Page 20 of Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

“I had to quit when Papa became very ill because someone had to nurse him; Maya was too busy and Jaya Ma too distressed to do it. Now, with the medical bills and the loan payment on the house, without Maya earning a paycheck, it will be very tight. I can’t afford to go back and finish my PhD.”

He reached around her to grab the pad. Embarrassment filled her cheeks. “We’ve all been there, Ms. Menon. What’s the loan for?” he asked, tapping the big number.

“Papa took a loan against the house to pay for Jaya Ma’s cosmetic procedures to enable her to get more film roles, but she still hasn’t found enough work. If I don’t keep up with the payments, the bank will seize the house I grew up in. We rent it out because it’s cheaper for us to share a flat.”

Ten different ideas rose to his mouth about how she could cut these expenses in half. But he kept them to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was make her defensive again. “You will have no...problems taking orders from me? Haven’t you heard the horror stories about how this industry treats personal assistants?”

“None of them have been about you. In fact, you have the stellar reputation of being a fair boss. Even Jaya Ma has nothing bad to say about you and believe me, she has an opinion on everyone.”

“Ahh...but none of my staff has ever laid into me with such cutting condemnation about my life.”

She nodded. “Of course, I said things to you that I had no right to.”

He crossed his legs and smiled. But deep inside, he was sorely disappointed. Was she going to turn out like the rest of the damn world now? Pander to him just because she wanted something from him? Stroke his ego all out of proportion because he was in a position to help her out financially? “I’m all ears if you want to apologize.”

“I agree that I had no right to say those words to you. But it doesn’t mean that what I said was untrue. Even if I say sorry, it won’t really be genuine. So do you still want my apology?”

A thrill shot through him at the defiant tilt of her chin.

There was an undeniable attraction between them. He’d known that before she’d bitten into him that very first time. But the interesting thing was that it was still there, shimmering in the air between them. In the way she greedily studied his face but looked away when he met her gaze.

In the way the air charged between them.

That was two unusual women that had snared his attention in less than one week. Not a coincidence at all—seeing as they were the same person.

But Dream Girl had made it clear that she’d been looking for a fantasy for only one night.

“You’re consistent, Ms. Menon. I’ll give you that.”

“I couldn’t stand it if you thought I was a hypocrite.”

“For God’s sake! Don’t be ashamed of wanting a better life. Of using the opportunities and people that come your way to build that better life. Or you’ll be left behind while they all use you to climb up their own ladder. Like I assume your stepmother and stepsister are doing.”

“That’s a horrible thing to say about them! Jaya Ma and Maya are my family.”

“And you think family doesn’t manipulate and use you?”

“Please, don’t. You don’t know us. If you want me to say sorry for everything I’ve ever said to you and beg you for this job, then I will do it. I’m—”

He pressed his hand against her mouth in a sudden move that surprised even him. His heartbeat was loud in his ears as the incredible softness of her mouth pressed into his palm. The warmth of her lips singed his skin. The skin of her jaw was silky under the pads of his fingers and he wanted to keep them there forever.

Eyes wide, she stared at him. The same sensual shock traveled through him. There was something about this woman that undid him on a level he didn’t understand. That made excitement thrum through his blood.

“No, Ms. Menon,” he finally said, pulling away his hand. No movement had ever cost him as much willpower as he’d just had to exert to pull away from her. “I will not be responsible for bringing you that low. I won’t have that sin at my feet.”

For once, she said nothing. Only continued to stare at him as if she meant to eat him up.

He moved away from her, wondering if he was going mad. Was he actually considering her request? This woman knew him like no one else did. She wanted to go on pretending that they had not been intimate with each other on a level that moved beyond just the physical. She...had the knack of twisting him up, of shaking up rules he’d lived by for years. And still...

If he took away this opportunity from her when she clearly needed it, what kind of a man did it make him?

Was he going to hold the insanity of that night against her? Was he going to be a petulant little man, a shadow of his father, just because she wouldn’t admit to him that she wanted him?

God, no!

And even if she admitted to him that it had been her, what would he do with that information? Offer her another one-night stand? A fling that would only hurt her in the end? A relationship that he would walk away from as soon as he became bored? Because, it was inevitable that he would.

He turned around to face her. “If I agree, there will be a clear hierarchy between us. I would be your boss and you my assistant. Not my personal morality advisor. Neither will I allow a repetition of those lectures you’re really fond of spouting.”

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