Page 46 of Hating the Boss

“I offered her a million dollars to do it.”

He whistled loudly on the other end.

“Hell, I’ll be your fiancé for that much. How does the board feel about same-sex marriages?” He chuckled.

“This isn’t funny.”

He stopped laughing. “Well, what did she say?”

“She said she’s not a prostitute.”

“Yikes,” he breathed out.

“Yeah, I know,” I muttered.

“I guess it does kind of sound like that’s what you’re proposing…”

“But I’m not! I don’t expect that of her. We don’t have to do anything.”

“But you want to…” he said suggestively.

“Anton,” I groaned, exasperated.

“Sorry.”

“What if she went to the press? Fuck. I should have had her sign an NDA before I asked.”

“She left?”

“Yes, she left! Do you think I’m having this conversation with her here?” I ran a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated. Anton was no help.

“Shit…” he said softly in disbelief. “When did she leave?”

“Like two hours ago. I don’t think she’s coming back, man.”

I heard someone clear their throat from the doorway, making me jump slightly. I snapped my head up to see Sarah standing there with her arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe. I couldn’t believe it.

“I have to go,” I said, quickly ending the call.

“You’re back,” I said, feeling hopeful by the decisive look on her face.

Her eyes were glittering with what looked like anticipation as she said, “I’m in.”

My mouth fell open in surprise and I waved her to come in the office. She closed the door behind her before looking at me hesitantly.

“At least, I think I am,” she said, almost to herself than to me.

I rounded my desk and sat down in my chair, gesturing eagerly to the armchair across from me.

“Sit. Please sit.”

She came and sat down, smoothing the cream fabric of her dress across the tops of her thighs. I did my best to keep my eyes up and on hers.

“Can you break it down for me?” she asked, chewing on her bottom lip nervously, drawing my eyes directly to her mouth. “Like, what all does this entail?”

“Sure,” I said, nodding confidently, as if I had any clue of what I was doing.

“I want you to still be my assistant,” I started, making it up as I went. I hadn’t expected her to come back, so formulating a full plan for us hadn’t been on my mind. It probably should have been, along with that NDA. “But you would work in the shadows,” I continued.