Page 19 of Serving the CEO

The words were delivered in an implacably polite tone, and I suspected that if I told her, yes, I was firing her, she’d just collect her purse, head out and go for a walk in Central Park. She’d also end up hired by another publisher before the end of the day and become competition. That was the last thing I wanted right now.

“No, Ms. Ellis. I’m not firing you,” I said, not caring for the idea of her working under someone else. “In fact, I have a business proposition for you.”

“Really.” She lifted a cool brow. “If this is about the Danbridge project, I can’t help you.” One corner of her mouth twitched. “Or rather, Iwon’thelp you.”

I clenched my jaw, then immediately relaxed it, reminding myself of the real reason she was here. “Of course not. That’s being handled.”

“Hmmm.” Her lips did curve into a smile at that, and I had a feeling I’d just amused her at my own expense.

I ignored it and the way it’d made my cock harden. “No, this is something altogether different—and if you agree, it could fix everything for your mom and dad’s bookstore.”

That knocked the smile off her face and something like hope flashed in her eyes before she composed herself.

She lifted her chin. “And how could it do that?”

“I’m working on my next book.” I waited for a response, but she didn’t look even remotely curious.

“It requires a bit of a…social experiment.”

“And how does that involve me?”

“It’s quite simple.”

She’d say yes. She had to. She desperately wanted to protect the store that was her parents’ legacy, and this would do it.

“I want you to be a participant in my experiment. For the next three months, we date, and then we get married for the period of one year, after which the experiment is completed, and we’ll divorce. In return for your participation, your parents will get to keep their store. And, they can keep their apartment, too.” Smiling a little, I added, “I’ll also make your position in our company as editor in the women’s self-help department permanent. You’ll be able to sign any new talent you see fit.”

Her eyes narrowed as she leaned forward slightly. “Are you on drugs?”

NINE

JESSICA

He didn’tlookcrazy.

But this proposal was the most batshit thing I’d ever heard, so he had to be nuts, right?

Except…

It would fix everything for your mom and dad.

“I don’t know you,” I said. My voice came out calm and level, despite the erratic beat of my heart and the nerves twisting through my belly. This was only the second time I’d ever been alone with this man, and he was essentially proposing to me as a business proposition.

“That’s what the three months of dating are about.” The condescension in his voice pissed me off. “We get to know each other.”

“And what if we decide we can’t stand each other after that?” I paused, then added, “I’m already not particularly fond of you, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.”

“You’re pissed because I fired your friend. That was a business decision.” He didn’t seem perturbed. “You’re making it personal.”

Okay, if he wanted to make this just about business, then fine. I’d call him on his bullshit there then.

“It was abadbusiness decision,” I retorted. “There’s never just one set of eyes on a manuscript, which you should know since you run a publishing house. Human beings aren’t perfect, Mr. Thomas. If you want perfection, work with robots.”

His eyes darkened, a faint smile appearing on his face as he watched me. It threw me off since I hadn’t expected it, but I wasn’t about to let it show. I put my hands on my hips.

“You have absolutely no trouble speaking your mind, do you?”

“No.” I lifted a challenging brow. It was obvious he wasn’t used to having people speak so bluntly to him. He was intimidating, sure, but his bullshit had pushed me past the line, and once I crossed the line, there was no going back. He’d lost my respect.

---