Page 13 of The Prince's Game
“Oh, I have a laptop at home.” Because I wasn’t allowed to bring it with me on the show. “I only borrowed this one today because it was here and connected to the internet.”
“You have a laptop here or in Chicago?”
“Chicago.” Why did he look so incredulous?
“So you planned to fly back this weekend and then return to the show?”
“No, I plan to be home by then. Well, I mean, I expected you to kick me off last night, but that went to hell in a handbasket because of your cousin. So I figure you’ll let me go this round and I’ll be home in plenty of time to work on my projects.” This ad was one of many presentations due in a few days. It was going to be a long weekend.
“I’m letting you go?”
“Well, that’s the hope anyway.” Realizing how that sounded, I grimaced. “I’m sorry. That was rude. This has nothing to do with you; it’s just work. They’ll fire me if I’m not back on Monday.”
“Because they don’t know you’re here?”
“Among other things, yes. I didn’t know I was going to be here until the paperwork arrived in the mail, and by that point, Abby was already on a plane to Europe. Otherwiseshewould be here. I’m sure your producers would love her.”
His grin made my belly flip. Those cute dimples were back. “She, or you, or whoever, was entertaining in those interviews.”
“I bet.” Abby was an actress at heart. That was how she snagged all her wealthy boyfriends. It was never about love for her, but she played the hopeless-romantic role better than anyone I knew. “So anyway . . . that’s why I’m here.”
I took over the mouse and hit save on my work before exporting it to the format my client needed. His hand settled beside mine on the desk as he watched me type up a short email and send the proof back to the customer. It was nerve-racking having him over my shoulder the whole time, but I thrived under pressure. Stern and Associates would never have employed me otherwise.
“You must love your job.”
“I lovemarketing,” I corrected. “Working for Stern and Associates is an amazing opportunity, but helping large corporations amass more wealth isn’t very satisfying.” I typed a link into the web browser and pulled up one of my favorite projects. “I helped design the website for this organization while finishing up my MBA.Thisis my true love.”
I showed him the interactive pages I designed for children at an inner-city school to log physical activity. I had a soft spot for public health programs designed around preventing noncommunicable diseases. They needed the most help because their benefactors tended to pull out when the results weren’t immediate.
“This is amazing.”
“I can’t take all the credit.” I flipped to the contact page. “It was their idea; I just created the website and portals for activity logging. So far, it’s successful.”
“Do you keep in touch with them?”
“Of course. I make updates whenever they request it.”
“And they pay you?” His business side was showing.
“Sure, but nothing compared to what I make with Stern and Associates.” I closed the browser and settled back in the chair. He was leaning over me, reminding me of our interaction last week. The man was oblivious to personal space, not that I minded. Without his jacket on, I was up close and personal with all that delicious muscle beneath his thin white dress shirt.Eye candy indeed. “One day, I want to own my own firm and focus on altruistic projects instead of moneymaking initiatives. I’d still take a few on to pay the bills, but the majority would be public health related.”
“Why not do that now?”
I looked around his ornate reception area. “Not all of us come from the same background that you do, Mister Mershano. I still have an MBA loan to pay off and an expensive studio in Chicago to keep up. Besides, branching out on my own requires contacts and project proposals. I need a couple more years at Stern and Associates before I get there.”
“The job you plan to go back to this weekend.”
“That’s the one.”
The wicked glint was back in his intense gaze. He angled his body toward mine instead of the computer and picked up a strand of my hair. Coiling it around his finger, he murmured, “And if I decide to keep you around?”
My heart jolted. “Why would you do that?”
“Why indeed?” His gaze dropped to my lips. He was about to say more when the elevator opened. His gaze held mine while his mother marched out with a cameraman right behind her. She stopped upon seeing us at the desk, her hazel eyes widening. “I believe that’s my cue to start my rounds. This has been an enlightening conversation, Sarah.”
He pressed his lips to my cheek. The back of his hand brushed my breast as he let go of my hair. My nerves tingled at the unexpected intimacy and woke up parts of me that hadn’t been touched by a man in far too long. Those delicious dark eyes gazed knowingly down at me as he straightened to his full height. He played the part of bad boy caught in the act well. His expression didn’t show an ounce of remorse. I was too flustered to pull that off.
“Let me grab my jacket.” He smoothed out his tie and walked into his office. I avoided the camera by pulling up his memo and reading it for the fifth time. He stopped by the desk on his way out and leaned over to brush a soft kiss against my temple before whispering, “Your internet access shall remain our little secret. Don’t abuse it.”
