Page 24 of Sexting the Billionaire

I should delete this conversation. I should absolutely, definitely delete it and pretend none of this ever happened. That would be the smart, professional thing to do.

But I've never been one to deny myself what I want. Not when it's within reach.

And Cassandra Monroe is very much within reach.

I've already decided she's getting the job—her talent and vision make that an easy call. But that doesn't mean I'm going to pretend our accidental connection never happened. Quite the opposite.

I want her to know exactly who she's been texting. I want her to face the same heat and tension I'm feeling. I want to see if the chemistry I just felt is a fluke or something worth pursuing, professional complications be damned.

I type:

Welcome to Elysian, Cassie. And no, sweetheart, I'm not Camden. I'm much more… perceptive.

My thumb hovers over the send button as common sense wages war with impulse. This is crossing a line. Several lines. Professional lines. Ethical lines. The kinds of lines that get CEOs hauled before HR committees and splashed across business tabloids.

But those eyes. That unflinching honesty. The electricity when our hands touched.

I hit send.

The game has officially begun.

And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I have no inkling how it will end.

7

CASSIE

MIXED SIGNALS

"He'swhat?" Olivia screeches, causing at least three patrons in the coffee shop to swivel their heads in our direction.

I slap my hand over her mouth, looking around frantically. "Could you possibly be louder? I don't think they heard you inChina."

After the textbombshell outside Elysian headquarters, I'd dragged Olivia to the farthest coffee shop I could find—one where no fashion industry people would ever set foot, judging by the mismatched furniture and chalkboard menu featuring drinks with punny names instead of proper Italian terminology.

"Sorry,"Olivia whispers dramatically once I remove my hand. "But holy shit, Cassie. Roman Kade is your sexy mystery texter? The Roman Kade? Billionaire, fashion mogul, 'Sexiest CEO Alive' according toBusiness Insider?"

"Apparently,"I groan, dropping my head into my hands. "And now he's going to be my boss. If he even hires me, which he probably won't because who wants an employee who accidentally sexted them?"

"Umm, have you seen yourself?" Olivia gestures at me like I'm a prize on a game show.

"Plus, didn't you say the interview went well? Before the whole text revelation thing?"

I peek at her through my fingers. "I guess? I told him his brand had lost its way."

"You WHAT?" Olivia chokes on her latte.

"I was being honest! That's what Lumière needs—someone who'll fight for authentic vision instead of chasing trends!"

Olivia stares at me like I've sprouted a second head. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? The Cassie I know would never tell a billionaire CEO his business strategy sucks."

She's right.

Pre-Camden-breakup Cassie would have smiled and nodded and presented watered-down concepts that wouldn't rock any boats.

"I guess getting dumped at my anniversary dinner and then finding my ex cheating the next day really freed up some mental real estate," I mutter.

"Freedom looks good on you," Olivia says, clinking her mug against mine. "Even if it comes with accidental sexting complications."

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