Page 27

“Us,” I repeated, not missing what he was implying. “I thought this was a professional obligation.”

“It is.” His eyes never left mine. “Which is why appearances matter. We’ll be viewed as a unit tonight.”

“A unit.”

“The newly appointed head of Prescott Vantage, accompanying the CEO of Ashcroft Group. People will draw their own conclusions.”

“And you’re comfortable with that,” I said, making it more statement than question.

“I’m comfortable with whatever serves our mutual interests.” He took a sip of his own coffee before he continued. “Are you?”

“I’m not sure I am,” I replied honestly and I almost wanted to kick myself because of how easily it slipped out. “You and I more than likely have very different definitions of ‘mutual interests.’”

“Do we?” Cain’s eyebrow raised as he studied me. “You wanted a seat at the table. This is part of what comes with it.”

The plane began to taxi, and I felt my stomach grow slightly queasy. It wasn’t from the movement, but from the realization that there was now officially nowhere for me to go with us about to takeoff. There was literally no turning back now.

“So I’m expected to play the role of what exactly? Your business associate? Your subordinate? Your…” I let the question hang, not wanting to finish it for fear of where it could go.

“My equal,” Cain said simply. “At least for tonight.”

The word “equal” coming from his mouth made me almost laugh in his face. “I doubt anyone in your orbit truly qualifies as your equal, Cain.”

“You’d be surprised.” His eyes held mine for a beat too long. “Your gown will be delivered to the hotel. Hair and makeup will be arranged as well.”

I did a double take. “You chose my dress?”

“I had it selected, yes.” He said it like he was discussing the weather, not the fact that he’d picked what he thought I was going to wear tonight without my permission.

“How dare you? Who the hell do you think you are?” Should I be saying this to my new boss? Probably not, but any amount of fucks I might have given were completely out the window now.

Cain’s face didn’t look remotely surprised at my outburst. Instead, he seemed pleased by it, which only infuriated me more.

“I think I’m your employer,” he replied calmly. “And tonight, we have business to conduct that requires a certain presentation.”

“My employment doesn’t extend to letting you dress me,” I shot back. “This is completely inappropriate.”

“Is it?” He took another sip of his coffee. “Or is it efficient? You had less than twenty-four hours to prepare for an event that requires a specific level of formality. I simply removed a logistical challenge.”

The plane was now accelerating down the runway, and I gripped the armrests as we lifted off but I think it was more for making sure I didn’t lose my composure versus anything to do with the flight. I used those few seconds to gather my thoughts because arguing with Cain while trapped in his private jet thousands of feet in the air seemed like a way for me to end up in jail.

“You could have consulted me,” I finally said when the plane was firmly in the air “Asked for my measurements, my preferences.”

“I didn’t need to ask for something I already had,” he replied.

Of course he didn’t. I should have known better than to even suggest that there was information about me Cain Ashcroft hadn’t already acquired through whatever means he had at his disposal.

“This crosses a line,” I said firmly. “Professional boundaries exist for a reason.”

“Boundaries are negotiable constructs,” Cain countered. “Particularly at our level.”

“Our level,” I repeated. “You keep suggesting we’re equals when your actions demonstrate the exact opposite.”

Something shifted in his expression then, but he quickly pulled it back under the cool, confident mask I’d always seen on his face. “Tonight, in that room, we are equals as I said. That is non-negotiable. How we get there is flexible.”

I took a deep breath to calm myself before I responded. “And if I refuse to wear whatever you’ve selected?”

“You won’t.”