Page 11 of The Charmer's Gambit
Will and his fucking mouth were going to cost me my job.
“So what would it take to have her be my primary point of contact?” Will asked, lacing his fingers over his leather binder, completely at ease. “Or at the very least, be my on-site legal representation as needed?”
My jaw threatened to unhinge. This wasn’t the same as asking me to move to North Carolina, but it certainly came close to it. Except I wouldn’t have to live there. Nor would I be working directly for him.Clever bastard. He found a loophole around both of my reasons for turning him down, and he went over my head. If the firm assigned me this project, I would have to accept or commit career suicide.
His high-handedness made me sick to my stomach. This deal would force me into a corner with no way out and place him in a position of power over me. I should have expected this tactic. A man like Will got what he wanted, just like all the other rich men in this world.
You’re nothing but a puppet. . .
I shivered as Ryan’s voice slid through my mind.Not now.
“As I said, typically a partner is the primary contact, but if you prefer to work directly with Miss Dawson, we could assign her as the lead attorney on the project. She would need to work with one of us, at least in terms of advice and general management, but could serve as your lead counsel. And wecould arrange for her to be on-site as needed, whether that be in North Carolina or internationally.” Janet looked at me. “We would need to clear your workload and meet off-line to review the details.”
My teeth were clenched too tightly to verbalize a response, so I simply nodded. I could not believe this was happening. Will Mershano was going to win. What a great way to start a business relationship, with me saying no and him forcing me to comply anyway.
This was why I hated wealthy men. They always won in the end and didn’t care who they hurt in the process.
“That sounds amenable to me,” Will murmured. “When your team draws up the formal proposal, I would like those terms included.”
“Of course,” Jeff replied as he switched presentations on his computer to a financial report screen. I tried to listen while he reviewed the proposed hourly rates and general project-resource needs, but a roaring sound had taken over in my head. I’d gotten so caught up in Will’s game of cat and mouse that I never considered he would take it to this level.
You were starting to trust him, my conscience accused. A stupid thing to do considering my history. I just never thought he’d go over my head and force my hand. Yet here we were, sitting in a conference room while my fate was decided for me. Ryan already dictated my personal life, and now Will would own my professional world. Where did that leave me?
By the time our meeting ended, my blood was boiling. I wanted to punch something, preferably the arrogant son of a bitch standing beside me, but my employers would frown upon that. When he reached out to shake my hand, I squeezed a little too hard and gave him a tight smile. I thought a hint of concern deepened his brown eyes, but it was gone in a flash as he focused on Jeff’s inquiry regarding lunch.
“Sure,” he replied.
As they started to discuss lunch location prospects, I politely excused myself. The meeting was only on my calendar until noon, and it was half past that already. I murmured something to Janet about needing to finish a contract by the end of the day—which wasn’t a lie—and she let me go with a pleased grin.
I didn’t bother saying goodbye to our “future client.” He could eat dirt as far as I was concerned. Besides, I’d be seeing more than enough of him over the coming months. If he thought I’d be thankful or cheery about that, then he had another thing coming.
Will Mershano was about to meet a whole new side of me. And he wouldn’t like her one bit.
4
Familiar Ringtones
I threw myself into work mode the moment I entered my office. There was too much to do, and thinking about this morning’s meeting made me want to vomit. Reviewing contracts always put my mind at ease because it forced me to focus. I was on the second to last page when someone knocked on the door. Unlike the top floor, mine was made of wood and not glass, so I couldn’t see my intruder.
With a sigh, I sat back in my chair and called, “Come in.”
Will Fucking Mershano entered in that carefree way of his, holding a plastic bag in one hand and a drink in the other.
“Lunch?” he asked as he closed the door with his foot. He had lost his jacket and tie somewhere and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt to expose his muscular forearms. My damn hormones did a little jig at the walking male advertisement, while my eyes narrowed.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” The words escaped me before I could swallow them. His brow dipped down, which only further infuriated me. “You couldn’t even give me a few hours of peace after forcing my hand? Unbelievable.”
He set the items down on my desk and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “Not the reception I expected—”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I stood up to be more on his level. He still had half a foot on me, but it was better than looking up at him from my desk. “Do you want me to fawn all over you now? Say how thankful I am that you don’t understand the wordno? My bad, Will. Thank you for forcing me to work for you after I repeatedly said I didn’t want to. I truly appreciate it. Is that better?”
His eyebrows hit his hairline. “Okay, you have this all wrong—”
“Do I?” I stepped into his personal space and hit him with my best glare. “Did you not just open negotiations with my firm to hire them? All so you can force me to work with you? Because you know I’ll have no choice. It’s either I accept the project or forfeit my career, especially after you so beautifully brought up how we met. You do realize law firms frown upon their employees taking on pro bono work for friends, right? Of course you do; who am I kidding? Is this how you win all your games? By backing women into corners they can’t fight from?”
My tone was semi-hysterical by the end, but I didn’t care. After Ryan’s surprise visit, and now this, it was a miracle I could formulate words. Fury and fear fought for control inside of me, and right now the former was winning.
Will said nothing for a long moment, his dark eyes clouded by shock and an emotion I didn’t recognize. Regret, maybe? No. That couldn’t be. Men likehimdidn’t understand the meaning of the term, let alone feel it.
