“Of course.”
“Fine.” I clear off my desk. “Sit down. Let’s do business.”
“I think it’s more comfortable to have these kinds of discussions in bed,” she purrs, moving around the desk to stand in front of me.
“Not that I don’t think extremely highly of myself,” I say, stalling, “but you’re a terrible businesswoman if you’regoing to trade something that lucrative for a night in my bed. Not that I won’t take it.”
But I won’t, which is very unlike me. A month ago, I wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping at this good of a deal, taking advantage of a dumb twenty-something girl. But now? I will never have any woman but Mandy in my bed or my life.
Scarlett laughs, steps closer to me. “Please. Sex with you is just a perk.” She waves a leather portfolio at me, opens it, and sets it on my desk. “A prenup for our marriage.”
I bark out a laugh. “You want to be my wife?”
“Yes, and all that entails. All the benefits.” Her fingers loosen my tie. “All the finery.” Now they’re at my buttons. “I want the big wedding with all the fixings. You’re going to be my perfect groom.” Reaching up, she slowly pulls down the zipper of her black sheath dress.
I shake my head. “I can’t marry you.”
“Let me convince you otherwise.” She’s not wearing anything under the dress.
It takes me a minute to register that Scarlett is standing in my office wearing literally nothing other than high heels and how this is going to be a horrific HR nightmare and… What the hell am I going to do? Then she’s got her arms wrapped around me, and she’s kissing me.
I hold my hands out, trying not to touch Scarlett because that would douse this clusterfuck in kerosene and light it on fire, but I really need to get her off of me. Gingerly, I try to grab her waist and gently pry her off.
We’re interrupted by a heartbroken cry.
“Amanda,” Scarlett says, her arms still around me.
Tears are running down Mandy’s face.
Scarlett huffs when I push her off to go to Mandy.
“How could you?” Mandy cries.
“Mandy, I can explain. The port contract—”
“I know.” She sobs. “We lost it. I’m sorry, but this…”
“Scarlett was trying to make a deal to get it back but—”
The heartbroken look on Mandy’s face almost breaks me. “You’re going to sleep with her for the contract?”
“No,” Scarlett drawls, slipping her dress back on. “He’s going to marry me.”
“Marry her?” Mandy cries, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Of course not,” I assure her.
“Liar. You’re just telling me what I want to hear.” Mandy has fucking donut boy next to her, and he rubs her back carefully.
“Like what you see, Austin?” Scarlett purrs at him.
His mouth opens and closes like a fish’s, then he slaps his hands over his eyes.
“Put some fucking clothes on,” I snap at Scarlett.
“That’s not what he said earlier, Amanda.”
My assistant is sobbing against Austin.
