“And Scott? If I do this that means opening up with him about things that I won’t really want to share with him.”

“Scott will understand once he sees how well we do. Our sales have skyrocketed since we hired you as our way maker… our deal settler. We have some pretty strong pitches, but you have firm, solid ones—ones people cannot deny.”

My nostrils flare as she looks me over. As she holds me close, eyes so desperate and pleading, I can’t help but think one thing, and I lean back, jaw ticking. “Was this your plan all along? Why you slept with me in the first place? To win me over… get me hooked on you.”

“What?” she snaps, brows furrowing as she shoots off my lap. “No! How could you even think something like that about me?”

“The timing, Angelina. You can’t blame me for being just a tad bit suspicious.” She glowers down at me, and then narrows her eyes with a scoff.

“Wow, Griffin,” she breathes, shaking her head while turning her back to me. “I can’t believe you would think that of me. It’s already bad enough that I am considered your fucking mistress. I mean, no one knows but me and you, but me knowing is hard enough to bear. I—I hate what I am to you.” She chokes on her words. “I wanted to ask this before—before we slept together. Before anything happened between us because I knew this was what you would think—that I am fooling you into this.”

I push out of my seat, following her to the window. I can feel her rage, her anger filling the atmosphere. “Angelina, I didn’t mean to upset you. But I had to ask. I mean, all I can think is why else would you be here instead of Scott? He can handle himself.”

“Yes, he can,” she says impatiently, “but Scott doesn’t work the way I do. He isn’t persistent. He’s not capable of landing deals as well as I can. He stumbles. He stutters. Honestly, he’s a fucking idiot sometimes when it comes to this.”

I wrap my arms around her middle, locking my fingers on top of her belly. My chin relaxes on her shoulder and, as several seconds pass by, she eases up, her body no longer vibrating with frustration. Turning my head, I kiss the crook of her neck, and she sighs and moans, eyes fluttering before closing.

“I didn’t mean to offend you, Angel. I really didn’t.”

“I know. I understand why you asked.” She spins in my arms. “Griffin, I… I really wanted this with you. I know it was fast and it wasn’t supposed to happen, but when I want someone, I want someone. Is that bad? Its not every day that I come across a businessman as… great looking as you. That’s not bad, right?”

“Not at all,” I murmur, chuckling.

Her lips press forming a faint, slim smile. “Just… think about it. Take your time to consider it. If you have any questions, or don’t trust something, just ask me. I wrote up the contract with my lawyer so feel free to ask me whatever you want. I would be a fool to try and bamboozle Griffin Boyd,” she teases.

“I don’t need to ask anything. I trust you, Angelina.”

Her face lights up. “Do you really?” Her arms lock around the back of my neck, a fuller smile now present.

I study her face. The last person I would want to let down right now is her. I came running here last night because I didn’t want her angry with me or thinking I bailed on her. I refused to let it to happen.

Last night, I put Angelina first, and that alone tells me one hundred things, the main ones being that I do like her, that I do trust her, and that I want so much more out of us.

“Percentages remain the same?” I ask.

She nods. “Yes.”

“We won’t have any issues with Scott about it?”

“None at all. I will talk to him. Though he hates admitting it, he knows I’m the smarter of us two.” Her lips twist, before she says, “And you don’t have to add our name to Boyd Enterprises, but we would love to be a main benefactor for the company. The same respect, same connections. Stuff like that?”

“Yes, of course. Whatever I am working on I will discuss with you.” She starts to grin, but I hold up a finger, “But only you, Angelina.”

“Yes,” she whispers. “Yes. Of course. Whatever you want, Griffin.”

“Always whatever I want?” I trace the same lifted finger across her bottom lip.

“Always,” she murmurs, finally able to grin fully.

I fight a smile, clutching her chin in my hand. I tilt her head up, and my lips come down on hers. She sighs, and then releases a breathy moan, and my arm hooks around her waist.

I drop my other, both hands sliding down and around to the small of her back. They continue south, and stop right on top of her plump ass.

I squeeze her cheeks in my hands, and she giggles behind our kiss as I start to turn rock hard in my pants.

I’ve just met Angelina, yes, but I do trust her… believe it or not. There aren’t many people that can open me up like she can. Not many of them can get answers out of me without actually trying.

She’s such a natural, kind-spirited, and absolutely sexy woman. Why she would be foolish enough to waste her time fucking the likes of me still astounds me.

She deserves better…

But I’m not letting her go, and if signing this contract means we get to work together for the years to come then, yes, I will sign it. That way, even if she decides to quit on me, I will still have some sort of hold on her.

I will still have her at my side, at my table, and in my office. She won’t be able to turn away because she loves working. She’s passionate about what she does, and I can count on her to show up just for that.

She will be mine, whether she gives up on me or not.

The only negative is I won’t be able to tell Jenkins.

If he finds out our money is being split with a third party, he’ll kill me.

This secret will remain with us, and after I fuck my beautiful angel raw on this table top, I will make her promise me that much.

That this is between us. That no one outside of Boyd and Clarke will know of the business we now, technically, share.

Fuck, this is new. I don’t share. Ever.

But, for Angelina Clark, I would share with her the world if it were all mine.

TWENTY

Angelina

“I’ll sign it tonight,” Griffin says, halfway out the door.

I’m tying my hair up in a bun after having my roots practically yanked out by his gruff hands. I nod, and he plants a swift kiss on my cheek and then my lips. I return it, giving it all the enthusiasm I can.

But when he’s long gone and the door is shut behind me, I can’t help but feel an abundance of guilt and shame. This isn’t me…I shouldn’t have done that. But it’s too late now.

I can’t take it back.

I have to go through with this.

I care about Griffin, and I know he cares about me, but when it comes to my life, I care about my family and mine more.

I look towards my phone on the table. The screen flashes, and I go towards it, spotting Jackie’s name. Jackie, my half-sister. The one not even Scott knows about. Mom doesn’t know her either. But Dad did, of course.

He used to take me to dinner to see her. He let me meet her lots of times, her mom too. He told me personally that he could trust me not to say anything and since I liked Jackie so much, I promised I never would. It was like me and Dad’s tiny little secret.

He’d cheated, but I’d heard about Mom’s affairs as well. I guess I couldn’t blame either of them… or myself for that matter.

There’s no wonder I love sex so much. I give into most of my desires without many regrets at all. I love risks. Being with Griffin is a huge risk, but it’s one that I have to take.

Because if I don’t, it means risking losing Jackie.