The CEO'S Regret

load. Jason walked me through the Archer account histor

rantic expression. "Blackwood wouldn't have put yo

ing me fail,

taken aback. "Why

t me? For fun? Rich people have

lied gravely. "Whatever his motives, they

ost of the creative staff had gone

lied. "You look ready to crash

eyes. "Is this alw

en seriously: "Wanna go get some chow? There's a decent join

urprise. "Oh, I don't want

yway," he said with a friendl

anor that made it hard to say no. Besides,

d. "Let me ju

h checkered tablecloths and bottles of wine

confessed as we scooted into a corner bo

we were tossing ideas for the Archer campa

ign?" Jason asked t

rowing up. I'd make his signs and menus. There was just something

y's no lon

. Forced all the small businesses out." The memory still stung. "Dad never recovere

d. "I'm sorry. That

sympathize with me. "What about you?

comic book illustrator. But my parents wa

rst jobs. It was pleasant to laugh and for

isastrous photoshoot when his gaze lande

?" I asked, t

nning the space. Even dressed down, he looked intimidating in his

I breathed, resenting ho

't exactly his usu

d's eyes locked onto our table, and with a hasty w

he looked tired, with thin shadows under hi

ice contained no shock

n said, standing. "Wh

d the question.

on Archer," I said quickly, gesturing toward

anding on the half-empty wine glasses

ong Kong investors forced their call t

his face scowling. "I did

," Blackwood cut in. "Ms.

hopeless look at Jason as

eck," Jason said,

viously assuming I'd be behind him I wasn't surpr

matter?" I asked when h

pany," he said brusquely. "I want to know

d to catch on to w

keep incredulity from creeping into my tone. "

?" His eyes were ice

with anger or sha

ar," I said, attempting to keep my tone respectful. "And re

ed closer, his voice dropping. "And when I send someone to he

e my best efforts. "We were talking business at the pizza

ne moment, I thought he might f

correctly, Ms. Gray. Kim is highly capable but has a history of becoming. involv

my tracks. "What ar

ng other than professional. And given your s

to the restaurant opened. Jason c

ay?" he asked, gl

moothly. "I was just leaving

. G

where a black car was waiting. A driver opened the

t?" Jason asked as

k from him, thinking quickly. "He want

bring myself to share Blackwood's threat

e some off-the-wall restaurant he j

gued. "Rich people are weird. I s

to the subway

just a few blo

"You walk ho

n carrying pepper spray since I was si

y, both of us surprised by Bl

ation on the street. Was he truly concerned about workplace r

when he saw us together, the way his voice h

lous. Men like him didn't notice plain, broke

blue eyes, that he'd gotten closer as he spo

uzzed as I got

t 7:30 tomorrow. We need to discuss you

walk, staring at my phone. How did he get my perso

text came

This is not an

s "Boss from Hell" an

there a

I was clearly a pawn. But pawns were dispos

less than twelve hours to come up with a ga

ch fo