Page 5 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“I’m sorry, sir, but I cannot, I will not dosuch a thing.”
Jack’s head tilted slightly as he studiedher face. She saw a mixture of dislike, distrust, and wonder. Whatdid he see?
“No, I supposed you wouldn’t,” he drawled,shaking his head. “After all, the rewards for living a chaste, dulllife must far outweigh those of being an independently wealthywoman.”
“For a price.”
“Yes, a single kiss. A truly gruelingsacrifice for one’s independence.”
She scowled at him.
“And you would know about sacrifice?”
He smirked, but it didn’t reach hiseyes.
“No different from every other highbrowlady, it would seem. Too good and more wholesome than the rest ofus.”
“And you are no different from any man inthe world. Always looking to belittle and take advantage of thefairer sex,” she countered hotly, before she could stopherself.
Meredith’s mouth snapped shut and Jackcocked his head.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Only that you’re all the same, socialstatus be d-damned,” she stuttered, unused to cursing. “All men tryto make fools of women. Well, not I, Mr. Archer.” He stared at herwith a curious gaze, and she wondered if she had said too much.“Good day,” Meredith said, wanting to be out of his presence assoon as possible.
She was out the door and halfway down thehallway when he called out to her.
“Consider it done, Miss Taylor,” he said,causing her to stop.
Jack was leaning out of the doorway, hisarms crossed across his large chest as his hair fell against theside of his face.
“What?” she asked.
“I’ll set up an investment for your capitalnext week. I’ve a venture in mind that I think will do well.”
He was going to help her?
“But, but what about—”
“I’ll come to call on you by the beginningof next week with the paperwork.”
“Without payment?” she asked.
He gave her a guarded look.
“No.”
“I shan’t dothat, Mr. Archer,” shesaid steadily as she stared at him. “I’m not that type ofwoman.”
“All women are that type of woman,” hecountered. “I’ll see you next week.”
“I won’t do it.”
He nodded at her as if he didn’t hear her,which infuriated her, and went back into his office.
What a rude, arrogant man. He was sorelymistaken if he thought he could blackmail her into doing somethingso wildly out of character just to gain her own financialindependence. It already smacked of desperation. To be anindependent, unwed woman was a mark against her in society andwhile the freedom that came with it was worth being a socialoutcast, Meredith couldn’t bring herself to use physical endowmentsas payment.
Still as she left the offices of Archer andArcher, she didn’t think it was such a terrible price. One kiss washardly going to degrade her to that of a street woman. And really,it wasn’t that she found Jack Archer’s looks lacking. He washandsome and dangerous in a way that didn’t necessarily scare her,but made her feel excited. But could she bring herself to do such athing?
