Greedy Boss Read online

  Helena. She’s wearing the same thing as last night, and I can smell my cologne on her. I like it—it makes me feel like a tiger marking my territory.

  “What are you doing here?”

  She looks between me and my brother, and even in the dim light, I can see her cheeks turn red. I’m guessing it’s fury more than embarrassment. “What am I doing here? What are you doing here? You really are selfish. Do you have such blatant disregard for me and my work that you come to the most disreputable strip club you can find in the middle of the morning?”

  “It’s not what it looks like.”

  Her laugh is too loud and humorless. It catches Asher’s attention. His eyes narrow on her as a slow smile spreads across his face.

  “I know you,” he says, pointing at Helena. He stands, dumping the girl off of his lap, and crosses the small room to us. “Are you a stripper? Because I would kill to touch some real boobs.” He reaches for her, but I snatch his hands away.

  “Don’t touch her,” I snarl.

  Realization dawns on Asher’s face, even through his drug-induced haze. “Oh shit! You’re that smart bitch from high school.”

  I’m going to fucking kill him, but before I can, he turns to me.

  “You know, you never thanked me for taking care of her project for you. If it hadn’t been for me, you would have taken second place to her again.” He laughs and socks me on the shoulder. “Such a fucking pussy.”

  His words sink in, and I drop my gaze to Helena. She blinks at him, then up at me.

  “What did he say?” she asks, but I know she heard.

  “I didn’t know—”

  Her mouth drops open and she steps back. Her voice is cold and detached when she says, “You liar.”

  “Helena.” I reach for her this time, but she jerks away, stepping back into the club. The girl on the stage has stopped and is watching us, but Helena ignores her.

  “You always have someone cleaning up your messes, don’t you? Throw money at us and we can get it done for you. Me. Gita—who I met this morning, thanks for the heads up. And apparently Asher.” She looks over my shoulder at my brother. “I hope he paid you well.”

  Asher scoffs. “He didn’t pay me anything, the greedy bastard.”

  Turning on her heel, Helena walks out of the club. I follow her all the way to her car, but she doesn’t bother to look at me again.

  As she throws open her car door, she does say one more thing, though. “I’ll see you later at your interview. After that, we’re done.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Helena

  Jasper is in the green room with the make-up artist when I arrive at the television station. When he sees me in the mirror, he tries to stand, but she scolds him and pushes him back into the chair.

  “Helena,” is all he says.

  Even though I don’t need it, I look down at my tablet as I speak. “Katie will ask you about the poker game, and about the picture with me. You need to keep it under control, like you did at the date auction.”

  “I’ve got it. Do you think maybe we can talk?”

  I click through a screen, pretending to read. “You really need to focus. This is a big one.” Then, I look up and meet his eyes. “Don’t go off-script.”

  When the make-up artist leaves, I go with her so we don’t have a chance to be alone together. As angry and hurt as I am, I also feel a little vindicated. I knew it would happen, and now that it has, I can move on, put Jasper behind me once and for all. All I have to do is get him through this interview.

  I take my place behind the cameraman and watch as Katie Chan, Oakwood City’s favorite evening news anchor, takes her spot behind the news desk. If Jasper were anyone else, I’d be worried she’ll eat him alive. But he can handle himself. He is an expert at manipulation, after all.

  Jasper comes up next, taking the chair beside her. He’s as handsome as ever in a tie and his fitted gray suit. I hate that my heart still skips a beat when I look at him, but with time and distance, that will fade. It has to, because I’m not going to put myself or my reputation on the line again.

  When the cameras start rolling, Jasper turns on the charm. It’s like a switch as he dons that public persona. He’s doing great, dodging questions expertly, turning them in his favor.

  “You’re a man worth billions with a reputation for being greedy, for always wanting more. Would you like to tell us about how Wright Consulting gives back? What sort of charitable contributions does the company make?” Katie asks. This is his opportunity to talk about his contribution to cancer research.

  Jasper, who’s been doing a good job keeping eye contact with Katie or with the cameras, scans the onlookers until he finds me. “Actually, Katie, I do have an announcement to make. Could I ask Helena Prescott to join us?”

  Katie, who probably likes him going off-script only marginally less than I do, composes herself, smiles at the camera, and says, “Certainly. Helena?” She doesn’t know me from the next underling, but she makes it sound like we’re best friends.

  I, on the other hand, freeze. What is he doing?

  A producer nudges my shoulder. “You have to go.”

  She’s right. I don’t want to make him look bad. On shaky legs, I approach the news desk, where someone has already set up another chair between Jasper and Katie. I sit, a fake smile frozen on my face.

  “Helena, great.” Jasper smiles at me like he didn’t just break my heart. “Everyone, this is Helena Prescott. You may know her as the girl in the love triangle with Charlie Sky and me.”

  Katie laughs, and some of the crew joins in. I’m going to kill him.

  “But that’s not who she is at all. Helena is a wildly successful PR agent, the best in the business. It’s thanks to her that I’m sitting up here today and not, well, blowing my money on strip—”

  “Other things,” I interrupt loudly before he can say strippers or drugs or illegal poker games. It’s my job, after all.

  “Right. Well, she has challenged me and pushed me and inspired me, and it’s because of her that Wright Consulting has taken up philanthropic consulting. Our first client is Oakwood City’s Foster A Wish program.”

  My mouth goes dry and I tear my eyes off of the camera pointed at me to look at him.

  His smile is suddenly more genuine as he says, “Not only will Wright Consulting be offering free business consulting to Foster A Wish, we will be sponsoring an annual scholarship to help children in the foster program attend some of the best schools in the city.” He looks at me again, his smile fading, his eyes almost sad. “It’s the least we could do. And it’s all thanks to this woman sitting right here.”

  Katie wraps up the interview, but I hardly hear any of it. I sit with my hands in my lap, my fingers pressed together, my mind racing. Finally, when they call it a wrap, Jasper turns to me and grabs my knee before I can flee.

  “Helena, I didn’t know that Asher did that. I didn’t know, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was at that poker game because of him, and I was at the strip club because of him. He’s my brother, and I love him, but…”

  “But what?” I whisper.

  “But I love you more. And I love who I am when I’m with you.”

  Tears well in my eyes at the sound of the words I didn’t even know I wanted to hear.

  The chair I’m in rolls, and he pulls it toward him until our knees touch and he leans forward. “And it’s true. I’m a greedy bastard. You’re already mine, and I’m not going to stop until you realize it.”

  I press my hands to the side of his face and study his eyes—eyes that have tortured me and burned for me and seen me in ways that no one else ever has. “I believe you,” I say.

  He smiles brilliantly and then captures my mouth with his, pulling me out of my chair and into his lap.

  There are cheers and faint applause from the television crew, and Katie Chan says something about missing an opportunity, but I barely hear any of it.

  All I hear is the word Jasper growls in my ea
r, one that makes my core tighten with excitement.

  “Mine.”

  Epilogue

  Helena

  I pull up outside Le Clocher, and the valet takes my car. I’m a few minutes late, so I hope we haven’t lost our reservation. But when I approach the hostess stand, the girl there smiles at me and opens the door.

  “Right this way, Ms. Prescott.”

  My brow narrows in confusion. How does she know my name? Jasper and I have dinner here occasionally—like tonight—but that doesn’t mean we’re regular enough that she should know who we are.

  When I walk inside the restaurant, though, I see why—it’s completely empty except for Jasper. He’s standing a few feet away from the entrance wearing a pinstripe suit, his hands clasped in front of him. The fairy lights in the windows cast him in a soft glow. He’s smiling, and I pause to look at him, feeling giddy with my own happiness.

  And with good reason. Things have been fantastic. Asher is in a rehab facility on the coast and doing much better. Charlie is still my client though he’s stopped asking me out and getting into so much trouble since he got engaged to a fan. Jasper has stayed out of trouble, and the only time he’s photographed any more, he’s with me. We moved in together, and even though I don’t live in the building anymore, I still see Amara, Miriam, and Quinn once a week for cocktail hour.

  “What’s going on?” I ask with a laugh as I approach him.

  He pulls me into a warm hug, pressing a kiss against my lips. “You’ll see.” He doesn’t let go of my hand on the walk back to our usual table. It’s strange that there was a time when touching him wasn’t second nature. Now, we can’t keep our hands off each other.

  “Did you reserve the whole restaurant?” I ask.

  He looks at his watch. “Only for an hour, and you’re fifteen minutes late.”

  I laugh, not caring if it’s true or not. The man hates to spend more money than he has to, although I’ve learned he does spend it on the things that matter. With his support, I’ve cut back some of my work hours to do work with the Foster A Wish program. We’ve just awarded our first Wright-Prescott Scholarship to a rising freshman at Samwell Prep, and he didn’t even blink an eye as he wrote the school a check.

  We order our favorite meal and my favorite wine, and I try to carry on a normal conversation even though it’s hard. I’m sure he has something planned, but he’ll do it in his own time, and it will be spectacular.

  But surprisingly, the dinner goes by and nothing happens. I can tell by the way he smirks at me that he knows I’m suspicious, but he doesn’t mention it. Instead, he takes my hand, drapes my coat over my shoulders, and leads me outside.

  Into a swarm of paparazzi. Flashing lights and the buzz of conversation greet us. I put up my arm to shield my face, turning to him.

  “What—”

  But he’s on one knee, holding up a velvet box. The crowd around us quiets and he pops it open, leaving me staring down at a giant, flashy, emerald-cut diamond that I’m sure is worth more than a year of my salary. My hand covers my mouth in shock, not at the proposal, but at the rock.

  “Helena Prescott,” he says, loud enough for everyone to hear. “It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize that there is no other woman in this world for me. It seems like every time I become complacent, you come along and shake things up, challenging me when most people are afraid to.”

  He’s not wrong, but we do it for each other. Last year, I thought I was on top of the world. I didn’t realize there was a gaping hole in my life, an emptiness that only he was able to fill. We push each other, and for two very driven people, that’s important. But he also loves me and comforts me and accepts me for exactly who I am.

  “I love you, and I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”

  “I love you, too,” I say through my fingers, ignoring the camera flashes all around us.

  “Will you marry me?”

  There’s no hesitation in my answer. “Yes.” I reach down and pull him to his feet, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him. Like always, the feel of his mouth on mine warms something deep inside of me.

  He pulls away, smiling, and holds me to his side as we pose for pictures.

  I put a hand on his chest and smile up at him. “Why are they here?” I ask.

  “It’s true what they say. I’m a greedy bastard and I want the world to know that you’re mine.”

  “What if I had said no?” I ask.

  “You wouldn’t have.”

  He’s right. One thing I have learned is that it’s okay to be greedy when you’re following your heart.

  >>>

  If you enjoyed reading Helena and Jasper’s story, please consider leaving a review. Just a line or two about what you liked helps other readers find the book!

  Interested in some of the other characters?

  Find Amara’s story in Shameless Boss

  Quinn’s story in Cocky Boss

  Max’s story in Sinful Boss

  Tobias’ story in Dirty Boss.

  Shameless Boss by Liz Fox

  Amara

  After a difficult year, I’m just starting to make things work.

  I’m a single mom with a new job and new opportunities, and I’m not going to waste them.

  When my ex doesn’t show up with the cake for my son’s birthday, I don’t know what to do.

  Thankfully, my boss swoops in and saves the day.

  He’s sexy, smart, and young enough to pull an all-nighter.

  But can I trust a man with my heart after I’ve been burned?

  Patrick

  There’s a reason I’ve already made it at just twenty-nine years old.

  It’s because I’m always right.

  I turned my parents’ business into a multi-million-dollar franchise, and now I’m ready for more.

  When I see Amara in the office, I know she’s the one for me.

  She’s curvy, strong, and I have no shame in pursuing her.

  Now, I just need to convince her that I’m not going anywhere.

  Now available for pre-order on Amazon!

  Also by C.L. Cruz

  Vincent Street Valentines (with Liz Fox)

  Legal Love

  Library Love

  Puppy Love

  Latte Love

  Curvy Girls

  Fat Chance

  Spare Tire

  Curve Ball

  Juniper Creek

  Tomboy

  Blabbermouth

  Goody Two-Shoes

  Bad Bosses (with Liz Fox)

  Naughty Boss

  Rugged Boss

  Dirty Boss

  Sinful Boss

  Badder Bosses (with Liz Fox)

  Greedy Boss

  Shameless Boss

  Cocky Boss

  Ruthless Boss (coming soon)

  About the Author

  C.L. Cruz writes steamy romance stories about strong, independent women and the men who love them. She is a single mom of two young children currently hoping for her own happily ever after.

  Join the Short, Sweet, & Steamy Romance reader group on Facebook.

  Find C.L. Cruz at:

  Facebook: clcruzromance

  Instagram: clcruzauthor

  Website: clcruz.com

  Amazon: C.L. Cruz

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  C L Cruz, Greedy Boss

 

 

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