Page 20 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

This would all be figured out soon. She’d come back, and they’d realize they were offering me something that was completely bananas.

The fresh sheet of paper was once again warm.

Before I could even utter a gasp, Phil cleared his throat. “I’d like a moment alone with my client,” he said, strangely solemn. The usual playful note in his voice was gone.

My mind, meanwhile, was going on a drunken rampage on Fifth Avenue, cackling evilly at the sky while dozens of bags hung off both of my arms.

The stiff, stern, scowling lawyers filed out. Blakely remained seated for a long moment, watching me. His eyes shot daggers. Withstanding the force of his stare was an effort I wasn’t sure I could muster, so I dropped my gaze to the bowl of chocolates, grabbed one, unwrapped it, and popped it in my mouth.

He watched me chew for a second, glowering.

I let out a little noise as the soft center of the truffle hit my tongue. I had to give him one thing—the man knew good chocolate.

“Don’t push me too far, Ms. Jordan,” he warned, then stood and prowled out the door. It closed with a soft snick behind him, the pack of people in suits moving down the hallway and out of earshot.

“Phil,” I whispered. “Does your Page Seven say the same thing mine does?”

He pushed his sheet over so I could read. And right there in black and white, just like mine, was a number that broke my brain.

Twenty-five thousand dollars. Per month. For fashion and beauty. Plus the huge salary. Plus the benefits.

I dragged my gaze from the paper to Phil’s face, flabbergasted. Nothing made sense. I didn’t understand. What had just happened? What was going on?

All this just to go to a few fancy events on Rome Blakely’s arm? How—why—what?

It had to be too good to be true. There had to be a catch.

“Phil,” I whispered again.

“Yes, Nikki?”

“What the heck is going on?”

His eyes glittered, and the corners of his lips twitched. “We’ll go through the contract with a fine-toothed comb,” he told me. “But from what I’ve read so far, they’re offering you this in exchange for indemnity against any lawsuit you might have been planning to bring against the company.”

“What?”

His eyes twinkled. “Like I said before, this right here?” He tapped a finger on the contract pages on the table. “This is a group of people trying to cover their asses after a major fuck-up.”

Suddenly, I understood. They were buying me off. Blakely picking me up from the hospital was him probing me for information, and whatever I’d said had spooked him. Meanwhile, I’d been eating chocolate and dreaming of my bed.

I’d tripped and fallen into a swimming pool full of gold. Or maybe he’d pushed me into it.

I huffed, amazed. “What do I do?” My voice was hoarse. Imaginary me had cackled a bit too much.

The older man hummed, tilting his head. “You want to know what I would do?”

I nodded.

A smile broke over his lips. “I’d bite their hand off. Any settlement I negotiate for you will be far less than this, and it won’t include any of these benefits. Take it, Nikki, milk it for all it’s worth, and don’t look back.”

SEVEN

ROME

I pacedthe length of my office, my steps heavy on the carpeted floor. Blood rushed in my ears. My hands clenched and unclenched.

That little minx was squeezing me for all I was worth, and I didnotappreciate it.

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