Page 14 of Bossing My Holiday
“As I said, that’s what makes you perfect for this. I’m not looking for romance or complications. I don’t have time for a girlfriend or a woman with expectations of me and my time. I simply need a woman on my arm for a week or so to get my matchmaking mother and grandmother off my back. Otherwise, it’ll be a different woman thrown at me every night, and I can’t have that. Plus, we have work to do. Work I’ll struggle to get done if I’m stuck at social events and having to thwart gold-digging, marriage-hungry women. But if you’re with me, it’ll be a two birds, one stone type of deal.”
“You’re not asking for sex, right?” I check and feel my face flush hotter than the Hades he’s trying to drag me to. It’s been a ridiculously long time since I’ve had sex, and there is no denying how Tristan looks, and I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about it—or gotten myself off to it—but still, hate sex with my boss isn’t on my Christmas wish list.
He shakes his head slowly, though his blue eyes turn a touch darker, and he does a quick scan of my body before returning to my face.
He clears his throat and reclaims his abandoned drink. “No.I’m not asking you for sex. This isn’t that sort of indecent proposal. This arrangement would be strictly business.”
There go my Robert Redford and Richard Gere fantasies.I snicker. I’m losing my mind.
“You’d rather saddle yourself with a sexless, all-business agreement than be set up with women, who I’m sure are everything lovely and beautiful? I don’t understand how it’s more appealing for you to bring your employee, who you don’t particularly like, to your family’s house over the holidays and pawn her off as your girlfriend?”
I’m incredulous. Actually, that’s not a strong enough word for what I am.
“My family is not simply trying to get me a holiday date. They’re trying to land me a future wife and woo me back to Paris. My mother already has at least three women lined up, and they’re just the start. They’re hoping for a love match or simply just a match. They want me to settle down and marry one of them, and that will be their primary focus since I’m the only child and the only heir of the Ouest family.”
“So tell them you don’t want it,” I emphasize.
“I did. It doesn’t matter. My ex-wife is proof of that, and if she hadn’t been dumb enough to publicly cheat on me and shame me and my family, they would have pushed us to stay together, and I likely would have for the sake of my family name. I can’t do that again, Waverly. I’m being very honest with you now. I can’t do that again. Bringing you along gives me breathing room and the option to escape and get work done. I can tell them Brax and I are showing you around Paris when, in reality, we’ll be working.”
“Where will I sleep?”
He grins. I have no clue why or how he is right now, but he’s definitely grinning. It’s as if he finds my questions cute or something.
“In one of the many guest rooms, I assume, since my familyis very traditional. In fact, Braxton and I will be staying in my flat, which is one floor down. You won’t have to share a bed with me.”
I snort. “No, I’ll just have to pretend to like you. I can’t believe this.” I cover my mouth with hands. Maybe I should have that second shot. What a freaking week it’s been.
“Yes,” he says dryly. “You will have to do that. Maybe even smile at me and hold my hand. But that’s it.”
“No. Noh. Nein. Nai. Nyet.”
He stares me down, those blue eyes trying to work some magic on me. “How much money do you owe, Waverly? How much debt are you in?”
I shake my head. “Please stop asking me that.”
“I said I’d double it. Plus whatever your grandmother needs.”
I glare with enmity at him. “I hate you. I hope you know that.”
He grins. “You’ve already told me that once today, and I believed you then. But you’ve worked for me for two years, and as much as I hate to admit, for the most part, you do a good job.”
“I do an excellent job, you ass.” I just called him an ass. To his face. He’s going to fire me. Especially if I say no to his crazy scheme.IfI say no.You have to say no, Waverly. You have to. Remember your pride, it’s all you have left. Your mother didn’t raise a whore.
She also didn’t raise a naïve moron who would allow herself to get dragged in and duped by a man, but here we are.
“Fine.” He holds up a consolatory hand. “You do an excellent job. And we will give you a raise when you start working for Braxton too. If you say no, I fully understand and won’t ever hold it against you. I realize it’s not a small thing. But this is why I also trust you when I don’t trust many. You’re honest with me when no one else but Brax is. I’m offering to get you out ofdebt in return for a Paris holiday. Did I mention we own a hotel? Several, in fact. My family lives in the residence of one and resides on the top three floors. There is an onsite spa that I’ve been told is one of the best in the world.”
I narrow my eyes accusingly. “You’re placating me.”
“I want you to say yes. And I don’t want you to go to HR and report me if you don’t. The red tape will be a nightmare with that.”
“Are you making a joke?”
“Trying to. It’s not my strong suit. Like so many other things you enjoy pointing out.”
I shake my head. I’m at a loss. He’s making jokes while I’m losing my mind.
“Tell me how to help you and I will,” he cajoles. “Come on. Try me.”
