“You’re right, I don’t.” Sitting down at the head of the table, I met her pissed off stare. “I simply take, Miss Troy.”
“Oh, trust me, Mr. Locke, I, understand better than anyone, how much you take from people.”
“Are you referring to your virginity?”
Her eyes widened. “No! I’m referring to your asshole ways! How do you know I wasn’t here with my husband tonight?”
“You’re not married.”
“How do you know I’m not married?”
“You’re not wearing a ring and I know how much you love jewelry.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“I’m calling your bluff on the boyfriend,” I confidently countered. “Given your reoccurring attitude, I’m going to bet you haven’t been fucked in a very long time.”
She connivingly smiled, cocking her head to the side. “Just for that comment, Mr. Locke, I’m going to go down to the bar and find a real man who can satisfy my needs.”
“Try to leave, sweetheart. You don’t need a random fuck when I’m sitting right here.”
“I said a real man who can satisfy my needs, not some pretentious, arrogant asshole who breaks into my hotel room.”
“It’s not breaking and entering when you own the whole damn building. As far as satisfying your needs, we both know how many times I can make you come without trying. This pretentious, arrogant asshole gave you your first orgasm, and that was just with my mouth sucking your greedy little clit. Would you like me to elaborate on how many times I made you come with my fingers, tongue, and cock, Miss Troy?”
“No! I don’t need to be reminded about all the regrets and mistakes in my life.”
“Great, because I’m not here for a trip down memory lane. I’m here to talk business.” I nodded toward the chair next to me. “Sit down.”
“I’m not a dog, Mr. Locke.”
I resisted the urge to call her out on her bitch attitude, knowing it wouldn’t get me anywhere other than proving my point and pissing her off further. Although the desire was there, I firmly nodded to the chair again instead.
Mumbling under her breath, she walked toward the table and sat in the seat parallel to me. “Why are you here? What do you want?”
“I’m here to make you an offer you can’t refuse.” I opened my suit jacket to grab my own contract before sliding it across the table.
“What is this?” she asked without looking at it.
“This … is our contract.”
“Our contract? Our contract for what?”
“For your little press tour.”
“Stop calling your itinerary a little press tour. You make it sound insignificant when it’s far from that.”
“Well, Miss Troy, I have yet to see anything worthwhile other than it bringing you back into my life.”
“I’m immune to your bullshit charm. You said we were discussing business, and all you’ve done is piss me off.”
“I’ll do your press tour, but it’s going to be on my terms.”
“Your terms?” She jerked back. “Is that supposed to make me happy? I think you’re sadly mistaken on who is in control, Mr. Locke.”
“Quite the contrary, kid. I remain at the head of the table. Now turn to page two.”
She did, reading out loud, “Publicist, Autumn Troy, agrees to spend personal time with the client, Julian Locke, that isn't considered working hours.” Her eyes snapped to mine. “What the hell is this?”
“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.”