Page 15 of Strictly Business

I move from behind my desk and settle on the edge of it, close enough to make my presence known but leaving her the space she clearly needs. She doesn’t look at me. Her eyes flick toward the stack of papers on my desk, then down to her lap, where her hands fidget restlessly.

I study her for a long moment, remembering our conversation earlier, the hesitation in her voice.

She thinks I’m not attracted to her.

I almost laugh at the absurdity of it.

Attraction? That’s the least of the issues here.

It’s a problem, just how much I’m attracted to her. A problem I’ve tried my best to avoid. The last thing I want to do is complicate things in the workspace. Dating an assistant is a cliché, one I’ve worked hard to avoid. And yet…

I shove the thought aside. Focus. There’s too much riding on this conversation to let myself get distracted.

Her fingers twist together in her lap, and she finally breaks the silence. “I don’t know what you want me to say,” she murmurs. She shakes her head, her shoulders tight. “What am I supposed to say here?”

She’s still avoiding my eyes, but I see the way her chest rises and falls with each shallow breath, like she’s struggling to find the right words.

“You can say anything you want,” I tell her, leaning in just a little, wanting her to know she has control. Her eyes flick to mine—finally—and the uncertainty swimming in them hits me square in the chest. “You won’t lose your job for speaking your mind,Amara,” I add, holding her gaze when she tries to look away. “Say yes, say no, tell me to go fuck myself if you don’t want to do this. Whatever it is, it’s your call.”

The words linger between us, and slowly, a faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips. It’s small, cautious, but it’s there. She’s listening. She’s thinking about it. But there’s still hesitation in her eyes. I can see it, feel it.

“But if your concerns are about what we discussed earlier…” I pause. Then, before I can stop myself, I lift a hand and gently cup her chin. Her skin is warm, soft, and the contact sends a shock through me I’m not prepared for. My thumb brushes over her cheek, slow and careful. She doesn’t pull away.

“My attraction to you isn’t an issue.”

Her eyes flicker to mine, searching, hesitant. I see every question she’s too afraid to ask reflected in the green of her gaze.

“No?” she murmurs, testing, her voice as soft as the touch of her breath.

I hold her gaze, unflinching. “No.”

She exhales slowly, struggling to wrap her head around everything, and the last thing I want to do is add to it.

“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” I lower my hand.

“No,” she whispers, shaking her head. “You didn’t.”

“I know this is a lot. Take your time. Think about it. There’s no rush,” I lie.

We’re absolutely in a rush. The board won’t wait forever, and eventually they’ll want some proof that we are truly engaged. But I won’t push her.

I straighten my tie, more for something to do with my hands than anything else, and take a step back, giving her room. “If it’s compensation you’re worried about, don’t be. That’s not a problem.”

Her head snaps up at that, her brows furrowing slightly. “You’dpayme?”

“Of course,” I reply, without hesitation. “It’s only fair. You’re doing me a favor.”

I pull open the drawer and reach for my checkbook, scribbling a number that’s more than generous. When I slide it across the desk to her, she doesn’t reach for it. Instead, she stares at it for a beat, then back at me.

“Amara,” I say quietly, leaning just slightly toward her. “This is your call. No pressure. No expectations. If you want to walk away, I won’t stop you.”

Her eyes dart between me and the check, her brows pulling together before she finally reaches for it, her fingers brushing the edge of the paper.

When she flips it over and sees the number I’ve written, her breath catches.

“Are you—this is insane, Nic—Mr. Blackwood.” Her voice cracks, and the way she almost says my name, soft and unguarded, stirs something inside me. She’s always been the epitome of composure. I’ve never heard her voice waver like that. Never seen her so thrown off balance.

She pushes the check back toward me. “I can’t accept this,” she whispers, shaking her head.

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