Free Whatever He Asks (Writer for the Billionaire) by Thalia Frost Page B

control.
    I leaned against the bar, waiting for him to speak.
    “ I don't want to keep you from what you have to do. ” His voice ran over me like silk.
    “ You're not. At this point, I only need to lock up. ”
    “ Then please. Sit for a moment. I have a business proposal for you. ” He turned slightly to face me full on, and the effect was like that of a magnetic force.
    I felt myself drawn to him, nothing I could do about it. He was the moon, and I was the ocean, pulsing to his pull on me. I sat down heavily on the bar stool next to him, heat creeping into my cheeks at my lack of grace.
    “ Okay. ” I didn't know what else to say. I had no earthly idea what a man like this wanted from a woman like me.
    Well, I had an idea, but it didn't make sense other than in the form of a quick lay. And he could have found that anywhere with his looks. I was far from the most attractive or most polished woman on earth, and I was flat broke. Hardly a trophy for a billionaire, which I had an inkling he was.
    “ Melinda Louis. ” He spoke my name slowly, lingering over each syllable. There was something illicit in the sound, and goosebumps rose on my arms.
    “ Yeah, that's my name. Don't break it. ”
    He didn't smile.
    Guess he's not the joking type.
    A shiver rippled through me, and I felt exposed in my barmaid costume.
    “ Melinda, I'd like you to come work for me. ”
    I gaped at him and finally closed my mouth. He gauged me without flinching.
    Cool as ice, this one. That's how I know he has money.
    “ Doing what? ” I hated how stupid I sounded but he'd flabbergasted me.
    “ Whatever I want. ” He clicked his tongue in a way that sounded quite naughty.
    I held my breath, all thoughts leaving my head. I might have been an imbecile for all the brain activity going on at that moment.
    “ Wow. Okay. ”
    “ You would, of course, have the opportunity to say no to anything that made you uncomfortable, Ms. Louis. Is it miss? ” He smiled.
    “ Yes. ” I clasped my hands together tight, aware they were shaking. “ But I don't see how I'm the person for the job. ”
    “ You are. I knew it before I even walked in here. I've been looking for someone like you, Linda. ”
    The way he said the nickname made me hot all over. I remembered that it meant pretty.
    “ Right. ”
    “ Really. ” His bit his lip, his brows furrowing. “ Of course, I'm sure you're waiting to hear about pay. ”
    I nodded stupidly. That was honestly the last question I had. The whole situation was so bizarre that it defied reason.
    “ I'd pay you $500,000 for a one - year contract. ”
    My breath whooshed out, and I gasped for air. I knew I must look like a fish washed up on shore, breathing its last.
    “ Um, I don't see how there's any honest way I'd be earning that much money. ”
    Magnus grinned at me, his teeth impossibly white in the darkness. For the first time, I noticed a tiny scar on one cheek. I wanted to touch it, to know about it.
    “ Sure there is. I have need of your services, of your freshness. I've seen your writing, and you're obviously a woman of many talents. I want you to work for me personally — no more time in a basement room. ” His gaze raked my uniform.
    My writing and where I work? How would he know about that?
    I gulped. Something very strange was going on. Was he a stalker or a psycho who'd been following me around the city?
    “ You can think about it. I'll be back tomorrow evening to get your answer. ” He stood.
    “ What? One day to consider it? ” My voice was a squeak.
    “ Yes, that's plenty of time. I promise you, I'm trustworthy. Here's my card, Linda. ” Magnus handed me a slick business card and I read it, the words hardly registering, though the cover scheme and logo was one I'd have known in my sleep:
    Magnus V. Gray
    CEO
    Gray Enterprises
     
    The rest went blurry. No wonder he'd looked familiar. I'd seen him on company brochures I'd worked on. He was a legend among women and worth billions. The