Page 78 of The Prince's Game
“So you bought my portfolio.”
“More or less.” I noticed his sundae was twice the size of mine as he climbed into bed beside me. “But that’s irrelevant. The point is, I want to invest in your work. So let’s start there. What exactly do you need to do your job?”
“Clients.”
“Those come with word of mouth and won’t be an issue with the work you produce. I’m talking about logistics. Do you need an office?”
I licked my spoon and considered. “Maybe. For meetings with potential clients and any staff I might need, but most of my work can be done from a computer. I specialize in web design more than anything else, but I’ve dabbled in print, too. So I would need access to a printing distributor of some kind.”
“Which can be found anywhere.”
“Yes.” I took another bite before continuing. “But yeah, I mostly need a computer and internet. The company I interned with in college gave me a part-time position after the, uh, show.” I swallowed. “Anyway, I don’t have a desk or office with them, but they issued me a company laptop.”
“Did you go back to Stern and Associates to ask for your job back?”
I laughed. “No, I didn’t. They wouldn’t have taken me back even if I begged, and the truth is, I didn’t want to go back. If I learned anything over the last few months, it’s that I want to make a difference with my work even if it means having to bartend and do other odd jobs to pay rent.”
“Because your dream is to run your own marketing firm and pick the projects that matter.”
“Yes.”
“And you can do that from anywhere as long as you have a computer, Wi-Fi, access to a print shop, and maybe an office for meetings. Correct?”
“Yes. What are you getting at?”
He enjoyed another bite and licked his lips. “I travel a lot for work, but there’s internet on my jet and in all my hotels. The funds set aside for your marketing firm could be used for equipment, like computers and software, and could also be used to contract with printing companies. I believe the only outstanding item is an office for meetings. Is Chicago your preferred location?”
The innocent question was laced with a hidden agenda. I could see it in his too-perceptive gaze. He wasn’t just asking me about work. “I like Chicago, but I told you a long time ago that I would be open to other cities if the opportunity was right.”
He considered that over another spoonful of ice cream. “My headquarters is in New Orleans, as is my primary estate, but I, too, would move for the right opportunity.”
I set my empty bowl on the nightstand and turned toward him. “What exactly are we negotiating here? Where I want to manage my firm from if I agree to your partnership, or where I want to live?”
“We’ll start with where you want an officewhenyou agree to my partnership.”
“IfI were to agree, I would be open to options. I want to be in a big city with a popular airport, making it easy to fly potential clients in or travel to meetings.”
“You could use my jet for the latter.”
“Unless you’re using it.”
He shrugged. “We would work it out, but I’m holding you to the naked part. That’s going in the contract.”
Of course he remembered my promise to forgo clothes on his jet. “I want to update that clause to make your nudity mandatory, too.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I take conference calls from my plane.”
“Well, that’ll be interesting for you, then, won’t it?” I imagined being on my knees during one of his calls, making it difficult for him to concentrate.Yes, please.
“We’ll draft a clause that says naked when appropriate.” He pressed a finger to my lips when I would have suggested another edit. “Where do you want to live, Sarah?” His serious tone wiped the smile from my face.
“I’m okay living with Rachel in Chicago.” I wasn’t sure what he meant. “Unless... are you asking me where I want to live . . . with you?” It was a stupid question. What else could he mean?
He placed his bowl on the table and turned to me. “Let’s clarify a few things so there are no miscommunications between us. First, I love you. Second, I want to invest in your firm because I think it’s a smart business decision. Third, I want to live with you. And lastly, marriage still isn’t my favorite institution, but I would like to marry you. Maybe not tomorrow or next week, but I’d like to discuss your feelings on it. I’m not proposing again until I know where you are with all this and with us.”
My mouth stopped working. It hung open while words piled up in my throat, but no sound escaped.Marriage? He couldn’t be serious. Had we known each other long enough to get married?No. But I loved him. No man would ever mean as much to me as Evan did. His devotion to his employees, his passion for his work, the way he praised and valued my career, and his overall care for me as a person were all traits I admired about him.
“Oh, I forgot one stipulation I want to discuss. Your photographer eye is useful for location scouting, so I want you to accompany me on future trips abroad when looking at potential properties. I’m not negotiating this one. Iceland was a unique experience for me, and I have every intention of repeating that experience.”
