The CEO – Adrian
THE CEO
ADRIAN
“You’ve got to be shitting me…” I stared at the front page of The New York Post. Then I looked at the latest printout Benjamin had given me.
The images were crystal clear and the facts were black and white.
The sexy-ass woman I was looking for was my newest rival.
Well, she probably ‘thinks’ she’s my rival.
I ran a finger over her pouty lips, shaking my head at fate’s cruel joke and remembering her ridiculous question from that night.
“Are you here cosplaying a billionaire?”
“Well, I’m so glad that we can finally put this issue to bed, sir.” Benjamin cleared his throat. “Since Summer Connors is officially out of your league, we can focus on business.”
“She’s out of my league?”
“Very much so.”
“How?”
“She’s charming, kind-hearted, and apparently motivated by things other than money. From all my research, she’s just a genuinely good person.”
“Oh, okay.” I stood up from my desk and walked over to the window. “Have you had a chance to look outside this morning?”
“Um, not yet…”
“Come over and see,” I said. “Tell me if a genuinely good person would paint a sign like that.”
I waited for him to come nearer, to spot a small crew of workers who were hanging a new banner above Slow Burn.
Defund Adrian Sinclair’s Billionaire ASS.
Real Romance Books Live Here.
Benjamin’s lips curved into a smile.
“Something funny, Benjamin?”
“Like I said, sir…” He shrugged. “She’s charming.”
“Get out.”
“Okay.” He headed toward my door.
“Actually, no, wait,” I said. “Bring me your research on her.”
“Which parts?”
“All of it,” I said. “I want to know how many titles she moves a day—online and in-store. I want her signing list, her merch inventory, and I want to know how the hell she plans to sabotage me for the next six months.”
“You know what? There was one interesting thing in the background check…”
“I’m listening.”
“She might be planning to get to you from the inside.” He tossed me a folder. “She just got a part-time job in Manhattan.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“It’s at the book printing warehouse you just bought.”
I smiled. “I see…”