Page 11 of Dirty Fortune

I'm frozen in place and don't even dare make a move. If I do, he'll know. He'll know I'm glad he's here and that I want to be in his arms desperately.

"What did you do, Keith?"

"I won't pretend with you. I bought the magazine to be closer to you."

"Do you even know how to run a magazine?"

"No, but you do. I'm hoping you'll help me."

"This is crazy, Keith. You could have asked me out on a date like a normal person."

"You would have said no."

He's right. I would have said no and gotten the hell out of dodge. But this isn't Vegas. This is New York, my home, and I don't want to play those games here.

"How did you even know where I work?"

"The truth? I've been keeping tabs on you since I moved back to New York."

A chill goes through me. "When was that?"

"Five years ago, when you started working here. I couldn't take it anymore, being so far away from you, so I moved back."

"We could have been together since then?"

"It wasn't the right time—for you or for me. Your career, your life, has changed you. Transformed you into the amazing woman you are today."

"Are you stalking me?"

"I wouldn't call it that."

I don't know what to feel right now. I'm relieved he's been thinking about us just like I have for nine years. But a part of me is outraged at the intrusion and violation of privacy.

"Does Mike know?"

"No, but we need to talk to him."

"There's nothing to say."

He comes closer to me, and I shiver a little. His presence has always been overwhelming.

"Are you going to make me chase you, Princess?"

He steps even closer and grabs both my hands in his. He lifts them up and kisses each palm.

"I'll court you. I'll follow you like a puppy if need be. Just don't deny me that pretty pussy of yours." He says, stroking my face gently.

This is too much for me right now, and I need to turn the conversation to safer topics. I step back from him and move further into his office.

"Annette says you offered her a dream job and she's leaving."

"You guys are friendly, right?"

"Yes, of course, we've worked together for years."

"I studied the personnel information on everyone that works here, and when I saw her resume, I knew she'd be a great fit for a company I'm a partner of in Miami. She sounded really happy when I asked her and gave me a yes almost immediately. She didn't run away from the conversation like you're doing right now."

"I don't want to fight with you, Keith. I just feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place right now."

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