Crap.

I’m to do this while being stripped of all that makes me comfortable and confident.

“I see.” My insides turn icy cold and my face numbs.

“All you need to do is smile and look adoringly at me until we get into the suite where Daniel is staying.” Jake shrugs with one shoulder. He really sees no issue at all.

Yes, I’m sure that’s going to be easy.

“When are you leaving?” Margo presses, turning his hazy green eyes away from the scrutinizing he is doing over me.

“Now, if she needs to go home first … Where do you stay, Emma?” his eyes are back on mine, once again making me uneasy as he scans my attire.

I tell him where in West Sunnyside and he nods before moving off to call his driver. I hear him telling him to meet us at the rear of the underground parking garage as I try to pull myself back together.

“Take a notepad and pen in a handbag, anything else will look odd … It’s a preliminary meeting to thrash out the proposal, so take notes.” Margo soothes my nerves with a warm smile. Bringing my attention to her.

“Yes, Margo.” I answer blankly, head reeling with all of this and feeling overwhelmed suddenly.

“Emma?” She halts me with a gentle hand on my arm.

“Yes?” I pause at her sudden intense look.

“Try to relax around Jake … He’s actually very easy to hang out with.” She grins, but it does nothing to remove the tension building up inside of me.

I don’t want to hang out, I want to do my job.

* * *

Less than twenty minutes later, I’m in the back of a large SUV with tinted windows and I’m sitting mere inches away from him. My briefcase on my lap and a pen in one hand. I’m preoccupied, mulling over the weirdness of this request.

“That habit is at odds with how you present yourself, you know?”

I look up at his remark questioningly. The way he is regarding me, and half-smirking my way.

hell is

hair between my fingers, absent-mindedly twisting it. I drop it and still my hands on my

For god’s sake …

the being unprepared, it has me on

Nice move, Emma.

Emma, always peeking at me from the recesses of

he presses

nervous, Mr. Carrero,”

art of hiding it and for some reason,

comfortably, an arm on the window ledge and looks effortlessly casual. Always annoyingly

would not say that,

What would I say?

I’m being honest. I don’t know how to act

and quizzical, a hint of playful

we really

you yet,” I answer, impressed with

think any woman has ever told me I’m intimidating before.” His eyes

actually said that,” I say.

“You didn’t say no.”

how you perceived what I said.” I smile tightly, but he

never met a woman who acts like you do around me!” he jests, pushing a foot against the door so he can lounge some more, and I throw him a

Because I don’t throw myself at you, begging to

or just quiz the crap out of me.” He shrugs,

to bed you, Mr. Carrero?” I ask pointedly. I already assumed this was the case, the fact he expects it

grins at my honesty, watching me closely still, his body turned toward

scenery, completely uncomfortable with the direction of

and I can get a reprieve from this crap. Why did I

… I like being intimidating … That’s one I haven’t heard yet.” He laughs at me again and I try to ignore it, hating that his

cast him a

be so boring having women fall at your feet every day and tell you how gorgeous you are. Must be so hard to have

afterthought, turning his gaze back on me once

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