I had no idea what his game was this time, but I was prepared for whatever bullshit he tried to fling my way. More or less. I scrambled to raise a defense to this new, unexpected assault.
“Wow,” I marveled.
“What?”
“You said that to a woman once, and she said yes?” I tried to picture it. This Tina woman, sitting across a table from him like this. And she went for that?
My nose wrinkled involuntarily.
Dane’s gaze turned arctic. “I’d like you to seriously consider this offer.”
“What offer? Are you kidding me?”
“I’m not kidding. You impressed my family last night. I’d like you to keep doing that.”
Seriously? Whatthe fuckwas he on?
“Are you drunk right now?”
“If you marry me,” he said cooly, “it will help me secure my fortune, and after that’s happened, in a few short months from now, we can divorce. Amicably. There will be a prenup and I’ll make sure it’s good for you, so you get a healthy alimony.”
I stared at him.
What the hell did he just say to me?
Had he lost his ever-loving mind?
I felt like he’d just rolled up in his limo and waved a few dollars at me on a street corner.
I was trying to stay cool here, but nope. Not happening. I wasn’t sitting here, listening to this.
“Have you lost your mind?” I inquired as I rose slowly from my chair. His eyelids lowered a fraction, but he said nothing. “You know, I used to think you were the devil incarnate. I was wrong. You’re a dumbass.” I collected my purse and headed for the door.
I heard him coming after me.
I poked at the smart panel on the wall. “Open.Stupid. Dumb. High-tech. Door.”
“Devi.” He brushed my hand away from the panel and I recoiled from his touch, stepping back.
He was blocking my way to the door.
“Is this a kidnapping now?” I demanded. “A hostage taking? You’re holding me here until I marry you?”
He looked at the ceiling.
“What makes you think I’d marry you? Formoney? I don’t give a shit about your money. Do I look like I’m hurting here?” I gestured at myself, and sure, my clothes weren’t as expensive or as exclusive as his. They weren’t handwoven by a flock of demons for the living ice sculpture that was frozen Lucifer himself, but they weren’t rags, either. This bitch could put an outfit together. Had I somehow given him the impression I actually needed or wanted a Daddy Warbucks in my life? “I came here today because you said we needed to talk about business.”
“This is business,” he said calmly.
“I meantmybusiness. My job. The agency. It seems to be hanging in the balance ever since you slithered into town. It means something to me, you know. It’s not just numbers in the bank, and limo service and snooty assistants and plush penthouse apartments. Ilovemy job. It’s exciting, challenging, rewarding, fun, sexy, glamorous, grueling, and it’s all I ever wanted. I love the agency. I want to run my own one day. I actuallycareabout what I do. I don’t just spend my day amassing money for my future inheritance by firing other people from jobs they love and need.”
He waited, like he was making sure I was done my little rant before he said evenly, “So what if I give you that? A favorable prenup, alimony,andthe job you love.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “That is so not a fair bargain. I deserve my job and you know that. I shouldn’t have tobuyit.”
“Not just your job,” he amended. “Your dream job.”
I didn’t say anything.
