Page 31 of The Greek Billionaire's Rejected Secretary

"I don't."

Lissa actually comes forward to give my arm a motherly pat. "Women like Shayla are rare. Treat her as such, and you can't lose. But if you take too much time making up your mind, someone smarter will swoop her off—"

"Don't you mean sweep?"

"That's for wimps," Lissa says scornfully, "and if Shayla had always been the type to be swept off her feet, don't you think someone else would have already stolen her away by now? It has to be someone more cunning, someone who understands when a demonstration of one's power and authority is called for—"

Is she complimenting or insulting me?

"That's the kind of man Shayla is certain to respect, and if you're so fortunate...willingly surrender to."

Well, hell.

Who would have thought the day would come when I'd actually concede in Lissa White having the winning argument?

Her words make uncomfortable sense, and it's more than enough to have me striding out of the building.

Because I know Shayla far better than she gives me credit for, and case in point?

Her absolute shock at finding me suddenly taking a seat in front of her, causing Shayla to drop the sandwich she's holding.

"You could catch a fly with that," I say gently.

Shayla turns red even as she quickly closes her mouth.

"You never ask me to join you for lunch," I murmur.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I've always known."

Her mouth opens and closes.

Good.

It would greatly disappoint me if she were to insist on wasting our time with pointless arguments.

Because Shayla and I?

We've come up with a system of communication over the years. When there's something I want my secretary to know is the absolute truth, I simply look into her eyes, the way I'm looking into her eyes now—

And she gets it. Even if she doesn't want to. She can't deny that she gets it.

"Pretending nothing happened between us won't work."

Just like she can't deny this next truth that I need her to accept.

"Because something did."

She swallows hard.

But something is still holding her back.

And so I decide to keep pushing.

"I can't stop thinking about that night, Shayla. And the dark circles under your eyes tell me it's been the same for you—"

She opens her mouth, clearly intending to deny this, but when she sees the way I'm looking at her, challenging her to win an argument without playing dumb—

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