Page 16 of Second Chance at Love (Chance At Love Duet 1)

As I put my hand on my forehead, I guarded him wearily. I wondered who was crazier here, him or I.

He leaned across the table, his eyes never wavering from mine. “You must have thought about it if you had a solution for the birth control clause.” Oh how suggestive his voice was!

I sighed. “Kristoff, what you are doing is wrong.” I emphasized the last word in a low voice and tried to keep my cool. “You will get yourself sued. Haven’t you heard about the Me Too movement?” I shake my head in disbelief. “Do yourself a favor and find a girlfriend! It is probably safer for everyone.”

“Are you volunteering?” His voice was deep and his hot gaze gave me butterflies. It made me lose my thought completely.

“What?” I was confused. “Volunteering for what?”

“Are you volunteering to be my girlfriend then?” His voice was all business.

I looked at him in exasperation. “No, I’m not volunteering for anything, least of all to be your girlfriend! I need a job. And I am not sleeping with you or anyone else as a part of that job.” I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Seriously, Kristoff, this is probably illegal.” I leaned closer to him over the table and lowered my voice, adding, “This is fifty shades of kinky, and there is nothing cool about it.”

“I’ll update the salary to two hundred and fifty thousand a year. Just say yes, Gemma.”

I stared at him in disbelief. Is this guy for real? What he is proposing is completely inappropriate.

Although I have a feeling the sex would be out of this world.

No, no, no! It is out of the question to consider anything like this. Completely wrong! Maybe I should just tell him I am not that great in bed.

Who in their right mind would pay that much for a salary?I think to myself.What am I saying? Maybe I should be asking who in their right mind would refuse that salary?

I could do so much with a salary like that. I would be able to pay bills comfortably, ensure my kids keep the roof over their head, and put food on the table. It is more than I made working as the CFO for a small private company. I could take the kids on a vacation, a real vacation.

I looked back to him, considering him. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t an attractive man. He was hot, and I wasn’t the only one that noticed that. Most of the women in this restaurant were gawking at him.

What the hell is a man like that doing being single?I thought to myself.There has to be something wrong with him to need a contract like this.

“Do you want to know more about our benefits?” Kristoff's voice was smooth, like he was talking to a lover about something sexy. I nodded, buying myself time to get my sense back.

“Our benefits are excellent with no copay. We have catered lunch every day, and breakfast every Monday. Four weeks of vacation per year. Working hours are from nine sharp till six in the evening on some days, but more often till eight.”

That’s not so bad, I thought. If I could only get over the whole sex thing. As if he could hear my thoughts, he continued, “Generally, I would require one day a week for sexual activity, approximately an hour. I ensure pleasure is guaranteed for both of us.”

I was staring at him. When did the world come to this?

I leaned back into my seat, and I couldn’t move my eyes away from him. Did he not realize that what he is proposing is wrong on so many levels? The most important lesson of my marriage with Jack had taught me to never let a man think they own me. I was foolish thinking my marriage to Jack was going to be like my parents who loved, cherished, and respected each other above all. I would never put myself in such a vulnerable position again, and I strongly felt that signing that piece of paper gave Kristoff Baldwin some ownership over me and my body.

The waiter was back with our lunch and must have sensed the tense situation at our table because he cleared fast.

I glanced at the magnificent view. I could never afford to come here. When the menu doesn’t have prices listed, it is clear it is way too expensive. I was way out of my element here.

“Try not to look at it as black or white,” Kristoff interrupted my thoughts. I looked at him again.

It is easy for him to say that when he won’t have to be available at my every whim. It will be the other way around. God, but the money. That is a lot of money!

I looked at my salad, realizing I had no appetite at all. I laid a napkin on my lap and slowly started eating. I knew he was looking at me, and I studiously ignored him.

After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up. “Gemma…”

I swallowed hard, dabbed my lips, then opened my mouth. “I am sorry, Kristoff. It is a very generous offer… it really is! But I cannot take it. I will be taking another job.”

His gaze on me was intense. “If you are referring to the job where Betty’s husband works, that offer is no longer on the table.” I stared at him in shock, dumbfounded and trying to process what he just said.

“What? How? What do you mean?” I asked in a whisper.

“You know well what I mean,” he replied. “I spoke to the owner of the company, and they retracted the offer.”

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