Page 9 of Meant For Love

“Maybe.” She points at me. “I said I would check it out.”

“And I’m going to persuade you to take the job, and if that doesn’t work—” I start to say when I see the server coming out from the back. I stare right into her eyes. “I’m not afraid to get on my knees and beg.” I wink at her as I see her cheeks get a bit pink.

The server puts down the plates in front of us. “This looks amazing,” she says, picking up her chopsticks. “Which one should I try first?”

“Either one is good.” I grab my chopsticks, pick up a piece, and put it in my mouth.

I am mid-chew when she moans, and I just glare at her. “This”—she puts her hand in front of her mouth—“is amazing.”

My cock—no, my whole body—suddenly wakes up with that moan. “You’re welcome.” I wink at her. “But if you really want to thank me…”

“This next part is going to be fun.” She points her chopstick at me. “Well, fun for me to say, not fun for you to hear,” she gloats. “If and I said if I decide to work for you, there are stipulations.”

“Oh? I like this already.” I put my chopsticks down and clap my hands.

“One, no flirting.”

“Okay, well, a rebuttal is coming in.” I pick up my chopsticks and point them at her before grabbing another piece of sushi. “I don’t flirt. It’s just my charm.”

“You want to know the funny thing?” She picks up another piece of sushi. “I think you believe that.” I shrug. “Let me ask you this. If someone else was on your list and you wanted to hire them, would you fly her here in a private plane and pick her up?”

I avoid looking at her because there is no way in fuck I would do any of that. I would hand it off to my assistant, and she would do it all. I would not go out of my way to order her favorite fucking bagel. I would definitely not go and pick her up myself. “Don’t compare yourself to anyone else, Zoey. You’re in a category of your own.”

“See.” She picks up another piece of sushi, avoiding looking at me. “You can’t say stuff like that.”

“So you want me to lie to you?” I ask, and she gasps.

“No, of course not.”

“Okay, since we know I’m not doing number one, at least not on purpose.” I give her a sly smile. “I’m assuming you won’t want to stay at my house while you’re here.” Her eyes widen. “I’m kidding.” I bite my lip as she stares at me. “Unless you really want to stay at my place.”

She shakes her head and laughs as she picks up another piece of sushi. “I will not be staying at your place. My cousin Gabriella has a place near here. I think I can stay with her.”

I grab my own piece of sushi. “I got you a condo not too far from where I live. That way I can give you a ride to and from the office.”

“There is no need to pick me up. I can make my way there,” she pushes back. “I just need to know what time you’re in the office.”

“I usually get in around six thirty, sometimes six… depending.” Shock is all over her face. “Most of my clients are on the East Coast, so I try to be available for them.”

“That makes sense.” She chews. “Are you done at three, then?”

“Usually around three. Sometimes I stay until five.” I shrug. “It all depends on what I have going on in the day really.”

“Those are long days,” she says softly.

“Long days for sure.” I pick up my sake glass. “But I’m very thorough when I put my mind to something.” I wink at her.

She puts down her chopsticks in front of her, placing her elbows on the top of the table and folding her hands. Her eyes light up even more and her lips almost form a smile, but then as she blinks her eyes, a shield goes up. This Zoey is all business, and if I have to say, she might be even sexier than the friendly Zoey. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t get involved with the people I work for or with. We will be nothing else except co-workers. I work for you and with you. Period. There is no gray area. It’s black and white in my books.”

I put down my chopsticks and lean forward just a bit. “But I’m irresistible.”

She shakes her head, looking down, and when she looks up there is a twinkle in her eye that wasn’t there before. “You might just very well be, but you are also very, very off-limits.” She picks up her glass of sake and does exactly what I did to her by winking at me. “And so am I.”

Five

Zoey

My phone beeps as soon as I slip on my shoes.

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