Page 19 of Cinderella Hired for His Revenge

His eyes narrowed. “What are you not saying?”

“It’s none of my business.”

“Spit it out, Alexandra.”

His haughty tone made her throw caution to the wind.

“It just doesn’t seem like you.”

The thundercloud that gathered on his handsome face nearly made her take a step back. Foreboding washed over her.

“What doesn’t seem like me?” His voice was deceptively soft, silky and menacing. “The success? The wealth? That people want to work with someone who started off as a mere gardener?”

Her heart clenched. The old Grant had been proud of his roots, uncaring about what others thought of him as long as he did his best. When had he started to care what others thought?

“No. I just remember you talking about starting scholarship programs for immigrant students, things like that.”

“I’ve made millions in donations.”

“And that’s great.” She put a hand to her forehead as a headache started to pound away at her temples. “You just seem more...removed. Like other things have become more important.”

“I changed, Alexandra. You, more than anyone else, should know the reason why.”

With that harsh parting shot ringing in the air, he turned and continued the tour. Alexandra stared at his back for a long moment. Her entire body ached for him, for everything he had given up on, the emptiness of his victories and, most of all, that he now saw his past and everything he’d overcome as weaknesses instead of incredible strengths.

“And your room will be around the corner in the other guest wing where the rest of the Pearson Group employees are staying.”

She shook her head. She must have heard him wrong.

“My room?”

He turned to face her, a slight wrinkle between his thick brows.

“Your room,” he repeated slowly. “Is there a problem?”

“I just... I thought...”

That I wouldn’t be staying under the same roof as you. That I would barely have to see you.

“Did you think you would commute from New York every day?”

“No. But I can get a room at a hotel—”

“All of my employees are staying at the house.”

“Okay, but I’m not a regular employee.”

Could he hear her panic? She didn’t want to shell out the money for a hotel, but anything was preferable to being just steps away from where Grant slept, showered, dressed...

“This is non-negotiable.”

The finality in his voice signaled she had two choices: accept the inevitable and suck it up for a week or kiss the contract goodbye. She blew out a harsh breath. Okay, so they would be staying in the same house. A house full of other people. And it wasn’t like her room was next to his, or that he even liked her. No, his icy contempt was on full display.

“Fine.” She managed to force a smile that probably looked more like a baring of her teeth. “Thank you.”

Did she imagine the flash of triumph in his eyes? Whether she had or not, she certainly didn’t imagine the nauseating feeling in the pit of her stomach. While this was different from her father, she didn’t like submitting to someone else’s power, feeling helpless and like her life was being arranged for her.

As she passed by the last room toward the back, she stopped, her queasiness disappearing as she stared in awe.

---