Page 1 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

PROLOGUE

GRAYSON

My life is going along as usual until a beautiful brunette struts her way into my first lecture of the day, her heels clicking against the linoleum floor as she makes her way to the stairs.

All the professor can do is watch her and shake his head. I doubt he’s pleased with the way she introduced herself to the class the moment she stepped into the room.

And now, she’s heading my way, smiling and saying hi to everyone she passes.

Jade Harper. The new transfer isn’t like the rest of the students in the room. Most of us look like we’ve rolled out of bed after spending a night cramming for a test, but she looks like she’s stepping off the runway in a black pencil skirt and sleeveless blouse.

As she takes the seat beside me, I shift to the side, angling my back toward her.

She seems like the kind who’s going to spend the class talking and trying to be friendly with everyone.

I don’t have time to be friends. If I want to take over my father’s company in the next ten years, I have to prove to him that I have what it takes to be a good journalist.

Jade, with her honey brown hair and stormy blue eyes, is nothing but a distraction.

The scent of lemon and vanilla wafts to me as she takes the seat next to me. “Hey.”

I glance at her as the professor queues up the presentation. “Hey.”

Her full lips press together in the hint of a smile, showing off the burgundy gloss she swiped over them. “Not a man of many words, are you?”

“Nope.”

The little laugh she gives only irritates me more.

She’d be perfect for a news anchor. Maybe the weather girl. They’re always doing that annoying little laugh.

Jade leans closer to me, tapping her pen on the edge of my desk. “How is the professor? I loved the ones at my old school, but when I looked up the student reviews on some of the ones here, they didn’t seem so great.”

“He’s fine. Had him last year.”

“Damn.” She settles back in her seat, a smug smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. “That was a whole six words.”

I grit my teeth together, not wanting to waste any more energy talking to her.

I’d be willing to bet that the only reason she’s pursuing journalism is because she thinks it’s a quick way to get herself on television.

Professor Mackintosh shuts the door and gestures to the screen. “All right, so, as we’ve been discussing, there is an internship up for grabs this year. LRH Globalhas sent over the details, and I will be forwarding them to all of you later.”

Jade taps her pen on my desk. “LRH Global? As in, the biggest newspaper publisher in the country?”

My fingers tighten around my pencil as I nod.

She crosses one leg over the other as Professor Mackintosh flips to the next slide in the presentation.

He leans against his desk. “The person at the top of the class will be awarded the internship. Right now, Grayson Harris and Jade Harper are tied. The rest of you are lagging. This is the chance of a lifetime.”

I don’t hear the rest of the words coming out of his mouth, not after hearing that Jade’s marks from her previous school are as good as mine.

My gaze cuts to Jade, and the more I look at her, the more confused I am.

There’s no way I’m going to lose the competition to her. She’s not cut out for journalism. She’s so happy. I doubt that she’s even seen the worst the world has to offer.

Not that I’m one to speak, but for years Dad has been telling me about the stories he chased while working toward his CEO position. He’s made it clear that I have to follow in his footsteps, and that’s what this internship will allow me to do.

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