“Ilse...”
Her name on his lips was impossibly seductive, too, and Ilse barely managed to keep her body from trembling.
“I know you’re hoping to keep giving me the cold shoulder until I lose interest in you, but I’m telling you now it won’t work.”
Ha.Ilse was privately taken aback by the words, but she only let her lips purse in reaction, determined to treat him with indifference.
“Secondly, I’d like to be fair and honest with you, so I’m letting you know that Gloria’s given me a rather nice advantage.”
Ilse swung her seat around, head whipping to where her boss’ office was, and through the glass wall, she saw Gloria seated on her executive chair. The older woman beamed at her, which Ilse replied to with a scowl.Gloria, you traitor!
The billionaire walked around her table, and his powerful form suddenly blocked her line of sight, leaving her nothing to see buthim.
“I’m not finished.” He suddenly bent forward, his hands settling on the armrests of her chair once more, but this time the position also had his hard body inches away from hers—-
Aaaah.In a panic to get as far away from him as possible, Ilse tried to push her chair back, but the billionaire only retaliated by pulling her seat closer, his strength easily overpowering hers.
The scent of his cologne struck her nostrils, and Ilse bit her lip hard.
Dear Lord, how can You let this happen?
Why did the billionaire have to smell as good as he looked, too?
His head moved even closer, and she stiffened as she felt his breath tickling her ear when he whispered silkily, “Do you want to know what my advantage is?”
No. Yes. No.Ilse no longer knew what to say.
“Say yes,babe.”
Her eyes widened.
B-babe?
How did he—-
The billionaire chuckled when he felt Ilse stiffen, saying wickedly, “Yes,babe. I know a favorite erotic romance of yours had you wanting to have a boyfriend who can call you babe, and it will be my pleasure to do so.”
GLORIA, YOU TRAITOR!
“And that’s not all I know, I’m afraid,” the billionaire murmured silkily. “I’m guessing you haven’t researched anything about me—-”
Ilse’s teeth gnashed. He was right, and it was all Gloria’s fault!
“But that’s okay. I’m more than happy to fill you in about myself.” He tipped her chin up. “The first thing you should know is that I graduated from Oxford...”
He...did?
“With honors,” he continued without even an ounce of modesty.
He...had?
“That’s not all.”
It...wasn’t?
“What I’m additionally about to tell you,” he murmured under his breath, “will probably turn you on—-”
This time, she could no longer keep herself from reacting, and she demanded in an outraged tone, “Excuse me?”
