Page 41 of Reunion With Benefits

Jeff’s heavy sigh broke through the action. He slipped an envelope across the table. “Here is an explanation of what we need and compensation for your time. Just as we discussed.”

“We never discussed anything.”

He frowned at her. “Don’t play hard to get.”

The man was savvy. Abby guessed there was a typed note and cash in there. Didn’t matter because she didn’t intend to open it and find out. She slid it back across the table in his direction. “Not interested.”

Jeff made a big show of folding his menu and putting it aside. He leaned in with his elbows on the edge of the table. “Now, Abby. You don’t even know what I’m offering.”

Turned out this meal was exactly what she thought it was about—trying to get her to spy on Jameson Industries. She wasn’t interested in anything from Jeff but she sure wasn’t interested in that.

“A trip to nowhere.” She looked around for the restroom. From there she could make an easy escape. That sounded smarter than risking Jeff making a scene. “No, thanks.”

She turned in her chair and started to get up.

Jeff’s hand clamped down on her wrist. “Sit down.”

She didn’t jerk back or start yelling. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing his touch made her want to throw up the stale protein bar she’d choked down before coming into the restaurant fifteen minutes ago. “Amazing how you become less charming when you don’t get what you want.”

“I tried this the nice way. I offered you a job months ago, and you said no. I just offered you an easy way to make extra money and you pushed it away.” He dropped her wrist and sat back again. “Do you see what I’m saying?”

She refused to rub her wrist to alleviate the burning sensation of his hold. “That you can’t take no for an answer.”

“You’re the problem here, Abby.”

She was just about done with overbearing businessmen. Seeing how others operated made her appreciate Derrick and Spence’s style even more. No wonder Eldrick had thought he could get away with bullying. Apparently, it was the go-to move for many just like him.

But the comment did intrigue her. She gave in to her curiosity. Maybe this way she could prepare for whatever he had planned for the future. “How do you figure that?”

“I’m done losing to Derrick.” Jeff shook his head. “All I need is some information. Not on every job, of course. That would look suspicious.”

In other words, Jeff couldn’t compete on a fair playing field. Good to know. “I work there. Screwing him screws me.”

“You have a safety net in my office in the form of any managerial position you want. I’ll make up a title for you.”

Right, because that’s how this worked. Once she broke the trust in one office, her reputation would be in shambles. No one would hire her, not even Jeff. But that didn’t even matter because she wasn’t tempted. Just because Jeff was that type didn’t mean she was.

He’d made a similar offer at the lowest point in her business career. She’d been harassed and just lost Spence. Felt vulnerable and convinced she’d be fired. She guessed she’d given off a pathetic vibe. But still, she didn’t bite then. She had no idea why Jeff thought she would now.

“You’re asking the wrong person. I don’t play like this.” She had pride and integrity and didn’t plan to forfeit either.

“You’re going to regret this.” Jeff stared at the untouched envelope then picked it up again. Slipped it in his jacket pocket.

“The lunch? I already do.”

“We’ll see how funny you think this is after...”

After what? She was dying to know. “Goodbye, Jeff.”

She got up and forced her legs to move. Something about his tone and that last comment pulled at her as she walked away. The words could mean anything. But she’d learned early to expect the worst. Now she did.

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