Chasing His Substitute Wife

I said, keeping

iking and unnervingly sharp as ever, locked onto mine. F

ou

adn't changed. Shor

opposite him. "Don't look so thrilled. I'm ju

a way that made my skin crawl. I kept my face blank, refusing to g

it would be you." His eyes raked over me once more, I

the compliments, Adrian. What exac

to something resembl

ied, leaning back.

mem

oir? About what? Your dazzl

ng. "It's more than that. I want it to be person

lm. "Right. So, you want me to write about your

you to s

I'd misheard h

es

ipped answe

e arrogant man I remembered. "You'll be my assistant. Ob

laugh either. It was the kind of laugh that made people u

r a folder on the table, slid it ac

at the top of the contract made my breath ca

he said, his ton

back on the table. "You're insane if

His tone was a

e. "I'll write the damn book, but I'm not g

ob," he replied wit

not," I

lence stretched between us. Then he sai

ed. "Not to babysit you while you parade

ou fin

d my jaw.

something almost dangerous. "I don't have time for

y-it could mean access to the man who had destroyed my life, a chance to uncover

asm. "I'll shadow you. But don't expect me

it," he replied, his

at the back of my mind. Why me? Why, out of all the w

e me?" I asked,

hat infuriating smirk again

i

me in a fu

ring over me. "We start tomorrow. My d

ev

, as if dismissing me, he turned and walked away, l

harp. Working for

ll had I ju

*

ek black car parked at the curb. Seven sharp, just like he said. Of course Adrian Sterlin

an older man with a sharp suit and a no-nonsens

had already regretted this arrangement,

you," the driver said, st

nder my breath as I slid

d until you're forced to think about things you'd rather not. Like why I agreed

ing downtown. Adrian's empire, gleaming in the ear

e driver said a

tioning and the clacking of heels on polished floors. The recep

ting up like a countdown to my doom. When the do

ture stiff, his expression as unreadable as eve

minutes ruins your day, maybe you

espond. Instead, he turned and wa

chrome, with a view that screamed power. Ad

y arms instead. "I'm not a dog, Adri

thin line, but he didn

he chair, making sure he knew

" I said, meeting his gaze. "I

dow me,"

notes while you glare at people and

ed. "You agreed

usiness? Should I follow you to a board meeting and document

tened. "I don't i

row. "Really? Co

ly, his voice low. "Do y

noyed," I replied

d back in his chair, his gaze sharp enough to cut glass.

said, pulling o

and straightening his

dor lined with portraits of men in suits. Probably pas

uilding, with a massive table and a wall of screens displ

drian entered. He didn't greet them. He didn't need t

hile Adrian's voice droned on about market shares and quarterly projectio

t me without a word, expecting me to foll

n his desk. "So, this is what you do all da

lem with that?" he

trying to figure out why anyone wo

e book isn't just about business. It's abo

ep the sarcasm out of my voice. "Must

"You know nothing a

ult is that?"

a moment, I thought I saw something in his expression-somet

his back to me. "If you're

of the desk. "I'm up for it. But don

e piercing. "I wou

nd entered, holding a tablet. "Mr. Sterling, th

unreadable as he scanned the screen. Th

It was a photo of me, walking into the cafe yesterd

?" Adrian asked,

my mind racing. "You'v