“Not at the expense of your career!”
“No, I’m asking you, Jay. Do youwantthe job?”
She glared up at him heatedly. “Stop trying to make me punish you. I told you I wasn’t going to co-sign your stupid decisions!”
“This isn’t punishment. They’re not going to let me go without cutting me some kind of deal. We’re a multinational corporation and I’m me. Do you think those shiny new deals I brokered are going to last if the CEO suddenly disappears? Meghana’s probably on the phone with Legal right now, trying to conjure up some golden handcuffs to bind me to them right now.”
“My god,” Jay gasped. “You’reevil.”
“It’s a fuck or get-fucked world out there, Jay. I didn’t get where I am today by letting people bend me over a table. You, onthe other hand, insist on seeing the best in everyone, even when your ass is in the air.”
“Nicholas!”
“It’s a very cute ass.” He flicked her nose, his smile widening into a grin when she smacked his hand away. “I’ve seen people here fall over themselves trying to please you. I think they’ll try even harder when they come crawling to you for comfort after dealing with me.”
Jay wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh or scream. “Please tell me you didn’t threaten Arthur into giving me this job.”
“Of course not. Just a strongly worded suggestion.”
“Oh my god.”
“You deserve it. You’ve always worked harder than everyone else. Three times as hard—isn’t that what you told me?” His eyes flicked over her. “I can believe it.”
“I didn’t ask you to do this.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want you to do this.”
“Look, I told you that hard work didn’t matter, but that was before. Back when my father was buying me off like some kind of insurance policy. Bailing out this company like a sinking ship changed my thinking. I don’t want some corporate pencil-pusher managing my operations division like it’s just another rung on the corporate ladder. I want someone who will fight.”
“What if you lose your job?”
Nicholas shrugged. “Then I sell the house and buy you a vegan bakery or something.”
“You can’t do that.” She felt as if she were speaking through a mouthful of Novocain. “You can’t just sell your house and leave, just like that.”
“I don’t think you understand how much money I actually have, Jay.”
Oh god, Jay thought. He’s right.
“You know,” Nicholas said, lowering his voice confidingly, “half of itisyours. Or do you still not realize that?”
“I realize that,” she snapped.
“Because you’re acting like you think you still need to budget for a tiny little apartment with bars on the windows.”
He’s so arrogant. That entitlement was like something out of another age, when men could own land stretching beyond what the eye could see.
And then Jay thought of how he had defended her, and his unshakable faith in her. She wasn’t sure it was warranted but it still made her feel good, because nobody had ever told her that it was okay to yearn for things that seemed beyond her reach.
Before she was quite aware of doing so, Jay closed the distance and wrapped her arms around his slender waist. The muscles of his back stiffened beneath his suit.
“What are you doing?” he asked, in a careful voice.
“Hugging you, idiot,” Jay mumbled, hugging him harder, burying her face in his throat the way he did, whenever he inhaled against her hair. “Even though your plans are stupid and I think you might be insane, the way you defended me today made me want to kiss you.”
“Of course I defended you.” His arms folded awkwardly around her body, in stark contrast to the smooth elegance of his usual gestures. “Anyone with eyes can see how hard you work.”
She managed a brave smile. “Part of the reason I worked as hard as I did was because sometimes it felt like that was the only thing keeping me afloat. I was so afraid . . . that no one wouldstep in to save me if I stopped flailing.” She paused. “But you would.”
“Every time.” His lips brushed her brow. “Until my heart stops.”
