XOXO

Real concern etches his brow as he waits for me to answer.

“It’s my book,” I acknowledge with a sharp nod of my head.

The tightness in his jaw disappears. “Good. I’m glad to know that.”

I have no idea why, but I smile through my confusion. I push the folder toward him. “Read it.”

He hesitates briefly before he takes it from me. With a lingering look at the closed file, he clears his throat. “I’m not accepting your resignation, Arietta.”

I won’t bow out if I belong somewhere. I do good work for Modica, and I earned this position and the benefits it brings, including my generous salary.

If he wants to sleep with me, it has to come with rules.

“It’s not that.” I point at the folder. “It’s a contract.”

His gaze lands on my face. “For which client?”

I see the surprise in his expression. I know the rules about privacy. No client’s file is ever to leave the office, and a Modica employee is not permitted to share client data with anyone outside the organization.

We are even assigned security colors. It’s a phrase coined by Mr. Corning. I’m an orange. Bronwyn is too. Judd, Dominick, and Daniel Lawton, the third owner of Modica, are all assigned red.

“For me,” I say quietly. “And for you.”

He flips the cover of the file folder open and scans the first page of the contract I worked on this weekend. It details my job as it is now, including my salary and benefits package.

It also highlights the main points of the employment contract I signed when I was hired as Dominick’s assistant.

He skims that with his gaze darting to me every few seconds.

As he flips over to the second page, my stomach knots.

I stand silently while he reads each paragraph of the agreement I want him to sign. It guarantees that if our relationship changes and it becomes uncomfortable for me to work with him, I’ll be reassigned to another position with the same annual salary and benefits. I can’t be terminated for any reason other than those already specified in the original employment contract.

In simple terms, if Dominick wants to fuck me and forget me, I’ll still have a job guaranteed through the end of my original contract. That’s not for another two years.

He exhales harshly before he looks into my eyes. “When did you have this drawn up?”

I can’t read what he’s feeling, so I stand my ground and answer honestly. “I drew it up over the weekend.”

The corners of his lips curve up. “You wrote this?”

“Yes,” I say. “I think it’s fair, and it protects us both.”

I want him to feel assured that I won’t lodge a complaint against him with Human Resources if we fall apart after we fuck. I’m going into this with my eyes wide open. I know the chance of this being long-term is very slim.

He opens the folder again and flips to the second page. “This is tighter than some of our clients’ contracts, Arietta. It’s more in-depth. You know the law.”

“I read law books.” I laugh it off. “It’s a hobby of mine.”

“Poetry and law books,” he mutters. “It’s no wonder you’re a genius.”

I smile. He must know how high my IQ is.

“Why are you not in law school?”

The answer to that is too complicated to summarize in just a few words. I search for something witty to say, but I come up empty.

He glances at the contract again. “Get me a pen. I’ll sign it.”

I raise a hand to stop him as he steps toward his desk. “You can take your time to read it over. I don’t need you to sign it this minute.”

“I want to sign it this minute. I want you in my bed as soon as possible.”

The roughness in his voice hits me. The desire in his gaze takes me a step closer to him. “Are you asking me on another date?”

He reaches forward to run his hand down my cheek. “If I weren’t committed to this dinner meeting with Judd and the Cunninghams tonight, I’d take you home with me.”

“You’d cook for me again?”

“We’d order in.” His eyes lock on mine. “The next time I have you at my apartment, my focus will be solely on you.”

I can’t wait.

He taps the file folder against his palm. “I’m impressed that you’re looking out for yourself, but I need you to know that I would never do anything to jeopardize your position here.”

I believe him, but I don’t trust myself.

How can I sit behind my desk and look at him for hours each day if things between us come undone?

I’m falling in love with my boss. I feel it, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

Chapter 40

Dominick

I underestimated my executive assistant. I knew that she’d have serious reservations about engaging in a relationship with me outside of the office. What I didn’t realize was that she’d take measures to protect her job.