The last thing she wanted was to accept more generosity from him, but she was too grateful to refuse.
“And I’ll see that you have a suitable position when the time comes so don’t put out feelers for a job yet. It sends the wrong message.”
“What does ‘suitable’ mean?”
“Something equivalent or better to the position you had, so you’re not set back in your career. I’ve discussed it with Paolo and you’ll receive a glowing recommendation, a severance package and a settlement for the damage caused by our leaving you in the position of working with Jensen despite having him under investigation. We’ve agreed that if we had removed you when we became suspicious, the photos wouldn’t have happened, so we’ll be accepting responsibility for that. We’ll work out the exact details once we have Jensen on the ropes.”
She blinked, stunned. Inside her chest, her heart rose like the sun from behind dark mountains, beaming light through her whole being. Lightness. The weight of being mistrusted lifted and something like hope dawned in her for the first time since she’d walked into Nadine’s office and seen those photos.
“You believe me?” The words were very tentative. She could barely take it in.
“I do.” His expression was grave, but there was a hard light in his eyes, not hostile, but daunting. It leaned even more impact to his words as he said, “These actions against you will not go unpunished.”
She didn’t fear him in that moment, but she recognized that he was a man to be feared.
And she was so relieved to have him on her side, so touched that he believed her, she grew teary and had to look away, unable to even voice a heartfelt, Thank you.
“But for now your occupation is ‘mistress.’”
She flung her head around to confront him. “Did you say that to make me angry?”
He didn’t glance up from flicking the screen on his tablet. “I said it because it’s true.”
“Oh, well, pray tell, what are the duties of that position? Does it come with benefits?” Shut up, Gwyn.
He took his time letting her regret that impulsive outburst, slowly lifting his attention to scan her expression while a faint smile played around his lips.
“Amusing me is your primary function,” he said, adding a sardonic, “Check.”
Then he had the audacity to let his gaze take a leisurely tour down her new top. It was a simple low-necked, peach-colored silk with a pleat at her cleavage. Not particularly sexy, but he seemed to look right through it, making her breasts feel heavy and her nipples tight. She found herself pressing her jeans-clad thighs together as a throb hit where he’d caressed her in this very backseat yesterday.
“We’ve covered the benefits,” he added. “And that you may take advantage of them as often as you see fit.”
“And this is supposed to fill up my nine-to-five?” she shot back, trying to cover her pulsing response, flicking her glance at the closed privacy screen while she willed her fierce blush to recede.
“I can’t make love to you all day, cara. I have responsibilities.”
She tried to send him a disgusted glare, but anticipation curled through her despite herself, melting her insides and turning her on. Yes, his low voice and sexy promise made her hot, curse him.
“Did you relive it last night?” he asked in a low tone of lusty pleasure. “I did. I wanted you to come to me, so I could feel you fall apart like that again. Under me this time.”
Her stomach swooped and she turned her face to the window, trying to hide that she had toyed with the idea of going to him. She had ached with desire and had had to fight against the urge.
“I need to find healthier ways to deal with my situation than cheap sexual gratification,” she said.
“Stop calling it cheap.” His voice lashed with quick anger, making all the hairs rise on her body.
Now who was angry and who was laughing? She looked back at him and let him see her smug delight in getting a rise out of him.
“I’m sorry,” she said with mock regret. “This is becoming quite expensive for you, isn’t it? Because if you won’t let me get a real job, you’ll have to cover the lease on my flat.” It was a childish jab and promptly fell flat.
“That’s already in the works.”
Her smarmy grin fell away.
He smiled at having drawn the wind from her sails. “I’ve had mistresses before,” he added calmly, sobering a few degrees as he added, “Never one who has moved in with me, but we have a message to broadcast. I’ve assigned you an assistant. She’ll send you our calendar shortly.”
Moved in? Our calendar?