Page 9 of The Protégé

“There’s no fine print.” Something sparked in his eyes. “You might change your mind after you hear what I have to say, Ms. Sanchez.”

He knows me?

Well, that wasn’t hard. I worked for Channel 7 News in Providence. He probably saw me on the news.

Orion leaned against the hood of his car, folded his powerful arms in front of his chest, and studied me. I believed God was playing favorites when Orion was born. I’d never met any man with his captivating features. I couldn’t even describe him in words. He was beyond stunning. A new word had to be invented for him.

Don’t wobble. Don’t stumble.

The bones in my legs felt like they were dissolving, leaving me with nothing solid to stand on. Fearing I’d collapse in front of him, I stepped onto the curb and leaned against the pole with a one-hour parking sign. I inhaled and exhaled, trying my best to stay balanced. He probably thought I was acting strange, but I didn’t care.

I’d never reacted to a man like this. I blamed my condition on this terrifying situation, the blazing sun, and financial doom.

“Why aren’t you mad about the damages?”

“What makes you think I’m not?” he countered.

I didn’t have time for games. “How much do I owe you?”

CHAPTER THREE

ORION

“You can’t afford it,”I said, feeling a little better than I had earlier. Her beautiful face was the perfect distraction from my shitty day.

Elena didn’t even bother looking away when she rolled her eyes at me. Sexy. Challenging. Like a secret dare only I understood. I admired the brave gesture. Most people would surrender and agree to everything I demanded, especially given the situation. She damaged my car, so I had the upper hand here.

The more I studied Elena, the more she fascinated me. Caution and suspicion gleamed in her brown eyes. If I were her, I’d do the same thing. She had smashed into my precious car, and her salary couldn’t cover it. She knew this, and yet she hadn’t run away. That intrigued me the most.

Her luscious lips formed a defiant pout. She was a beautiful woman trying to contain the fire within her. From my experience, a passionate person got things done properly.

I’d seen when her car slammed into mine. The camera from my car, the cameras from the street, and the ones on the building had all showed up on my feed. Normally I used my parking spotin the garage, but it would have cost me a few more minutes, and time had been scarce today. So when I saw this open spot, I pulled in. The conference room was just through the set of doors. Promptness was my forte, as it should be with people who ran multiple empires.

“Why don’t you stop playing games and just tell me?” Irritation coated her voice.

I enjoyed the gorgeous view more than I expected.

“I don’t have time for games.”

The first time I’d seen her was at the Mount Centauri Museum, when I revealed my identity to Arrow, Remington, Grayson, Royce, and Forrest—the WaterFyre Rising boys. The second time was at Aimee and Kaylee’s stuffed animal debut.

“Stop being an arrogant ass,” she said without blinking.

I wondered if she’d hold a grudge against me.

“Just because I want to take my time doesn’t make me arrogant, Elena.” I liked the way her name sounded on my lips. “Why don’t you want to hear my proposal?”

She pushed herself off the metal pole and flicked me an annoyed look. “It’s probably wrapped in thorns. Not interested. What’s the damage?”

“Do you know how much my car cost?”

“Why do you people spend so much money on a car?”

“Why not? I work hard for my money. I like beautiful things.”

She pulled out her phone, glanced at it, and muttered. “Shit.”

Anxiety strained her face as she tossed the phone back into her purse.

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