Page 23 of Seduced By a Billionaire

“You mean besides you fucking yourself? The damage is done. Thanks to you my reputation is screwed, my career ruined, and I’m now your ‘personal’ nurse. If and I meanifI decide to work for you and not just give my notice. Then we are going to have a long discussion about the ground rules.”

“Yes, Dear,” he said, having the audacity to grin at her almost sending her into the stratosphere.

“Oh my God, you are unbelievable!” She turned and stomped to the door.

“Hold on a sec. I’m just a guy trying to heal from an injury. I’m weak and tired and I need someone I trust to help me recover. I trust you. If that makes me despicable so be it.”

Taking a deep steadying breath, she turned back around to face him. She made an effort to calm down before answering. With steel in her voice she replied, “It is beyond belief that you assume I’ll do your bidding and be thrilled about it just because you say so.”

Sizing Ella up he peered at her through narrowed eyes saying, “What would it take? I’ll triple what you’re making here.”

“Are you really that obtuse? Haven’t you listened to a word I’ve said? Let me spell it out for you. I am not for sale! There isn’t enough money in the world. You are a rich and entitled asshole. Does that get through that thick skull of yours?”

His eyes flashed briefly with anger, before he checked it. “I won’t apologize for requesting this favor from my friend. In my mind I was helping you and myself at the same time. You’re twisting this into some kind of power-play that it most definitely is not. I need a nurse. You’re a nurse. The best I have encountered. I am offering you any amount of money it will take. Name your price.”

Hands on her hips, Ella stood there incredulous. “I can’t with you. End of conversation. Goodbye Mr. Bennett.”

“Wait! Ella!”

She was already halfway down the corridor fueled by fury. She was practically hyperventilating she was so enraged. Damn that man! She wished that she had never met him. Her position was untenable. She either had to hand in her resignation or work for the most conceited, self-important, patronizing condescending, asshole she had ever met.

Kyle had too much time to think. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was her look of disgust and disappointment. The anger he could take, it was her revulsion that had been like a punch in the gut. He knew he had been wrong to go over her head but that hadn’t stopped him. If he wanted something, he went for it, damn the consequences.

In his own defense, he had made a very generous offer. One that most would jump at. Ella was not like most people. It seemed as if money had no leverage with her. She was stubborn. And right now, she was being ridiculousdamn it!He vacillated between admiration and frustration. He wasn’t accustomed to the word no. He didn’t like it. She should be thanking him for the opportunity instead of making him feel like a loathsome excuse of a human.

Underneath all the layers, it was new and refreshing to find someone who couldn’t be influenced by his fortune. Ella had gotten under his skin in a big way. His defenses were falling flat even in his own mind. He was surprised to discover that he still had a conscience. He had been convinced his cynicism reflected reality, which over time had dulled his ability to feel much of anything. He felt most people were opportunists and greedy, but maybe thereweresome exceptions.

He told himself that the ache he felt in his chest was just part of the healing process from his accident—in fact, he was sure of it.Damn that woman. He wasn’t comfortable with self-reflection and she was bringing long-buried emotions to the surface.Was there any way for him to salvage this and get what he wanted?

8

“Slow down and start from the beginning,” Deb said. They were sitting on the beach, the sand warm and soft between their toes. It was high tide and the crashing waves matched Ella’s current emotional state. Deb had responded immediately to her urgent voicemail. Ella wasn’t prone to being overly dramatic.

Ella had propped her knees up and was sifting sand through her fingertips as the ocean breeze loosened tendrils of her hair from its clasp. She stared at the horizon in deep thought before she began talking again and, once unleashed, left nothing out.

Deb listened to her friend vent. “He wasn’t even apologetic?”

“No! He didn’t think he had done anything wrong. He was doing us both a favor, he said. The fucking nerve of that man.”

“What are you going to do?”

“The way I see it, I have two choices, quit or go work for a tyrant.”

“Let’s frame this a little differently. What if you were to go work for him, take advantage of what he’s offering. Tell him you’ll say yes, but only if he quadruples the amount. Then make him pay. You take the upper hand. You decide the conditions.”

“Keep talking,” Ella said warming up to the idea.

“Your terms, your rules, you win.”

“How will I be able to tolerate working for him?”

“Just be your professional self. You liked him just fine before he played God with your career.”

“Did I? That’s history now.”

“Look at it this way, you’ll make tons of money, you’ll get out of that dreary hospital and you’ll get a break from Deplorable Deloris.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

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