Page 339 of The Sinner: James

“Sir?”

“That’s all. We’re done for today,” he says curtly, pushing out of his chair.

Lynn sweeps the folders off his desk, nods to me, and walks out the door.

My lips curve into a smile.

“Do you think pushing away one beautiful woman will solve the problem?”

Grinning, he shakes his head.

“No. But it will send a message.”

15

JAMES

New York

“Areyou sure you want to do it?” I ask.

She flicks her eyes to me, annoyed.

I barely stifle a grin.

“James?”

“What, babe?”

“You should consider yourself lucky that I took you with me. I knew you were gonna be a big pain in the butt.”

“I only bring pleasure to your butt, and you fucking know it,” I say as we go past the receptionist’s desk and veer onto a hallway, entering the firm.

She shushes me, exasperated, as two women clad in business suits cross paths with us.

Their eyes fly to me, and judging by their flirting smiles, they have probably heard me.

“James,” she hisses at me under her breath. “If you’re planning to misbehave, I swear I’m gonna make you wait outside,” she says half-seriously.

Quirking my lips, I crush a smile.

“I’m part of the deal.”

“And yet your presence is not necessary. I can work it out with your accountant and your lawyers, and you can sign the papers later if... he agrees to it.”

“He better.”

She clasps a hand on her waist, giving me a pointed look.

My eyes slide down her body.

Her fitted skirt suit sets off her silhouette, doing her justice.

“Why would he?” she asks, gently gripping my chin and making me lift my gaze and look at her face.

We’re standing in the middle of the corridor, people rushing by.

“He gets way more money than the value of your company, and I’ll drive that up if I need to. He’s a businessman. He’ll take it,” I say.

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