Page 117 of Not That Into You

He snorts.

“If you get the CMO position, won’t you have to report directly to him?”

Cameron grimaces. “Yeah.” His head falls back against the couch as he looks up at the ceiling. “Which obviously isn’t ideal, but I can handle it.”

“Hm.” I bite my tongue to keep from saying more.

It’s hard to imagine Cameron being happy in the CMO position when it seems likely his father would fight him on every decision, especially because Cameron hopes to institute a new marketing strategy. The prospect of his father approving his plans is about as likely as Cameron being content to continue the current CMO’s strategy.

I swallow.

But maybe I’m wrong. “Well, hopefully, you won’t have to see him again until after your interview.”

“No such luck.”

“Seriously?” I shake my head. “You’re a glutton for punishment. Or a magnet, I guess.”

He looks at me with a grin. “People do find me attractive.” His smile slowly fades as he gives me a look I can’t quite interpret. “There’s an important dinner on Wednesday night.”

“This Wednesday night?”

“Yup. He’s one of the hosts.”

“Do you have to go?”

“Yes. Number one, I’m a Stanhope, and number two, at least half the board will be there.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, my father has already made it clear I’ll mess that up, too.”

I clench my jaw. His father really needs to be shipped off to a small, deserted island. Alone. “What do you mean?”

He glances at me, his gaze intense, before shaking his head. “Nothing. Never mind.”

“Come on, Cameron. You can’t leave me hanging like that. How can you mess up a dinner? Do you have a habit of dropping food down your front? Or burping the alphabet?”

“No. I’ll mess it up by going solo.”

“What?”

“Most people will be there with their partners. It’ll be easier to impress and charm the board members if I have a date.”

“To entertain their partners while you work your magic?”

“And demonstrate I’m settled and not a playboy.”

“How very modern.”

He looks at me hopefully. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to come with me?”

“As your date?”

“No, as my valet. Yes, of course as my date.”

My stomach clenches. “I wouldn’t be a good date, Cameron.” I shake my head. “You need someone who knows how to talk to the board members.”

“You speak English, right?”

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