Page 11 of Gross Misconduct

“No! The only idea I have is that your idea is not a good one and that I won’t be participating in it.”

It occurred to me that I probably shouldn’t be talking to my new boss like that, but it was too late to regret that now. Besides, he’d crossed the line a million times already.

“I’ll have my assistant arrange the dinner. Nothing too fancy, just a simple meal and you can stay as long as you want. Do either of you have any dietary restrictions?”

Ewww! Was he implying … “Again, I’m not sure that’s necessary. I don’t think it’s a good idea for Doo—I mean Jeremy—and I to date. Besides, the Kodiaks have a no-fraternization policy.”

Clay waved is hand and pffted. “Well, since I make the rules, I can break them. I give you both my blessing to date.”

Taylor was too stunned to speak, and Doofus was too busy trying to absorb it all, but when he finally got his shit together, he jumped in. “Clay, I appreciate the fact you want to play matchmaker, but I’m pretty sure Jill and I wouldn’t be a suitable match.”

“Why is that?” Clay asked, seeming genuinely interested in Doofus’s answer, and actually, I was a little interested too. Why exactly wasn’t I a suitable match? And if he said because I wasn’t his type, he could stuff it.

“I just have a feeling about it.”

Smart and diplomatic answer, but it didn’t seem to satisfy Clay. “Why don’t we just try? And when I say just try, let me make it a little clearer for you, son.” Clay leaned in closer and motioned for Jeremy to do the same. “You fucked around with my team. Now you’re going to play by my rules. And the first rule is that you are going to have a nice dinner with Ms. Bowman. The second rule is that you are going to be a gentleman and treat her with respect. And my final rule is that the two of you are going to play house for the rest of this season so you can get back your stellar image and the stink of what you did wafts away from my team. Do you understand?”

While they were doing a staring contest, I was letting Clay’s words sink in, and I wasn’t liking the implications. And before I had time to stop my mouth, I was objecting.

“Don’t I have a say in this? You can’t just expect me to go along with this?”

Clay broke the staring contest with Jeremy, and while his expression was almost sinister, it softened when he looked at me. “Perhaps we should discuss this privately. Everyone wait outside while I speak to Ms. Bowman alone.”

We watched everyone file out, Clay leveled his gaze at me again.

“Fair enough, Ms. Bowman. I can offer you compensation for this arrangement.”

Now I was desperate to get him to see my position. Nothing about it was good, not to mention gross and completely unprofessional. “I’m sorry, I can’t allow myself to be mixed up in this. It’s degrading.”

He nodded as if he finally understood. “How about a hundred-thousand-dollar bonus?”

Nope. “Clay, I don’t think you realize how inappropriate this is.”

He steepled his hands and nodded. “Yes, I realize this is highly unusual and would likely have my lawyers tearing their hair out, but I’m not suggesting you sleep with the man. I want you to put in some appearances with him, attend a few events, post some pictures on social media, and be done with it. I only ask that you make it look convincing.”

“What you are asking is morally wrong.”

He reached out and patted my hand. “I understand, but I’m trying to save my team’s reputation. The last thing I want is for his dalliance to be a distraction for the entire season. Do we want it to be the topic of conversation everywhere we go? Not to mention how that would negatively affect your job. All that added stress of having to clean up one PR mess after another. It’s all solved by being his girlfriend.”

He wasn’t doing a good job of convincing me. “It’s not right.”

“Would it be right for a million-dollar bonus?”

The shock on my face must have said it all. It took me a moment to find my voice. “Clay, this isn’t right. Not at any price. I’m sorry, but I won’t do this.”

“Okay. My final offer. You and Mr. Vaughn convince people you’re a happy couple, and I’ll give you one of my downtown condos. Now, it’s not the penthouse suite—I keep that one for myself—but it’s on the thirty-second floor. Great view of the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other.”

I blinked a few times. Two views? This time he’d silenced me. But no, I wasn’t for sale.

“All right, I see you’re a little confused,” he continued. “As long as you put in some effort, you still get the million dollars. The condo comes into play if you convince people. And I’ll pay the taxes and maintenance fees on everything for the first five years.”

I swallowed hard and took in a deep breath. It seemed like theroom was closing in on me, and I closed my eyes to settle myself, the way Wolseley had taught me every time she dragged me out to one of her meditation classes. When I opened my eyes, everything seemed clear. “I want this all-in writing. And if Jeremy refuses to participate, I still get the hundred thousand. I also want five years of job security, and if I’m fired for any reason, the full five years of severance. I also want four extra weeks of holidays. Two weeks is a joke. And one last thing: an office with a window.”

Yup. I guess I could be bought.

A smile spread across Clay’s lips. “Did I ever tell you that you that remind me of my first wife? She was a keeper. She’s the only ex-wife I still have a good relationship with. She was an excellent negotiator and helped me with my business deals. She did well in the divorce, as you can probably imagine. All right, you have a deal, Ms. Bowman. Of course you’ll have to sign an NDA.”

“Only if I’m allowed to tell two trusted advisers of this arrangement. Otherwise, it’s a no-go.”

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