Page 61 of A Billion Dollar Romance
“And the third reason?” I asked.
“The third reason…” he took a sip of his water. “The third reason was to show you off,” he said, and I frowned.
“That was the first reason.”
“No, Edie,” he said. “The first reason was for our contract. The agreement we made with the Verity legal department.” He lifted his wine glass, leaning back in his chair to swirl it before looking up at me. “The third was for me.”
I had picked up my own wine glass; I put it down again. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that when I had you on my arm, the satisfaction I felt had nothing to do with Verity’s quarterly earnings report, Edie. It was mine. When you made small talk with the wives and networked with the agents, I was pleased not because you were reflecting well on me, but because I was proud of you. When my colleagues asked about you, I told them you were mine, and I didn’t do it out of duty.”
My breath caught, my mouth running dry.
“I did it because you are.”
“James–” I said, but he shook his head.
“And then my colleagues asked me about quarterly earnings, and asked you about your writing…” he said slowly. His lips curved into a crooked smile. “I was jealous. I thought I wanted to show you off–that dress, the way you look, your brilliance…”
“I–”
“But it turned out, I wanted to keep you all to myself.” He took a deep breath, his chest expanding against the white dress shirt he wore. “And I know that wasn’t fair. I didn’t have that right. That wasn’t part of the agreement.”
What was he saying?I couldn’t tell where his confession was headed, but he seemed to be waiting for a response. “Neither was sleeping together,” I murmured, my throat tight, hands clenched tighter under the white cloth draped over the table.
“Neither was sleeping together,” he echoed with a gentle laugh. “And maybe if we hadn’t–if we’d managed to stay professional, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. But… Edie,” he said, and he reached across the table, his palm up. “What I’m telling you is:I don’t want this to be just a business agreement.”
I blinked.
“It’s selfish, I know, but I want more. To me, you’re already mine. I just want you to–”
I carefully lifted my hand to place it in his.
My left hand.
The ring glittered on my finger, just over my pulse.
I hadn’t recognized the tension on his face until it melted away. He looked up at me.
“James,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I’ve always been yours.”
He shook his head. “You don’t have to say that, I–”
“It’s true. That first night–at the bar,” I said. “I told myself: just one night.” I smiled down at our clasped hands. “I told myself that it would be a one-night thing, that you wouldn’t remember me, that I could just be one of your flings. One of the many women James Martin takes to bed with him, because he can.”
“Never, Edie, not you,” he growled, but I continued.
“And then the next day, I was terrified.” He shook his head, but I squeezed his hand silent. “I thought I would be fired–after all, I’d slept with the boss. But then… you asked me to be your fiancée, of all things. And I thought, well, maybe it won’t be just for one night. Maybe he’ll indulge with his fiancée, even if it isn’t real, if it’s all temporary. But, James,” I said, and forced myself to look him in the eyes. “I’ve always wanted more. Even when I couldn’t have it… Professor Martin.”
His eyes blazed, and even though I had figured it out, had known it, what he said still surprised me:
“You could have.”
But I shook my head. “No. Because back then, I do think I would have been one of your conquests. I would have been the student you slept with, and you would have been ashamed. But now… I’m not your student anymore.”
“You’re still my employee,” he said, but I laughed softly.
“I may be your employee, but it’s too late to worry about that,” I smiled. “Everyone already knows–or thinks they know, at least–about us.”
