“I haven’t seen you in close to two weeks.” His voice was accusing. “Can I take you out to dinner tonight?”

“Dinner?” I repeated weakly.

“Yes,” he laughed. “It’s what most boyfriends do every once in a while.”

“Funny.” I faked a laugh. “I guess dinner would be fine.”

“Don’t sound so enthusiastic!”

“Sorry, just been busy.”

“I see. Well, I wanted to celebrate my promotion.”

“Promotion?”

“Yeah.”

“At the Wall Street Journal?”

“That is where I’ve been reporting for the last three years.”

“Sorry, sorry.” I rubbed my forehead. “I’m a little distracted. Congratulations, that is great news.”

“So dinner and drinks?”

“Sure.”

“Maybe we can go back to my place after and watch a movie.” His voice was light. “And see where the night takes us.”

“I guess so.” I bit back a sigh. This was getting harder and harder.

“I’ll see you tonight then. I’ll text you the restaurant info.”

“Sounds good.”

“See you later, Katie.”

I hung up and stared at the phone feeling guilty. I felt awful about playing Matt, and I knew that I needed to break up with him. Dating him wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair. Especially seeing as I had essentially used him. Maybe that was why it had all blown up in my face. I’d been using people and lying for months. Even Meg didn’t know the truth. I sighed and went back to the files. I was going to have to come clean and move on. I would dedicate my life to my job. That was all I had left right now.

***

“Hey.” I walked into his office without knocking.

“Have a seat.” He pointed to a chair and whispered as he was on the phone. “Bill, I understand that you think that Epsonal is worth five million, but I’m telling you it’s overpriced. I will give you two million and allow you to keep a 1% equity share in the company, and that’s only because I’m being a nice guy.” He paused. “I have to go now, so think about it. You have 24 hours to accept or decline my offer.” He hung up the phone and smiled at me. “Sorry about that.”

“Are you trying to buy Epsonal, the electronics company?” I asked, frowning slightly.

“Yes, why?” He looked at me in interest.

“What you said was wrong. The company is worth at least twenty million, or at least it will be in a few weeks when the government awards them the military contract.” I answered before realizing I had slipped up. I wasn’t meant to know about the military contract. No one was supposed to know. I only knew because I had seen the files on Matt’s computer when I had been looking for something else.

“How did you know about the contract?” Brandon’s eyes narrowed. “No one is supposed to know about that. Bill, the CEO of the company, doesn’t even know.”

“And you’re using that lack of information to buy his company from him early.” I shook my head in shock. “So you can get it cheap.”

“That’s how business works.” He shrugged.

“But that’s illegal, that’s inside information.” My mouth dropped open. “That’s wrong.”

“It can’t be that inside if you’ve read about it somewhere.” His eyes challenged me and I kept my mouth shut. There was no way I was going to tell him that I read it while snooping around in my reporter boyfriend’s laptop.

“What did you want to see me about?” I changed the subject.

“I wanted to let you know that I am going to need you to start working nights.” He leafed through some files. “You’re the best manager I have right now and I need to work with you on some important projects.”

“Okay.” I swallowed hard as he undid the knot of his tie and pulled it off.

“Excuse me, there are some days that ties make me feel like I’m suffocating.”

“No worries.” I smiled weakly and watched as he pulled his jacket off as well. I watched as his chest muscles flexed beneath his shirt and shifted in my seat. He was so sexy, just staring at him turned me on.

“I have a business trip planned for next weekend that I need you to come on.”

“Oh?”

“It’s in London.” He smiled as I gasped. “I know you’ve always wanted to go.”

“Are you sure you need me to go?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I’m very sure.”

“I’ll try and make it work then.”

“Apologize to your boyfriend, Tom. I hope I’m not ruining any plans.”

“His name is Matt, and no, you’re not.”

“Good.” Brandon stood up and walked to his office door and slammed it shut and locked it, before walking back over to me.

“What are you doing?” I whispered as he stood in front of me, unbuttoning his shirt.

“Disrobing.” He grinned and threw it on the ground.

“But why? I thought you told me to come because you needed to discuss something with me?”

“I do. I need to discuss how hot you are and how my c**k is aching to f**k you.”

“What?” My face heated up as my hand ran to his chest.

“I know you want me too.” He pulled me up. “You can’t deny the unbelievable chemistry we have, Katie.”