Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 102(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 68(@300wpm)
“Cancel that, Carlos,” he says, removing his thumb from the buzzer. He stares at me like an appraiser would stare at a painting, and I just stand there, unmoving, as his eyes drink me in.
God, he’s handsome. I’ve seen pictures of him in magazines, online, and even the one interview he did when discussing how he made his first billion. But none of that compares to seeing him in person.
His chiseled jaw, his high cheekbones, the way his face seems like it was sculpted from marble by a master sculptor from the Renaissance era. The way he stands like an athlete but is dressed like a businessman.
Please like me. Please, please, please, please.
But he’s frowning. Whatever happened between him and Gretchen, whatever he was barking about on the phone when I came in, it all clearly got him in a bad mood before I got here. She was right; I have no chance.
But then, something strange happens. The edges of his lips twist up, slowly but surely. And then a smile forms on his mouth.
“Well, finally,” he says. “Finally they send a good-looking girl to work for me.”
I nearly forget how to breathe for a moment. I don’t know whether to pass out or jump for joy, but seeing as how I can’t do either of those things, I smile professionally and wait for him to make the next move. But wow, did he really say that? Jude Crown thinks I’m good-looking?
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Um, P-Penny,” I stammer like an idiot. “Penny Johnson.”
Jude, hands in his pockets, nods and slowly comes around from behind his desk. The way he moves is hypnotic. Such precision, such control. He’s not at all like the other billionaire CEOs you see on TV. This man could be a movie star, a model. I have to fight every feminine urge I have not to let my eyes move to the very obvious bulge in his pants as he steps closer to me and stops not even six feet from me. Again, his eyes hold me where I stand and seem to bore a hole straight through me.
“Well, Penny Johnson.” He smiles. “I’m glad you showed up here today. You do well, and I may just keep you around. After we make a few changes, of course.”
The End
NOW AVAILABLE: Her Prison Husband
CLICK HERE
* * *
His name is Bain Warner, ex-enforcer for the Romano crime family. They call him the “Movie Star Murderer” on account of his incredible good looks that had women everywhere swooning when he was sent to prison five years ago after being convicted of killing seventeen men, and those were just the ones they could prove. Six months ago, his first letter arrived at my home.
* * *
At first I was terrified. A dangerous killer wanting to speak to me? I threw out the letters, but that didn’t stop him. He sent more. Then upped the ante and invited me to the prison for a conjugal visit, just him and me alone in a room, completely unsupervised for an hour. I may have lost my mind, because I’m actually considering it. And the worst part? I was part of the legal team that led to his conviction five years ago.
2
Penny
I swallow hard, my nerves suddenly returning like a rush of flooding tide waters.
“Ch-changes?” I stammer. “What do you mean?”
Jude smiles, nearly melting me like a bar of chocolate in the hot summer sun. “Well, I have certain rules for how my girls dress around the office, and well…” he says as he looks me up and down again with those eyes…those penetrating eyes of his. “Well, let’s just say you’re breaking those rules right now, sweetheart.”
I’m instantly taken back to moments ago when Gretchen came racing out of his office, her face red and streaked with tears.
“Let me guess,” I say. “Heels and a skirt?”
Jude cocks his head to the side and lowers his chin with an impressed look on his face. “Well, well, well. You’re one sharp cookie, aren’t you? It seems Carlos was right to hire you.” My insides swell with warmth, and I instantly feel myself standing up straighter. Did Jude Crown really just give me a compliment?
My whole body is hot, as though I’m blushing from head to toe. I quickly glance down at myself to see if I’m red, but thankfully I’m not. If he saw me like that right now and knew what was going on inside of me…I don’t know what I would do.
I’m doing my best to maintain a look of confidence and professionalism, but inside I’m absolutely melting. This big man in front of me is so intimidating and his reputation carries so much weight that he radiates an aura of strength that I can practically feel.
“Was he?” he asks.
“I-I’m sorry?” Oh God. He just asked me something and I have no idea what he wants to know. I’ve just made a fool out of myself and I haven’t even been on the job for five minutes.