Grumpy Boss

“Five million,” Rees said, drawing my attention back. “If you help me, pretend to be my assistant and help spread some rumors that we’re happily dating, and have been for quite some time, I’ll pay you five million dollars.”

I let that sink in.

Five million. That would change my life. I could pay off my debt and take care of grandmom during her last years. I could provide her any comfort she wanted and then some, and still have money left for myself. It was the sort of thing I dreamed of, back when I was a little girl, when we were poor and struggling, and I wore all second-hand clothes that either didn’t fit right, or were way out of fashion. I dealt with the bullying and the teasing, pushed into the mud because of my cheap, patched jeans and my off-brand sneakers, and sometimes I’d sit along in my room and stare out the window, picturing some rich man, a knight in shining armor.

And here he was, my rich man, my knight in shining armor, except he was a total asshole, and I knew this was a really, really bad idea.

I mean, seriously, a terrible idea.

But five million dollars.

But Rees was a dick and he wanted me to lie to investors.

Pretty sure that could land us both in jail. And I should know, being an almost-lawyer and all.

But five million dollars, and grandmom.

“Pay off my student loans,” I said.

He tilted his head. “You’re negotiating.”

“And I want a three percent stake in your SPAC.”

“You’re really negotiating.” He grinned at me, and seemed delighted, which I didn’t understand. I was pushing him for more money, since now I knew his plan, and I could screw him if I wanted. And yet he didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“Five million, pay off my student loans, and a three percent stake in this SPAC, and I’ll do it,” I said, putting as much confidence into my voice as I could manage.

He watched me, and the silence felt as thick as the carpet. I was insane and I knew it. If this went wrong, so much could happen: we could go to jail, or get sued to smithereens, or both our reputations could be destroyed, or any number of equally horrifying endgames. I could just take the freaking bar and become a lawyer. That would be so much simpler, and there was way less risk.

And yet I knew this was the right thing to do.

I needed the money. My grandmom needed help. And this was my best bet, short of taking the stinking bar and working myself to death in some big law firm.

“You have a deal,” he said, stood up, and shoved his hand out at me.

I stood and met his eye. I honestly couldn’t believe this was happening. He hadn’t even tried to talk me down. Handsome man, evil, handsome man. I knew what handsome men could do: whatever they wanted.

And I liked that.

I shook his hand. “What am I now?” I asked, meaning, was I his assistant, or his fake girlfriend?

He held my hand tight, and pulled me slightly off balance. I took one step toward him, and he leaned forward. I caught his scent: wood smoke and potpourri.

“You’re my everything now, darling,” he said with a wicked grin.

I took my hand away and gathered my things as he sat again, running his hands through his hair. I blushed like a stupid school girl and mentally berated myself for it. If I was going to get involved with Rees like this, I couldn’t let one simple sentence melt my freaking panties like it was no big deal.

“Jack will get the paperwork together,” Rees said. “I assume you can deal with the contract.”

“I think I can handle it,” I said.

“It might be useful, having another lawyer around.” He tilted his head thoughtfully. “You can keep me out of trouble and do paperwork.

“I doubt I can manage that. And I’m not interested in reading your contracts.”

“I’m sure you’d rather we got into trouble together instead,” he said.

I clenched my jaw tight, and considered telling him to shove that smarmy grin up his puckered butt.

Instead, I reminded myself: five million, student loans, three percent, and grandmom.

“I’ll speak with Jack,” I said, and left the conference room before my heart could burst out of my chest and splatter against the glass. That’d probably ruin my chances of getting through all this alive.

In the hall, alone for a few seconds, I leaned up against the wall and bit my tongue to keep from screaming.

Lori, damn her, she had no clue what she just got me into.

And hopefully one day I’d thank her.

Or I’d call her crying from a jail cell.

2

Rees

My new employee lived in a shit hole apartment deep in south Philly.

I stood on her stoop and leaned up against the black hand railing. It was early, just after seven, and the sun peered up over the brick rowhomes. An old couple walked their tiny white dog, and a girl with a backpack hustled down the black toward the subway.