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Excerpt

As we round a corner, Sophie points to a large desk. “This is yours.” Then she nods at an impressive wooden door in the frosted glass wall of a huge corner office. “And that’s Roman’s.”

I stare at the door, my heart picking up speed. Is he inside right now? A memory of our meeting in the elevator—that moment when he looked at me with such intensity—flashes in my mind.

Butterflies take flight in my stomach.

With a quiet huff, I shake my head, dismissing the reaction. He’s my boss, not a prospective date.

Sophie steps behind the desk and pulls open a large drawer at the bottom of it. “You can leave your bag here and I’ll take you to get your pass.”

I tuck my tote in the drawer, then follow her again as she rushes off.

Half an hour later we’re back. My still-warm pass hangs around my neck, and I have a brand-new tablet under my arm and a piece of paper with my passwords printed on it.

Once I’m successfully logged in to my computer, Sophie leans over my shoulder and points out a few of the programs I’ll be using. I’m just about to navigate to my inbox when my attention is stolen by a man striding around the corner.

My stomach does an odd little swoop as those piercing gray eyes clash with mine.

Roman comes to an abrupt halt, a frown etching a line between his dark brows. Turning to Sophie, he points at me. “What’s she doing here?”

My spine snaps straight. He may be gorgeous, but clearly, he’s rude, considering I’m sitting right here.

Sophie looks from him to me and back again. “Um, this is Chloe Callahan. She’s your new executive assistant.”

That chiseled jaw clenches. “No, she’s not.”

The previous swooping sensation in my stomach turns into a sharp drop. “What do you mean?”

He stalks forward, his eyes now fixed on me. “I’m afraid Lena made a mistake when she hired you, Miss Callahan. Unfortunately, you’re not the right fit for this position.” He turns back to Sophie. “Call the agency. Let them know there’s been a misunderstanding and that there’s no fault on Miss Callahan’s part.” He glances back at me. “You can…”

My heart pounds a painful beat in my temples, making his next words impossible to hear. What is he talking about? I need this job.

Inhaling deeply, I shove my chair back and stand, tipping my chin up and staring him straight in the eye. “Why exactly am I not the right fit?”

He raises his brows, probably not used to being challenged by his employees. Maybe it would be wiser to keep my mouth shut, but since I’m apparently going to lose this job if I don’t say something, it doesn’t matter if I annoy him.

His jaw tightens again, and he gives me a once-over with that icy gaze. “You can’t have more than three- or four-years’ experience. I need a seasoned professional. Someone who can assist with business operations, provide strategic support, and be a first point of contact when it comes to contracts worth billions of dollars. Not to mention someone who has the ability to deal with clients that have more ego and power than they know what to do with.”

I barely hold back a snort. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I’d point it out, but I don’t think it will do me any favors.

“As I mentioned,” he says. “Sophie will call the agency and—”

I’m not going to stand by and let this job slip through my fingers because another arrogant jackass in a suit thinks he’s better than me. “Yes, I’m young,” I interrupt him again, and I swear his teeth snap together in irritation. “But that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of doing all of those things. I’ve been working as an executive assistant for the last three years, and while that company wasn’t as big as this one, it was fast paced and high pressure, and I didn’t have any problem handling it. You have no valid reason to believe I’m not capable of handling this job. Lena obviously thinks I am.”

Sophie’s watching our exchange with her mouth open and eyes wide.

Roman’s brows pull low. “Look, Miss Callahan. I’m not questioning your skills. I’m merely telling you that you’re not suitable for this particular job. That’s not an insult to you. It’s the reality of the situation. I apologize for wasting your time, but the sooner Sophie can talk to the agency, the sooner we can get this sorted out.”

He turns toward his office, but before he can disappear, I rush out from behind the desk, my heart in my throat. “Give me until the end of today and I’ll prove I can do it.”

He pivots slowly, his expression wintery as he scrutinizes me. I maintain eye contact, even as I hold my breath, certain he’ll laugh in my face and send me on my way.

Instead, he rubs his chin, letting the silence stretch on and the tension rise until finally he nods. “All right, Miss Callahan.” The rough edge to his voice when he says my name almost makes me shiver. “Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes to impress me.”

Without waiting to see my reaction, he turns and disappears into his office.

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Other Titles Within this Series

COLDHEARTED KING

Empty Kingdom #1

RECKLESS KING

Empty Kingdom #2

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