“Hear me out,” I add quickly. “Yesterday? I would’ve thought it was insane. But then something clicked.”
She’s still silent, eyes narrowing.
“You know the estate better than anyone,” I say. “Every stone. Every fuse box. Every leak. Every ledger. And you care.”
Her lips press together.
I continue, “You’re meticulous, organized, brilliant with numbers.”
She doesn’t acknowledge the compliment.
I press on. “My accountant and I were floored to learn you’d kept this place running while Geoffroy and his useless manager tanked it and Juliansat on his hands.”
Still no response.
“You’re the best person for the job,” I say, reaching for her hand. “Who else could I hire? You’re the woman for it, and I’ll pay top dollar. Whatever Geoffroy paid Eric, I’ll double it.”
Her brow furrows.
“No,” I correct myself. “I’ll triple it.”
Silence.
“As for Millie’s treatment,” I add, “I won’t make empty promises like Geoffroy. We’ll put it in your contract or a separate document, if you prefer.”
I feel her hand slip from mine, but I keep going. “I’ll commit to paying for the best therapy she can get, as long as she needs.”
“I can’t work for you,” she says flatly.
“Eva,” I urge. “Set your pride aside. Think rationally. It’s the best thing for you, for Millie, for the estate, for the duchy.”
She curls her lip. “I can set my pride aside. But have you thought this through?”
I lean back on the pillow, arms folded, bracing for a jab.
“If I took your offer, then this”—she gestures toward our tangled legs under the sheets—“is over. And I don’t mean it in a playful way like Lucie and Maximilian. I won’t sleep with you if you’re my boss, Alex.”
I stare at her, shocked I hadn’t considered that. If I become her employer, sleeping with her would create a power dynamic that could corrode everything between us. After what Geoffroy put her through, it’s no wonder she refuses to be in an unequal relationship.
What the hell was I thinking?How did my logic miss something so obvious?
Then it hits me. I wasn’t thinking like myself at all. My offer wasn’t driven by logic, reason, or strategy.
It was born of fear.
Fear of losing her.
23
EVA
Alex hasn’t moved for several minutes. He sits propped against the headboard, arms folded, staring at nothing. His jaw is tight except for the twitching muscle.
I should be furious at him for springing that ridiculous job offer on me. But I’m not. It was clumsy, off base, and completely unacceptable. Yet, it was sweet in its misguided way.
If anything, what startles me most is my reason for rejecting his offer. Assuming Millie and I lose, I had the choice between a great job on generous terms and…this. And I chose this. Not just the sex, addictive as it is, but everything. The stolen glances, the teasing, the warmth in his voice when he says my name, the easy camaraderie we shared exploring the tunnels and sifting through the archives… It was never like that with Geoffroy, even in our early, happy years. I’ve never had a lover who was also my friend.
Alex Castellane, a friend?a cynical little voice whispers in my head.Are you sure?
