Page 37 of Heart of Stone

“That makes sense,” I said thoughtfully. “But it seems like you have it all worked out. Why do you need me?”

“Surprisingly, the small firm has exceeded my expectations and other businesses have inquired about advertising with me. Because of my limited knowledge, I have refused to take on any outside clients. However, I’ve seen the potential money that can be made, and it would be foolish to hold Turning Stone back. That’s why I am looking to recruit you. I want you to build Turning Stone Advertising into a lucrative business venture for me.” He paused and rubbed his finger over his chin contemplatively. “If you can do that successfully, there may be the opportunity for a partnership down the road.”

“Having a partner doesn’t really fit your motif. You don’t strike me as the type of person that likes to answer to people. A partner means that you don’t get to call all the shots,” I told him skeptically.

He simply nodded his agreement and took my pessimism in stride.

“I’ll admit that I’ve never even considered the possibility of a partnership until now. But you have me at a slight disadvantage. Advertising is an unexplored territory for me. I may have the money to back the endeavor, but you have the knowledge that I don’t possess. I want your expertise and, in the meantime, I will pay you a substantial salary while you work on growing the business portfolio. You will be, in a sense, an investment for me.”

All of this seems to good to be true.

“I don’t know,” I said, giving voice to my doubts.

“I don’t know what you’re so unsure about, Krystina. I am offering you the chance of a lifetime. You can build a company almost from the ground up, with no cost to you.”

“Mr. Stone, I’m a recent college graduate with little to no experience in the field, other than a few brief internships in college. While I’m somewhat flattered that you think I can do this, I’m sure that you could find someone with better qualifications.”

“Maybe. But I’ve done my research and I think that you are more than capable to do what needs to be done. You’re smart, determined, and driven. Those are three very admirable qualities in my book. And more importantly, I’m looking for someone that’s fresh.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you are,” I responded with a snort. “Fresh meat is what you’re most likely after.”

The corners of his mouth tilted up slightly in a knowing smile, but he didn’t take the bait.

“I want freshideas– someone that’s willing to go outside the box and do what needs to be done. I often find that experienced individuals are attached to narrow-minded ideas,” he clarified.

“I’m still not buying it. What’s the catch?” I asked suspiciously.

“You’re very perceptive too, Krystina. Another admirable quality,” he said. His blue eyes flickered with mischief. “I may have a few other ideas for you as well.”

“Such as?”

“You’re an intelligent woman. Why don’t you tell me?”

“Honestly, Stone. You’re so damned cryptic all the time. I constantly feel like you’re skirting around what you really want to say. Please, enlighten me,” I said testily. I pursed my lips in annoyance. Any tolerance I might have momentarily had for playing his guessing games had reached its limit.

“You can consider it a proposition of sorts, but it’s not something that I wish to discuss here.” He waved his hand in the air in reference to the coffee shop. “We can talk about it more over dinner tonight.”

Holy crap!Is megabucks asking me out?

Not that it should have mattered. I had promised myself that I would not allow him to get under my skin again, no matter what. Even if this job were a golden opportunity, I was barely hanging on to my wavering conviction as it was. Going out to dinner with him would be my undoing. I was sure of it.

“You still didn’t answer my question. But either way, I have plans tonight,” I responded nonchalantly, lifting my chin in the air.

It wasn’t a lie exactly. I had planned a date with a treadmill.

His eyes flashed again, but this time with a dark glimmer of words unspoken, searing into me and throwing me off balance. My confidence faltered, teetering as if on the edge of a precipice, and suddenly I wasn’t so sure if I would be able to fight this battle of wills much longer.

“Fine. If you insist on me spelling out my intentions, then I will,” he said, and took an impatient breath. Placing his palms on the table, he leaned forward. “I’ve tried to get you out of my head, but my efforts don’t seem to be working. So rather than fight the inevitable, I’ve decided to just go with it. I want you, Krystina. Any way that I can have you. Preferably naked.”

WHAT? He wants me naked!

My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets. He said it so flippantly, his tone not even acknowledging the bomb that he just dropped. And it was nuclear. The thought of being naked under Alexander caused goose bumps to trickle down my spine. His blatant honesty was ridiculously hot.

Too hot. This can’t be happening.

I had to get control of this situation quickly before I succumbed to the fight.

“Um…I – I’m not sure I heard you correctly,” I stammered, trying to recover from apparent shock.

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