Your Dad will do

The Offer

I shrank back in my chair, feeling utterly shriveled and insignificant under the withering weight of her disdain. Even after my disastrous split from Jared, Catherine's ability to make me feel about two inches tall was clearly still intact.

To his credit, Alexander didn't so much as flinch. In fact, he almost seemed to draw himself up taller, spine stiffening as he leveled an inscrutable look at his ex-wife.

"Catherine. What an...unexpected surprise," he said evenly, though I didn't miss the tic of his jaw. "I don't recall issuing you an invite this morning."

"Oh please, you know I never needed an invitation to enter my own home," she breezed, waving a diamonds-dripping hand as she drifted further into the room.

This might have once been her house, but it absolutely wasn't anymore, not after the contentious divorce she'd leveled at Alexander ten years ago. The reminder of her utter disregard for boundaries and lack of sense was precisely why her relationship with Jared and I had been so strained.

But rather than rising to the bait of her provocative statement, Alexander simply gestured an arm towards the ornate sitting area. "Very well then. Why don't we take this conversation elsewhere? No need to make a scene in front of our..." His gaze flickered over to me briefly. "Our guest."

Catherine's eyes widened in exaggerated, mock surprise. "Guest?" she echoed, in a tone dripping with sugary condescension. "Oh Alexander, you can't possibly mean you've been entertaining this...this little plaything in our family home?"

The barb hit like a physical slap, my cheeks flushing with both humiliation and anger. But before I could formulate any response more dignified than outraged sputtering, Alexander cut me off.

"That's enough, Catherine," he interjected with quiet authority, rising from his chair to face her squarely. "This young woman is under my protection, and you'll treat her with respect. I won't warn you again."

For the briefest second, real shock flickered across Catherine's features before she regained her customary sneer of contempt. "How very gallant of you. Defending a common w***e's honor now, are we?"

"Catherine!" Alexander's low growl of warning all but vibrated through the heavy air between them. At that moment, I could almost see the pure, unbridled power radiating off him in waves - a promise of unbridled fury should she push him any further.

It was enough to make me shrink back involuntarily, not daring to breathe. But Catherine hadn't had enough.

"Actually, there's another matter we need to discuss." Her tone shifted, taking on a businesslike edge. "Why exactly are you denying Jared the CEO position at Greywood Enterprises? He's more than qualified."

This was about Jared?

Alexander's jaw tightened fractionally. "Jared is too inexperienced and lacks the maturity for such a demanding role. My decision is final."

Wait, was he saying Jared was up for CEO of his massively successful company? How had I not known about this?

Catherine scoffed loudly. "Don't be ridiculous, Alexander. The boy has been groomed for this since birth. If you don't install him, I'll—"

"You'll what?" Alexander cut her off, his voice a dangerous purr. "Make another scene? Attempt to wrestle control away from me?" He took a deliberate step towards her. "Need I remind you that you have no legal claim here?"

Catherine recoiled, but her glare remained defiant. "We'll see about that."

The sharp rap of knuckles against wood shattered the taut silence. All eyes swiveled towards the entrance, where a clearly bewildered Jared now hovered.

"What's...going on here?" His confused gaze ping-ponged between the three of us.

My mouth went drier than the Sahara as Jared's bewildered gaze landed on me. Of course he was confused—the last time we'd seen each other was when I walked in on him and that vapid blonde from accounting going at it our bedroom.

I wanted nothing more than to sink through the plush Persian rug and disappear. Having to face Jared again so soon after his betrayal was agonizing enough. But doing so in front of his wealthy, powerful father in the middle of this train wreck of a confrontation? It was a fresh new circle of hell.

Jared's brows knitted together as realization seemed to dawn. "Ruby? What are you doing here?"

I opened and closed my mouth, panic making my words stick in my throat. Thankfully, Alexander stepped in to save me from having to explain the mortifying circumstances.

"I brought her here after walking in on the..." He paused, shooting Jared a withering look. "Unsavory situation at your apartment last night."

Jared at least had the decency to look somewhat ashamed, color flooding his chiseled features. Catherine, however, merely rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Alexander, you can't be serious. Defending this woman's honor?" She waved a ringed hand disdainfully in my direction. "Over a simple indiscretion by my son?"

"Your son?" Alexander's cultured tone dripped with derision. "Yes, I suppose he is, much to my everlasting disappointment."

The slapped looked on Catherine's face would have been comical if the whole scenario wasn't so twisted and uncomfortable. Jared just gaped between them, rendered temporarily mute.

"That's enough from the two of you." Alexander raised his hand for silence, unmoved by the matched sets of mutinous glares. "I'm calling security to have you both escorted out. Consider this a final warning—if either of you dares to set foot in my doorstep again, there will be serious consequences."

There was a beat of weighted silence as father and son engaged in a silent staredown. Finally, Jared seemed to deflate with a resigned shrug.

"Come on, Mom. Let's just go."

With a last furious look at her ex-husband, Catherine stalked towards the doors, her diamond-laden fingers clenched into talons at her sides. She paused on the threshold, whipping around to face Alexander once more.

"Don't think this is over," she hissed, eyes glittering with an almost feral intensity. "I always get what I want in the end. You'd be wise to remember that."

It wasn't an empty threat.

Alexander merely inclined his head, expression unruffled.

Jared lingered uncertainly in the doorway, gaze flickering between his parents before landing hesitantly on me. For a moment, his expression softened into something more vulnerable, lips parting as if he wanted to say something. But seeming to think better of it, he simply gave a small shake of his head and turned to escort his mother down the hall.

The heavy doors swung shut in their wake, and I let out the breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Rubbing a hand over my clammy forehead, I forced out an awkward chuckle.

"Well, I should...probably get going too. Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Greywood."

I made to stand up, but the older man waved me back down with a low murmur. "Actually, Ruby, I was rather hoping you might stay a bit longer."

"Um... why?" I managed to ask.

He gave a thin smile, steeping his fingers beneath his chin. "I find myself in need of your...professional assistance again, shall we say."

My brows shot up in surprise, mind instantly jumping to unseemly conclusions despite my best efforts. Surely he couldn't mean what I thought he did...?

Correctly reading my expression, Alexander's smile widened fractionally. "Nothing untoward, I assure you. I simply require someone to act as my personal assistant, at least for the foreseeable future."

Relief washed over me, though it was quickly replaced by confusion. "Your assistant? But why me? I'm sure you have plenty of qualified candidates already on staff."

"True," he allowed with a nod. "However, recent events have revealed that I can't necessarily trust those closest to me." His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "You, on the other hand, have no prior loyalties or entanglements with my...former associates."

Of course, he was referring to the bombshell about Jared's attempted corporate takeover, not to mention Catherine's continued meddling. Suddenly his desire to keep me close took on a more calculating edge.

Alexander must have read the uncertain look on my face, because he rose smoothly and crossed the room to where I sat. "I'll compensate you generously, of course. Consider it an extended freelance opportunity, if you will. And you'll be granted certain...privileges while under my protection."

I wet my suddenly dry lips, very aware of the charged tension crackling between us. "What...exactly did you have in mind for privileges, Mr. Greywood?"

He took another deliberate step closer until there were only a few charged inches separating us. "Please, call me Alexander," he rumbled. "And I think you can imagine the sorts of...benefits I'm offering to a beautiful young woman in need of a wealthy, powerful patron."

His gaze dropped brazenly to my mouth, then traced slowly down to linger on my chest. I couldn't stop the flush that crept across my skin or the way my breath caught. Part of me was appalled at his forwardness, but a much larger part felt an unexpected yet intense spark of arousal.

When Alexander's eyes met mine again, they smoldered with undisguised want. "The choice is yours, Ruby. But I can make things very, very good for you if you're willing."

The promise in those words hung heavy between us. I knew getting involved with this man would be a Pandora's box of complications, secrets, and arguably, ethical murkiness.

Holding his heated stare, I gave a minute nod. "Alright, Alexander. You've got yourself a new assistant. I accept your...offer."