Free The Truth About Numbnuts and Chubbs by Cat Kelly Page A

mid-sentence. Like a robot with the batteries suddenly ripped out, he didn't know how to proceed. His minions looked to him for guidance but he had none to give. This was unprecedented. No one dismissed Adam Rostrop from his own conference room.
    No one except Numbnuts.
    "Well, of course, if it's—"
    "Alone," he repeated calmly. "Now."
    It was raining again, hitting the window behind her with a steady pulsing rhythm.
    "I'd like to discuss my proposition and my terms with Ms. Mulligan," he added. "In private. She can bring it to you later. If she decides I'm worth it."
    She wanted to laugh. It seemed a very odd reaction at that moment, but since no one else knew what to do, perhaps it was fitting. A minute later they were alone, facing each other across the conference table. She took off her glasses, because clearly he didn't have anything for her to read. He hadn't even come to the meeting with a briefcase.
    "What do you want, Mr. Petruska?"
    He smiled, showing his fine teeth and incidentally reminding her of how he chewed her panties off last night. "You, Ms. Mulligan."
    "I'm talking about—"
    "I know. The answer is still you. I want you to work for me. For me exclusively."
    Needing occupation for her hands, Bry picked up her pen, flicking the nib in and out. She wasn't certain what he meant. There was the matter of that "Mistress" he said he wanted. Maybe that was the job he offered.
    But last night was supposed to be a one off.
    She shook her head. "Resign from my new job? A job I'm lucky to have? A job I beat out two hundred other candidates to land?"
    "Correct."
    "Why would I—"
    "I'm leaving tomorrow for the Bahamas. Petruska Leisure Industries is buying property for a new hotel resort. I need an assistant to come with me, so you'll have to make your mind up tonight. Since you just got back from France, I know you have an up-to-date passport. My plane leaves at six a.m. We'll be back by Monday afternoon. Call my office for any other travel details you might need." He stood, buttoning his suit jacket. Then bowed his head as if they were in a Jane Austen novel. "Good afternoon, Ms. Mulligan. I look forward to working with you."
    As he strode out, she realized she hadn't even thanked him for the flowers, pastries and shoes. He hadn't asked about them. She also had not demanded that he clarify the terms of the job he offered.
    She was still sitting there in a state of shock, when her boss came in with rolled-up shirt sleeves and demanded to know what happened.
    "I don't know," she answered truthfully, clutching her glasses. "I think he just asked me to go to the Bahamas with him."
    " What ?"
    "Petruska Leisure Industries is buying property."
    His eyes lit up and he slapped his hands together. "Good job, Mulligan. You're a fast worker."
    She chose not to explain that the position she'd been offered did not involve Rostrop and Philips at all. Anyway, she didn't know if she was going to take it. Whatever it was. In fact, she knew she couldn't. That would be a huge mistake.
    Right?
    Rain shook the windows again and she looked out at the low, ashy clouds. The Bahamas sounded pretty good about now, however she got there.
    Returning to her office she turned on her cell phone, just in time to pick up a call.
    "Where have you been?" Helena exhaled gustily in her ear. "Your apartment was evacuated last night. I just spoke to your grumpy pal Kelly. Why didn't you tell me that when I phoned last night? Where did you go?"
    "I stayed in a hotel." The lie flew out of her in haste, her mind rushing through the possibilities.
    "You stayed with a man. Kelly told me that too."
    Damn you Kelly! Couldn't keep her trap shut. "Oh. Yeah."
    " Oh yeah ?"
    She shut her office door. "I was going to stay in a hotel, but he invited me over. So I went."
    "Who? Don't tell me it was that asshole Petruska."
    She choked. "Of course not. Do you think I'm crazy?"
    Helena's sigh of relief blew down the phone. "I didn't think you would, but the horrifying idea