn’t realize I’d leaned down that close, but there’s an undeniable pull. It’s the pull I imagine men feeling thousands of years ago, a voice roaring in their head to hunt, to provide for their women and their children, and then to claim them as the fire flickers.
“Why would I do that?”
“The setup is suspicious. You have no idea if the owner of this dog-theft operation will be there.”
“Danger is a key part of journalism. It’s a profession that requires courage.”
“Are you going to keep quoting me back at myself?” I snap. “I was talking about myself in that article.”
“So, what’s the difference?”
“The difference is, when I walk into a room, I know I can handle myself. I know I can defend myself, but any sick bastard could do anything he wanted, and I wouldn’t be able to…”
To forgive myself if that happened, I’m about to say, but I quickly correct myself.
“To help you, if I wasn’t there.”
“Newsflash. Before last night, I was going to this interview alone.”
“Newsflash,” I counter. “Then it was always a stupid plan. Where are you meeting him?”
“His apartment.”
I groan. “Maddie… does that seem smart to you?”
“He’s scared his name will get leaked if somebody sees him with me, and he’s got anxiety. He’s terrified to leave his apartment. What else am I supposed to do?”
“Take someone with you,” I say.
She waves a hand at the hallway. “Then let’s go…”
Tightness grips my forehead, the start of a headache.
“Don’t you get it?” I snarl. “I can’t go with you. This deal is a billion-dollar move. Trent Saunders is trying to gut the ethics out of the company. They’re looking for a reason to bail. So far, we haven’t given them one.”
“But if you’re seen with the daughter of your assistant…”
“And you’re half my age.”
“It’s not like we’re dating,” she says firmly. “If we’re seen together, we have a good reason. You’re helping me with my website. You’re doing a good deed.”
When she says the word dating, I realize I’ve been speaking as though it’s a foregone conclusion. We’ll be together. Our relationship—which doesn’t even exist—matters, but she’s right. Again, I correct myself.
“Unfortunately, the truth isn’t always relevant. People will come to their own conclusions. I hate it, but I accepted it a long time ago.”
“Either way, I’m going,” she says. “So, it’s your choice if you want to come with me.”
I lean down even closer, so we’re at eye level. I love how short she is, how I could carry her and handle her with ease, my touch sinking into her curves.