by Joya Ryan
I kept his stare but took a few seconds to consider my thoughts. I didn’t think Kyros would tell me something confidential since he never had before, but Leo obviously didn’t look pleased that I knew the truth about the list. I didn’t want to create strain between him and Kyros, so I stuck with the simple truth.
“All I’m aware of is that you are taking dating very seriously.”
“And how did you come to know this?”
“You handed me a list of women, Leo.”
“That’s not an answer to my question, Paige.” He took another step toward me. “Because when I handed you that list, you looked pissed. Now you’re ready to help me find a bride?”
“Yes.” It was better to cut emotional ties with Leo now. After talking with Kyros and realizing the kind of woman Leo could—should—have on his arm, I knew I couldn’t give him what he wanted. Besides, temporary seemed to be my middle name. The least I could do was help him find what he did want.
“I’m going to need a little more detail to explain that jump there.”
I wasn’t about to go into my personal revelation that I was the wrong girl for Leo. So I stuck with, “I was recently made aware of certain . . . circumstances.”
“So Kyros talked to you.”
I kept my face still but Leo obviously knew the answer already. “It was mentioned in passing. To be honest, it helped your case. Here I thought you were just a jackass with a list of women ready to amuse you.”
He arched his brow, then let out a loud laugh. It was so jarring, so contagious that it took everything I had not to smile. My God the man was beautiful when he laughed. Straight white teeth, little creases around his eyes and mouth, and those dimples? Wow.
“Well, as long as you don’t think I’m a jackass, I’ll chalk this up to a good day.”
I smiled a little.
“This arrangement,” he said. “It’s a family thing and I have a responsibility—”
“You don’t need to explain anything to me,” I interrupted. Because it was true. He didn’t. And I understood. It was within his culture and his right to do what he wanted. And even if I were the kind of woman to make it onto that list, there were things he deserved that I could never give.
“I want to explain,” he said. The problem was, I didn’t want to hear it. Because the idea was hard to deal with, much less hearing details from Leo’s lips. It cut something deep down and I didn’t want to feel the dull throb the truth left behind. The truth that in the end, I wasn’t right for Leo. And we both knew it.
“You want a family, right?” I asked.
“Someday.”
I nodded. “Your sister and family obviously care about you. You told me once it was my job to see to your every need. If this is what you want, isn’t it my job to assist with it?”
He winced a little when I threw his words from the other night back at him. But I needed to steel myself against his charm. His warmth. Or else I’d be on the losing end in more ways than one in a couple months when this job ended and we parted ways.
“I don’t like this idea of being with you, then dating someone else,” he said, and the way his voice held a deep rasp made me imagine for a moment we lived in a different world where Leo and I could be together. But we couldn’t.
Between social classes and two separate lives, it wasn’t in the cards for us. Never was. The times I felt him and kissed him were a tease. I knew it. And I’d be wise to stop. For the time being, Leo and I would be around each other. But the time would come, sooner than later, that I’d leave here and life would go on. Just like it always had for me.
“I wouldn’t use you, Paige.”
“It’s fine,” I shrugged. Tapping into the coldness I was so used to. “It would be unwise to carry on the way we have, but I assure you I don’t feel used, nor do I expect anything more than what this is.”
“And what is this?”
“Temporary.”
He’d said this to me in the past and we both knew it to be true. The word hung between us and something in his eyes flashed hot and angry.
“This job is important to me, Leo.”
“I know.”
We stood there, looking at each other. Now was the time to be clear. “Then know too that I put that first.”
“I’ve caught on to that.” He gave a smile that was half sad, half happy. “Part of me is really glad about that.” He looked at my face and my heart hurt a little. “But being aware of your priorities can sting a man’s—”
“Ego?” I offered with a grin, hoping to lighten the mood. But Leo stayed serious, his eyes on mine, and he shook his head.
“His hope.”
That sick feeling overwhelmed me because I knew what a prize hope was. I recently came into a smidge of it and it was brutal.
“Well.” He took a deep breath and walked back around his desk. I never thought I’d be so disappointed to be on the same page with someone. But we were. There was an understanding. Leo knew I wanted this job and, above all else, his recommendation. And I knew I was temporary.
Two facts that should come easy in a professional relationship. Yet my skin still burned from where he had touched me. Where his jaw scraped along my inner thigh right before he . . .
I shook my head. Those were the thoughts that would only bring more complication. Because the middle of our story didn’t matter. The end would be the same.
Nothing.
“Now that we have clear goals with each other, why don’t you bring the others back in?” Leo said.
I nodded and turned to open the door.
“Oh, and Paige?”
I spun to face him.
“Colin Davis is due here in ten minutes. I haven’t had a chance to review his terms yet and can’t make our meeting. Please go tell him we’ll have to reschedule.”
“Terms?”
“He’s been after me to sublet one of my slips to him in the New York port.”
“Is this connected to the Jes Frolos deal in London?”
“Separate deal.”
“Why do you have qualms about this deal, and not the one in London?” I asked.
“Because I trust Jes Frolos. And I’m looking to purchase outright from him. Colin wants to use something that’s mine and will remain mine.” His eyes took a quick, intense sweep of my entire body.
“I see,” I said a little breathily, forcing my focus back on business. Since I was still new to shipping, I was curious about several things. At the risk of looking like a moron but hoping to gain some knowledge, I asked, “Is there a good reason to help your competitor?”
Leo smiled. “What do you think?”
“I would need to think on it. I’m sure there could be some benefit, however the notion seems risky.”
“Ah, that’s the politics in you talking. You must have dealt with competitors all the time. Enemy number one right?”
“Something like that,” I said. And yes, he was right. It was always a race. Always good versus bad. Bad versus worse. Winner and loser.
“There could be some advantage to subletting a slip to Davis, but I haven’t dug into it yet,” Leo said.
“Well, there must be something special about your slips if you have the competition gunning for them.”
“Well, of course.” He smiled. “Haven’t you heard the number one rule of real estate?”
“Location, location, location?”
He scoffed. “No.” Leaning in, he wiggled his brows. “It’s all about the size, Red. And size matters.”
With a wink, he leaned back in the chair and returned to reading documents. I, however, fought off a wicked case of the blushes.
“You can let the others back in and relate my apologies to Davis but I’ll contact him when I’ve gone over his terms.”
“Will do.”
I headed out and tried for the millionth time not to let Leo’s words, charm, or those amazing eyes turn me into a ball of buzzing need.
“Good morning, Mr. Davis,” I said c
onfidently as I walked into the board room on the first floor of the Main House. Colin looked surprised to see me.
“Miss Levine.” His eyes raked over me and left a familiar slimy tremor. It was the same tremor I got when I’d faced down Bill in the past. “You look beautiful today.”
I smiled tightly. While I got a gut instinct that working for this man wasn’t my path, keeping a bridge open and unburned was smart. In the meantime, creepy glances aside, I’d just keep my eyes forward and do my job.
“We never got a chance to finish our conversation at the gala,” he said, taking a few steps toward me.
“Was there more you wished to discuss?”
“Just wanted to get to know you better. I’ve also heard rumors about Harris planning a big buy into Savas Shipping. I’m a little jealous. If you can work that kind of magic, I’ll have to up my game in persuading you to come work for me.”
Again, the thought didn’t spark a good feeling. Good news was, with a man like Harris buying up enough stock to heighten visibility of Savas, it was a good sign my letter of recommendation was coming, and perhaps a good record to back it up. I could only hope Colin wouldn’t be my only offer of employment in a couple months.
“A generous notion,” I said politely.
“One you’ll keep in mind?” he pushed.
I gave a swift nod.
“Good. I can understand why you changed career paths and I can assure you that working with Davis Shipping will get you on that path faster than Savas.”
“Excuse me?”
Colin shrugged. “I’ve seen the news. I know you come from a political background.”
My stomach knotted. Seeing the news and my background were two different things. Judging by the sly smile Colin was sporting, he’d done a bit of digging on me.
“Shame what’s going on. You worked directly for Bill Vorse, correct?”
I blinked twice, a little unnerved by the turn in the conversation. “Yes, I did.”
“All those women coming forward . . .” He looked me over again and I knew his innuendo. “You resigned the same time the scandal broke.”
“I did. Is there a point to your questions?”
Even Leo never pushed this. Mostly because the connection to my career in politics and my endeavor to get my life back with a new career path wasn’t essential. Maybe it was because Roman filled Leo in enough to not ask questions. Maybe Leo didn’t care, because on the surface, there was nothing to discuss. The scandal would ride out, hopefully the funds would be recovered, and no one would ever know I was even suspected of anything.
“When a beautiful woman comes into my life, I get curious.”
“You looked into my previous employment record?”
“It’s not a secret.”
“I know it’s not, I just don’t see the motives behind your actions.”
That sly smile returned and he took another step toward me. “I just find it interesting is all. Your track record.”
Track record.
Those two words hit me hard like a fist to the chest. I knew he had dug deeper than I liked. I straightened my shoulders, reminding myself to stay calm. Stay powerful. Stay unaffected.
“I have a track record of being good at my job.”
“I’m sure that’s true, but it was interesting to find the correlations between the scandal and your immediate departure from the governor’s office.”
“I resigned for my own reasons. I have nothing to do with the scandal.”
He nodded but obviously didn’t believe me. “Reputations are made and broken every day. A fact I’m sure you’re aware of.”
There was a hint of threat in his voice. “I’ve met Cathy several times and can only assume she’ll be back to fill your current position, which means you’ll be on the job market again. And no campaign or political office will take you. Tough break.”
My lips parted on a slight gasp, and terror of how this man had gotten information on me started to blister my blood. But Colin merely smiled. “I have a friend on the Wilson campaign and he told me about this hot little redhead who applied a few weeks ago but got turned down. Damn small world filled with gossipers.”
I closed my eyes briefly. I knew the asshole Colin was talking about. I didn’t even get two words out or my resume out of my hand before Wilson’s campaign manager told me to basically fuck off. Colin obviously knew I was on borrowed time waiting for the scandal to die down. Like he said, gossipers were everywhere.
Stay strong.
“I’ll ask you again.” I straightened my posture. “Is there a purpose to your line of questioning?”
“Just making observations. I wonder how difficult it would be to, I don’t know, show up to galas and convince major investors to buy up stock in certain companies if you had a reputation for fucking your boss, let’s say?” He ran his thumb along the glossy table he stood next to. “Not sure anyone would take you seriously. In any industry.”
He stepped closer and I could smell his cologne, which was dry and suffocating and nothing like Leo’s.
“Keep my offer in mind, Miss Levine. I’d hate for these nasty rumors to spread further. Be a shame for you to have to find yet another career path. Especially when the elite are so closely knit. I imagine you wouldn’t find much.”
My heart was ready to burst. Colin was right. At the gala were several big players on Wall Street. Investors. Bankers. The rich and powerful flocked together to maintain common interests, like stock—stock in shipping being one.
Everyone knew of Leo. While I was banking on a stellar letter of recommendation from him being a good thing, no one would take me seriously or trust me, let alone hire me, if a rumor got out that I sleep with my bosses.
Fear would get me nowhere. Colin obviously had a hand to play and right now, I wasn’t ready to fold. I had a couple more months to get through. I just needed Colin and his asshole glare kept in check.
“If your goal is to ruin me, you can save your breath. There is no proof to any of your allegations. I resigned from my old job. You watch the news, and obviously I’m not a part of the scandal.” I swallowed hard and hoped he didn’t hear the slight tremor in my voice. “As of now, I work for Mr. Savas and am doing a fine enough job to draw your attention, as well as others. But attempting to stick me with a reputation that is unfounded will only reflect poorly on you.”
He smirked. “So you don’t fuck your bosses then? Not even Leo?”
My face hardened. I wasn’t a liar. I generally stuck to the truth by omitting certain parts or spinning them in my favor.
“Your crude language and questions are not only none of your business, but highly unprofessional.”
“As unprofessional as you kissing Savas at the gala?”
The blood left my face.
“Oh yeah, I saw,” Colin said with a raised brow and victorious smile. “And I’m not out to ruin you, Miss Levine. I just think we could mutually benefit from each other in the future is all. Nothing crude, just a friendly conversation.”
Friendly my ass. Colin Davis definitely had an angle. And whatever scheme he was plotting, clearly I was a pawn in it.
“I came to inform you that Mr. Savas has to cancel his meeting with you today.”
Colin’s face lit with fury. “Are you fucking kidding me? We had—”
“I’m aware of what you had and what it is you’re going for.” That caught his attention and a dose of power surged through me. “Mr. Savas sends his regrets that he hasn’t had the time to look over your proposed terms for the sublet of his New York slip.”
Colin’s face tensed a little, obviously surprised I knew as much as I did about his little play to utilize one of Savas’s slips.
“I’ll be in touch to reschedule a meeting once Mr. Savas has gone over your proposal.”
When his upper lip sneered a little, I knew I was dancing around a dangerous game. Men and their pride were treacherous things. Not to mention, they had no problem making threats, veiled or other
wise.
I didn’t let him speak, because there was nothing more to say. The pissy silence extended long enough for us to both understand one thing.
We each had end goals.
And while I demonstrated that I held enough information about the slip to bluff Colin into thinking I had the ear of Leo, that staying on my good side would be wise for his interests, I hoped it’d also keep his nasty ideas at bay.
I opened the door and walked out.
“Have a good day, Mr. Davis.”
Chapter Fourteen
It had been a long day and my feet ached so badly I almost took my heels off and considered walking into Leo’s office barefoot. But thinking better of it, I pushed the door open, ready to discuss the events of the day. I hadn’t seen much of him since this morning.
“How was your day?” Leo said, looking up from his computer and focusing all his attention on me. I wanted to double-check my hair. It was hour fourteen and I was exhausted, probably looked it. But Leo? Effortlessly handsome. The only giveaway to the day’s length was the five o’clock shadow that only made his tan skin glow and his blue eyes sparkle.
“Everything ran smoothly. I adjusted your schedule and moved all your meetings from today to later in the week.”
“Thank you.”
I wanted to ask more about what had gone on today, but it wasn’t my place. He was the boss, and this was his company. I was curious and if I was being totally honest, I wanted to be part of it. But I stood silently.
“I have another task for you”—he looked me over and, as if seeing my exhaustion, finished with—“if you’re up for it?”
“Of course.” I straightened the best I could and hoped my body didn’t look as weak as I felt.
“I need you to help with a party for my family. Most of the details are taken care of, including entertainment and location. It will be about fifteen miles upstate at Regan’s property.”
“What do you need my help with?” I asked.
“Would you be willing to help with food? Nothing crazy. Pizza would work.”
“Pizza?” I said.
“Something simple to feed fifty people or so.”
