For some reason, she wasn’t disappointed by the lack of toys as she pulled out more clothes. “Mama, these are pretty. Are they for you?”
I took a second look at the clothes before I nodded. It must have been Sasha because she knew exactly the kind of shops I bought from, like Ross or T. J. Maxx. But oddly enough, she’d gone a step further.
These clothes were from Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and J. Crew. Professional clothes but classy.
I opened the other boxes to find more clothes and then shoes. Box after box. Leather, suede. There were easily ten pairs of shoes here.
Not a single pair of heels.
It was the first time I had a sense of doubt. Sasha was always egging me to wear heels even if I disliked them.
The only other person who knew I hated heels was …
A certain older CEO.
“Try it on! Try it on!” Evie said, jumping around me.
I smiled back at her, feeling conflicted. I had wanted to be mad at Jonah’s presumption that he could just send me gifts like this. I wanted to shove the bags aside and send them right back,or worse, dump them. But if he could be thoughtful enough to remember I didn’t like heels, then perhaps these gifts deserved something better than the trash.
At the very bottom of the last bag, tucked between a silk blouse and a tailored blazer, I found a note.
The first time we met, I promised to replace your entire wardrobe. Consider this me keeping my word.
I stared at it for a long time. A younger man might not have noticed my troubles with my attire, but Jonah had. The weight in my chest shifted into something I wasn’t ready to name. I’d been unforgivably rude, writing him a taunting apology. He’d had every right to fire me.
Instead … I got an entire wardrobe.
Jonah Walkers, the billionaire, the cold-hearted businessman, and my intolerable boss was full of surprises.
13
JONAH
Isaw little of Lexi over Wednesday, and not for lack of trying. I’d taken the elevators a few times, but I couldn’t see her from the elevators.
By late afternoon, I stopped the elevator again on the third floor. My eyes immediately scanned the floor, searching for any sign of Lexi. And there she was.
My breath caught when I saw she was wearing the cream-colored pants and black blouse from the wardrobe I’d sent her.
The sight of her in clothes I’d chosen sent a surge of possessive satisfaction through me, even as she stood completely oblivious to my presence.
But my satisfaction quickly turned to irritation when I noticed she wasn’t alone.
She was standing near her desk, laughing as some man put an arm over her shoulders, sharing what was apparently a hilarious joke.
The doors started to close, and I let out a sharp breath, forcing myself to remain composed as the elevator began its ascent up to my floor. I’d just wanted to see her, and I had, so why did the sight of that man touching her irritate me so much?
I closed my eyes as the elevator sped up while I fought my irritation. This was a problem I’d solve later.
I made it to my floor with this resolution firm in my mind, my eyes fixed on the elevator panel. The doors opened, and I made my decision.
Less than a minute later, I was back on the third floor. The doors opened, and I immediately found Lexi. Nothing had changed in the brief time I’d been away. The young man was still leaning too close to her. What was he, barely twenty-five?
Was he the date she had mentioned wanting to wear the lingerie for?
Before I could think, I extended my hand, stopping the elevator doors from closing. I stepped out onto her floor.
Given that it was half past five, the office was nearly empty. I walked through the rows of desks, my eyes fixed on Lexi. The man still stood too close to her.
