She Was Cornered by Paparazzi, Not Knowing the Man Pulling Her Away Was a CEO Who’d Fall for Her
THE BILLIONAIRE’S PROPOSITION
The rest of the ride was quiet, except for the low jazz playing from the speakers. Penny tried not to stare at the man beside her. Everything about him screamed money and control.
When they pulled up in front of her apartment, she opened the door slowly.
“Thank you,” she said again. “Really.”
He nodded.
“Stay out of trouble, Miss Parks.”
She paused.
“Wait, how did you know my name?”
His lips curved slightly.
“You dropped your work badge.”
She looked down. Her badge was gone.
“Right.”
He held it out to her.
“Don’t let it happen again.”
With that, the door shut and the car disappeared into the night. Penny climbed the stairs to her walk-up, still trying to process what had just happened. She collapsed onto her futon. A billionaire CEO had just saved her, and he knew her name.
The next morning, everything exploded. Her name was plastered on every gossip site. Photos of her stumbling in the alley spread like wildfire. Her phone rang non-stop. Her boss at the catering agency left a voicemail saying she was fired.
By day three, she was desperate. She went to a tiny coffee shop, hoping to hide for a few hours. She wore sunglasses and a hoodie, but it didn’t help. A camera flashed as soon as she stepped inside.
“I swear,” she muttered, spinning toward the source.
“You really need better hiding places,” said a familiar voice.
She turned to find Roman Ellis sitting at a corner table.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
He motioned to the seat across from him.
“Sit down.”
“I didn’t ask to be followed,” she snapped.
“I wasn’t following you. I was here first.”
She stared.
“You’re a billionaire. What are you doing in a random Harlem coffee shop?”
He gave a small shrug.
“I like the cinnamon rolls.”
She hesitated, then sat.
“This whole mess is ruining my life. I noticed. I got fired. My landlord thinks I’m dating a movie star. I can’t even go grocery shopping.”
Roman leaned forward.
“Then let me help.”
She blinked.
“You’ve already helped. I don’t need—”
“I don’t offer twice, Penny.”
She bit her lip.
“Why are you doing this?”
He met her eyes.
“Because I want to.”
Roman Ellis was looking at her like a man who had found something he didn’t know he’d been missing. Penny had the terrifying feeling she might be looking back the same way.
“You don’t even know me,” she said finally.
“I know enough,” Roman replied. “You’re being devoured by something you didn’t ask for. You’re handling it better than most would.”
He slid a newspaper across the table. There was a photo of her on her fire escape.
“I didn’t even speak to him,” she murmured.
“I believe you,” Roman said. “But the media doesn’t care about facts. They care about spectacle.”
She lifted her gaze.
“So what are you offering exactly? A PR team? A lawyer?”
“I’m offering a solution,” he said. “Come work for me.”
Penny blinked.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I have a position available. Short-term, high pay. It’ll get you out of the spotlight and give the press something else to chew on.”
“What kind of position?”
“My executive assistant is on maternity leave. I need someone to manage scheduling and travel. You’d be working directly with me.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“You want me to be your assistant?”
“I want you to be under my protection. The press won’t touch you.”
“You don’t even know if I’m qualified.”
“I’ve already seen your resume.”
“How?”
“I make a habit of knowing who I’m offering jobs to.”
“And if I say no?”
He studied her face.
“Then you’ll have to survive this on your own. I think you know how that’s going.”
Penny looked down at the photo again. She folded the paper and pushed it aside.
“When do I start?”
“Tomorrow morning. Ellis Tower. 10:00 sharp.”
He stood, buttoning his coat.
“Dress however you want. I don’t care about appearances.”
“Then what do you care about?”
“Loyalty and instinct.”
