One Bossy Offer (39)

“Yes, sir.”

I’m expecting her to sign off there, but she lingers.

“Is there anything else?” I ask.

“One more thing.” Why does she sound so unsure? “A competitor reached out, offering to help host the big charity event we’re sponsoring. Considering the celebrities flying into Seattle for the show, I didn’t think it would be a disaster to at least hear them out. Rufus with our foundation loved the idea; he thought it could mean more money raised.”

“That means sharing publicity,” I point out.

“It will,” she says. “But partnering also means twice the logistics and half the cost, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.” So, what’s the catch? “What competitor?”

She freezes up and sighs slowly.

Fuck.

I already know what she’s about to say, but I still hope I’m wrong.

“What competitor, Louise?” My voice turns glacial.

“Pacific-Resolute.” It’s barely a whisper. “Miss Niehaus herself sent the request personally.”

Even after all these years, rage knifes through me instantly.

“Then you know where you can tell her to go. Don’t waste my time on shit you know the answer to.” Normally I’d feel bad chewing out my otherwise lovely assistant, but not with this.

“I know, Mr. Cromwell. You two have a complicated history. But it’s still an offer. And it’s for charity, not business. It’s not like you’d be giving away any money or propriety secrets,” she says quietly.

My chest swells and my nostrils flare.

I pace across the room, cutting a few brief circles, my only reprieve from fucking erupting.

“Louise, we’ve been through this. I don’t do business with people I can’t trust, and I’m not about to start. Do I have to explain this again?”

The last time was years ago and she never had the full story. Nobody deserves that.

If she thought time would heal my wounds, she never understood their severity.

“Right. My bad. Rufus, well, he didn’t know the history and he lit up when he heard the idea. He was so excited. I guess I just ran with it, and I shouldn’t have. My apologies.” She sounds so defeated. So afraid.

“Is there anything else that needs my immediate attention?” I bite off, so goddamned ready to end this call.

The clatter of heels whips me around, and my eyes land on the very last thing I need right now.

Jennifer Landers, flouncing into my office in a vibrant green dress and heels that match her eyes. I think hell itself must be the same shade of green.

Apparently, my torture only began with hearing the name Pacific-Resolute.

“Louise?” I clip, demanding an answer.

“No, sir. That’s all,” she says.

I end the call without a goodbye and drop the phone on my desk before raising an eyebrow at the hellion in front of me.

“I see you no longer require an escort to traipse through my house.”

She waves a hand. “Benson knows me, so he just sent me right back. Do I need to ask permission?”

Fuck, she’s already won over my valet.

Or else he’s having too much fun yanking my tail when he knows everything about Miss Landers is complicated.

“The project is with the team in Seattle for the next week, so what do you need now?”

She stops and tilts her heads, staring at me like I’m a disgruntled lion in its cage. “What are you so mad about? What did I do this time?”

Like you don’t know.

“Nothing. I just don’t know why you’re here when it isn’t necessary,” I tell her.

With a shrug, she plops down in the chair across from my desk. “I came to find out why you’re ignoring me. It’s been a few days and I know you’ve seen my texts.”

Her bare shoulders and low neckline draw my eyes to feast on her flesh.

“You’re a difficult woman to ignore. The fact that you’re in my office tells me ordering you out won’t accomplish a damn thing,” I say, trying and failing to pull my gaze off her.

“Yeah, so tell me. Why are you ignoring me again?”

“How can I ignore you if I’m talking to you right now?” I snort derisively.

“Stop trying to be cute—”

“I don’t have to try, Miss Landers. I’m already illegally hot, in your opinion,” I remind her.

Her breath catches and those strawberry lips part. With the sunlight splashing the room, she’s a portrait of seduction.

A living, breathing cocktease so bright and alive and goddamned sexy I think this whole world must be purgatory.

Nobody ever said the devil and his minions were ugly.

She rolls her eyes. “Why didn’t you answer me?”

I look down, ignoring her question. “I’m a busy man, and your questions weren’t work related. Do you really expect me to just drop everything and—”

“Boss dude, all I asked about were the freaking paintings. Not your condom size. So chill.” Her face heats as soon as she says it. I flash her a look that pins her in place. “Um, never mind. My point is, it could be related to the job. The art on the walls is a part of Bee Harbor and we filmed there plenty. Would it be so awful to mention there’s a local artist in town? And I think I’ll regret saying this, but a pretty decent one.”