Page 5 of Billionaire Boss's One Night Stand

“Or not.”

“Or not,” she agreed. “Are you going to prepare a team to pursue them?”

“I’m already on it. John thinks a new hire will help immensely.”

She nodded. “Sure, it will. It’s a shame Janice left recently.”

“In other news,” I said, figuring that she had to be done with her version of “gossip” with me, “how about letting me have the CEO title?”

Every day, I hinted at it. Each time I saw her toward the end of the day before she left, I’d slip in a mention. Since her comment at her seventieth birthday party in the spring, I’d been eager to hear her plans about the job she held.

So far, she hadn’t budged at all. Never mind the fact that I’d worked for the company, the one my late grandfather started, then both my parents worked at until they passed away in a plane crash, for twenty years. The day I turned eighteen, I was working here. Two decades were plenty of time to invest before the final promotion to the top.

Isn’t it?

She lifted her chin, regal and quiet as she stared at me. “Do you think you are ready for it?”

“I’ve been ready.”

“Fine.”

My jaw dropped. I planted my hands on the edge of my desk as I tried to let her simple and direct confirmation sink into my brain. Did she seriously just sayyes?

“You get Gammon as our newest client, and you’ll have the job.”

Dammit.

I knew there’d be a catch. She didn’t make anything simple or easy.

“If you can land Gammon as a solid client, I think you’d prove your worth.”

In the back of my mind, I wanted to scream. Wasn’t I already worthy enough? Hadn’t I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this company for twenty years already? I didn’t want her togiveme the job. Nepotism wasn’t ideal, and I did want to earn the role of CEO based on merit, nothing else.

But Gammon? For a baby product campaign?

I stifled a groan.

“Is that a deal, Matthew?” She stood, arching a brow at me.

“Is that what you came here to tell me?” I asked, wondering if there was a loophole or twist about her proposal.

She nodded, succinct and precise with even that gesture. Wendy Richards was not a frivolous woman—at all. She was also not a liar or a cheat, so I was certain this had to be a legitimate suggestion for how to be promoted.

“Then it’s a deal.”

“Good.” Without another word, seemingly satisfied with our discussion, she turned and left.

Not a full minute passed before John burst back into my office. He shut the door, excited as he looked at me over his shoulder. “Did she seriously just offer you the CEO spot if you got Gammon?”

I squinted at him. “How the hell do you know that?”

“I’ve been practicing reading lips. Remember, a deaf woman moved in next to me?”

“Right.”

“Did she?”

“She did.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I stood, too surprised and excited to sit still. “CEO, man.”

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