Page 33 of The Enemies With Benefits Deal

He leaves without saying another word.

I groan, dropping my head to my desk.

After everything I’ve done, he still doesn’t think that I have what it takes to run the company when he steps down.

The only reason he’s impressed with me now is because Jade is driving the machine, and I’m just the cog making this part work.

I’m never going to be good enough for him. Not while she’s around and carrying the weight of the project.

If I don’t start working harder and proving that I’m a better fit than her, I’m going to lose everything I’ve been working for.

I can’t lose to her a second time.

CHAPTER 12

JADE

“The two of you are going to travel to Paris together to meet with Pelletier Design.” Leo leans forward, his arms folded on top of the massive black leather desk mat.

I fight back a large grin. “When do you want us to leave?”

“Tomorrow. The private plane has already been booked. You’ll have a day or so to settle in and prepare yourselves, and then the team will meet with you this coming Friday.”

Three days.

All I have is three days to prepare the last little pieces of the app design that should be included.

Half a week to convince Grayson that the vision I have is going to be the one that takes LRH Global over the top and puts them back at the forefront of people’s minds.

Grayson clears his throat, looking at me from the corner of his eyes. “We don’t have to both go on the trip, do we?”

“Yes. I want to see how my potential CEOs handle themselves on behalf of the company.”

I open my mouth to protest, but Leo is already moving on to the next subject, talking to Grayson about some of the marketing tactics they’re going to employ in the next couple of days.

When I manage to catch Grayson’s eye, the color is gone from his face and the circles beneath his eyes look darker than normal.

Something is bothering him, and I’d be willing to bet it has something to do with his father thinking I want to be a CEO.

I run a portfolio of multi-million-dollar businesses, but nobody in this room seems to think that’s enough for me.

The more time I spend with Leo and Grayson, the more I wonder why I agreed to do this in the first place.

Grayson stands, his hands balling into fists and his shoulders tense. “Thanks. I’ll let you know when we land.”

I get up and follow him out of Leo’s office and over to mine. He follows me into the room and shuts the door behind us, but he doesn’t bother drawing the curtain.

He watches me for a moment. “Why didn’t you tell him that you weren’t interested in the CEO position?”

“Because he moved on to marketing before I got the chance.” I sit down on the little couch tucked into the corner of my office while he sits on one of the chairs beside my desk.

“You still could have said something.”

“I’m telling you right now, I don’t want that position. I make over a million a year on my own, Grayson. What do I honestly need a position here for?”

He shrugs, picking at his nails. “The CEO position pays a lot better. Ten times that, at least.”

“Great. I don’t need that kind of money. I have more than enough to take care of my mom as she gets older and live a comfortable life of my own.”

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