The Exiled Prince: Sex, Lies, & Lipstick by Jeana E Mann
Author:Jeana E Mann
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781943938209
Publisher: Ishkadiddle Publishing, LLC
Chapter 20
Rourke
The next morning, Ivan met me in my office at a little after nine. He dropped a folder on the desk and tapped it with two fingers. Although he still intimidated the hell out of me, our relationship had relaxed enough to call each other by our first names. Since I had to run every single visitor and appointment by him, we spent a lot of time talking on the phone and in person. Beneath his dour exterior lurked a quick wit and dry sense of humor I found refreshing after spending a day with my unsmiling boss.
“I need you to set up appointments with these women over the next few days.” As always, he cut straight to the chase. “Their contact information is inside.”
“Sure. Who are they?” I gathered the folder and started to open it, but he placed his hand on the top, pinning it to the desk. The midnight encounter with Roman had put me on edge. I’d tossed and turned the rest of night, bothered by the shadows beneath his eyes, and the pain in his voice.
“Mr. Menshikov doesn’t have the time or opportunity to meet women, so whenever his…needs…become a priority, I find suitable companionship for him.” His dark eyes met mine, unreadable. Embarrassment heated my face and neck as I processed the meaning of his words.
“They’re prostitutes?” The idea of such a successful, handsome man paying for sex hit me like a fist in the gut. Then again, he worked nonstop, late into the night, and rarely left his apartment. In a warped way, it made sense, but I didn’t like it.
“That’s a harsh perspective.” His blunt fingers smoothed down the length of his tie. “They’re young women looking for financial assistance. Women who are willing to spend time with a handsome billionaire for a contracted amount of time in exchange for certain advancements in their careers.”
“Sounds like prostitution to me,” I said, unable to erase the irritation in my tone.
He snorted, amusement crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Nothing quite so sordid. Relationships are carefully negotiated. Mr. Menshikov doesn’t like romantic entanglements. This way, everyone knows what to expect from start to finish, and everyone gets what they want.” He studied my face, but I kept my expression neutral, afraid I’d give away my secrets.
“It’s weird,” I said with a shiver and nudged the folders to the far corner of my desk.
“Remember our conversation about discretion.” It wasn’t a question, but I nodded anyway.
Our discussion ended when Menshikov summoned me via the intercom. Ivan lifted a warning eyebrow. I shrugged. It wasn’t my job to question my employer’s life, no matter how repulsive it seemed to me. As long as he wasn’t breaking the law, I didn’t care. Which was a lie. Because I did care. Deep down, the thought of him with another woman gnawed at my insides. I didn’t like him, but I didn’t want anyone else to have him either. He belonged to me. Short-tempered, spoiled, and arrogant. I wanted all of him, flaws included.
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