Page 40 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

He shrugged. “Seems pretty effective so far. Who knew all you needed was a beautiful, charming woman at your side to start closing all these deals so effortlessly?”

My shoulders stiffened. “Beautiful and charming, huh.”

Cole laughed at the look on my face. “Tell me again why you don’t think you can keep this companion thing up?”

“It’s a lie, and it’s not right.”

“Uh-huh. It’s got nothing to do with the fact that you’re having to spend so much time with the woman, does it?”

“No.”

“Right. So if I called her up the day you terminate her contract and asked her out, you’d be okay with that?”

“If you do that, I’ll take it as an immediate resignation on your part.”

Glee shone in Cole’s expression, and I knew I’d said the wrong thing. “Wellthatis interesting.”

“How would we explain that to our clients?” I tried to rationalize, but Cole’s grin just widened. Not one to be deterred even though I knew it would be best to clamp my mouth shut, I continued, “What if the Monks get wind of my second-in-command dating the woman I’ve just tossed aside? How do you think that would play?”

“Tossed aside,” he repeated, brows arched. “Is that how it would go down?”

“She would never be interested in you anyway.”

At that, Cole straightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I want you to explain. Why wouldn’t she be interested in me? I’m just as successful as you. Better looking, too.”

I snorted. “On what planet?”

“You’re so full of shit, Blakely. You want her and even the thought of me taking her out for a drink is driving you crazy.”

“Why are you here? Why are we even talking about this? We’ll get the contract with Monk, and then we’ll go our separate ways. This has nothing to do with you.” The skin under my collar felt warm. I tugged at the fabric, glaring at my friend.

He crossed his arms and widened his stance, watching me curiously. “I’ve never seen you like this. You’ve barely known her for two weeks.”

“Get out of here,” I bit off. “I’ve got work to do.”

He put his hands up, relenting, then walked to the door without a word. I waited for the door to close behind him before sinking into my chair. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I groaned.

This whole thing had been a terrible idea. The smart thing to do would be to pull the plug and snare Monk some other way.

But the only progress we’d made in closing the deal was with Nikki by my side. I needed her for this. Needed her to save my company.

So I’d do exactly what I told Cole: I’d close the deal with Monk, then terminate her contract and go back to the way things were before. Then everything would be fine, and normal, and great.

All I had to do was survive the few months that she had to be by my side. I’d grit my teeth and bear it.

But a few hours later, when she walked into my office at five o’clock sharp, giving me a little sideways look that was designed to get a reaction out of me, I forgot all about terminating her contract. I became very busy watching the way she moved when she unpacked takeout containers, or how her hair shimmered when she bent her head over the schedule I gave her.

Until she walked out again and my brain came back online, I forgot everything in the world except how much I wanted to have her.

FIFTEEN

NIKKI

My friend Bonnielooked at me curiously on Sunday, as we reclined on my velvet couch and talked about our weeks.

---