“I’m a businessman, and these are my negotiations.”
She slammed the contract shut, roughly sliding it toward me. “I don’t need to read the rest to know I’m not signing that.”
“You’ll sign it, Miss Troy. If you refuse, I won’t do the tour, and you won’t make partner.”
All the color drained from her face when she realized I knew more than she’d wanted me to.
“Let’s face it, kid. You need me. I’m the key to your promotion.”
She scoffed out in disgust, shaking her head, “You’re unbelievable.”
“So you’ve said.”
“How did you find out?”
“You’re not the only one who knows the right people.”
“Get out! Now!”
I gave in to her demands. It was the least I could do. Before I left, I placed the contract on the table, where it would undoubtedly mock her, and then made my way to the door.
I’d won.
Game over.
She knew it too.
But I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard her exclaim, “I fucking hate you, Julian.”
Without turning around, I simply stated the truth. “It’s not the first or last time I’m going to hear those words out of your mouth, kid. You still haven’t read the rest of my terms, and I’m certain it’s only going to make you hate me that much more. Especially page three.”
“Is that where it says I have to have sex with you?”
“This isn’t about sex, Miss Troy. It’s much deeper than that.”
“Don’t use words you don’t understand, Mr. Locke. I was nothing more than a fuck, remember?”
Having her throw my own vicious statement back at me from all those years ago wasn’t a surprise. I just didn’t think it would happen this soon. Pretending as if it didn’t kill me to hear her say those words, I regained my composure and opened the door.
“I’ll be in my office by seven. Sleep well, kid.”
Shutting the door behind me, I left, and as soon as I did, a loud banging shattered against it.
I grinned and walked away.
Autumn shouldn’t have played with fire if she didn’t want to get burned.
Chapter FIVE
—Autumn—
Day 1 of Press Tour
I was already sitting in front of his desk in his office when he walked in the next morning with the contract in my lap.
“Good morning, Mr. Locke.”
“I see we’re back to Mr. Locke.” His dubious stare went from me to his assistant, Erin, who was sitting beside me, recording what we were saying by typing away on her laptop.
I smiled when I noticed the sudden smoldering expression on his face as he took in my dress. It wasn’t what I would normally wear to a meeting, more like what I would wear for a night out on the town with my girlfriends if we were looking for men.
His gaze lingered on my cleavage. My nipples were hard from the cold air in his office, and I might have rubbed them a little bit before he walked in to ensure they were extra alert.
“We never left, sir.”
“Sir?” He arched an eyebrow, sitting behind his desk. His eyes were firmly locked with mine. “Now that I could get used to you calling me.”
Of course, you could, you cocky dick.
“I just want to start this meeting by saying thank you for the push I needed to finally get thoroughly satisfied last night. The random fuck I met in the bar that I brought back after you’d left excelled each and every one of my desires and fantasies. It truly was the attitude adjustment I needed. I’m bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for you this morning.”
Despite him trying to remain calm and unfazed, I could still see the slight clench of his jaw and the vein on his neck protruding as his gaze shifted back to Erin.
I imagined her eyes were wide as saucers as she continued to type away.
“You can go to your office, Erin.”
“No, no, no…” I intervened in a high-pitched tone. “I prefer she stay and cite our entire conversation. I would hate for anything to be taken out of context, especially when we’re discussing the negotiations of your contract.”
“There are no negotiations. You either take it or leave it.”
“I think you should follow your own advice,” I snidely baited. “I forgot how good it felt to have orgasms. I came over and over again. And trust me, Mr. Locke, there was no mistaking my orgasms this time. My soaking wet sheets speak for themselves. Please do apologize to your cleaning crew for me.”
His jaw tightened again. “I’ll relay the message, Miss Troy.”
“Great.”
“Well, given your night of satisfaction, did you have time to go over my contract?”
“Of course, Mr. Locke. Unlike you, I love mixing business with pleasure,” I lied. I never did. I just wanted to get a rise out of him. “I guess you could say it’s how I’ve gotten this far. Ask around since you know all the right people. Yet, you probably don’t have to since you’ve had a taste of me yourself.”