The CEO – Adrian
THE CEO
ADRIAN
One Week Later
“Let me get this straight.” I pressed a hand against a newly installed bookworm waterfall. “Slow Burn is hosting an event called Bagels & Billionaires this morning, and a real billionaire like me can’t come?”
“Your photo is hanging on their ‘Readers Behaving Badly’ wall, and you’re banned from ever setting foot in their store.” Mariah opened a packet of cream cheese.
“You should be focusing on your newfound celebrity status,” Benjamin said. “Women all over this city—and the country—are still making your cover photo go viral. They think you’re attractive.”
“I am attractive…”
“Anyway,” Mariah said, “Marketing and Promotions will be giving a presentation on the thriller floor at noon. Spoiler alert: They want to bring in some celebrities during opening week.”
“I’ll write the check for whoever they want.”
“Oh, and with construction nearing the final two phases,” she said, “do you want to consider moving your opening date up by a couple months?”
“If they actually hit that, sure. Anything else I need to know this morning?”
Benjamin and Mariah exchanged glances before shaking their heads.
“We got word that the cast of ’s newest romance show is going to stop by Slow Burn for an event this Friday, so they’re probably going to pull huge numbers.
I see…
I walked over to the window, rolling my eyes at this week’s newest anti-Adrian masterpiece.
Adrian Sinclair Sucks in Bed.
Read Spicy Romance Here Instead.
“She’s really fucking pushing it, Mariah.” I gritted my teeth as customers poured into her store. “She’s doing this just to piss me off.”
“Is it working?”
Yes. “No, but it’s amusing.”
“I thought you were going to talk to her.”
“I tried.” I decided not to mention the fact that my cock stiffened within minutes of seeing her. “She thinks it’s best if we don’t communicate.”
“Well, your upcoming moves are pretty effin’ ruthless, so…That’s probably a good thing.”
“I want one of those bagels.” I spotted a woman walking out with a huge cinnamon one. “Go get me one.”
“Ten steps ahead of you.” She walked over to the customer service desk. Then she pulled one out and held it out to me. “Me and Benjamin went over there earlier and grabbed a few.”
“You and Benjamin went where?”
“It is sooo cute in there!” She beamed. “It’s got this warm and cozy vibe I can’t quite explain, and all the employees are super nice and know their romance shit.”
Traitor…
“Oh, and look!” She handed me a napkin. “They even had these little custom napkins made just for today.”
“The napkins say ‘Fuck Sinclair Street,’ Mariah.”
“Oh really?” She flipped it over. “I must have missed that…I was just admiring the cute little book stack and tea kettle. You have to admit that’s cute, right?”
She picked up another bagel, and I almost lost my shit.
“Call the construction company and tell them I want an exact ETA on completion,” I said. “We’re opening the moment the final streak of paint dries…”