Bait: Alpha Billionaire Romance Boxed Set Read Online Free Page A

up to speed on the project.”
    Only if I decide to stay here.
    I exhaled. I did want to stay here, but only for one reason. I wanted more than anything to work on a project that could make a difference in other people’s lives. Growing up with a single dad, struggling to make the rent every month, I could relate to needing a place to lay your head. But all this drama that seemed to surround Nolan … I wasn’t sure I could handle it.
    He took my silence the wrong way. “I promise I don’t bite. Unless it’s on the request list.”
    Jasmine gave a huff, which either Nolan didn’t hear or chose to ignore. Probably the latter. Everyone else around the table was staring at me, waiting for my answer. This was really uncomfortable. He leaned back, crossed his arms and winked.
    “Okay.”
    Did I just agree?
    “I’ll swing by your office around noon tomorrow.” He turned his attention to the rest of the staff. “Everyone go home. False alarm.” Nolan smiled and left the room as fast as he’d entered, glancing at his phone.
    I watched as the department heads filed out of the conference room one by one. I gathered my purse and followed suit. Jasmine grabbed me by the arm.
    “What happened with the paternity suit?” she asked.
    I tried to pull my arm away, but she held on tight. “I’ve got my private investigator looking into it.”
    “You were supposed to be on a plane tomorrow, heading to Mississippi to figure it out.” Jasmine dug her pointed nails into my flesh. “I don’t think you understand how important this matter is to the company. We can’t let some twit drag Nolan into a big paternity suit.”
    I snatched my arm away. “I’ve got it under control.”
    “I hope you’re right,” Jasmine practically spit at me as she stormed out of the room.
     

 
    Chapter 4
    Squeezing my eyes shut for a second, I leaned back in my ergonomically correct chair. It was the only luxury item in my office. If I was going to sit my butt in a chair for twelve hours a day, I needed some level of comfort or my back would launch a peaceful protest.
    I stretched the tight muscles of my neck and upper back. Today had started off just about as well as yesterday. As soon as I got to the office this morning, thirty minutes earlier than the day before, I was met by Jasmine. She was her usual grumpy self, asking me to help man the phones today because the receptionist called in sick.
    As soon as the words, “I have a law degree,” started to leave my lips, Jasmine disappeared like a thief at dawn. Most of my morning was spent fielding calls while trying to prepare closing documents on the latest real estate deal.
    “Ready for our lunch?”
    A deep baritone broke through the silence. I jumped in my chair as I squeaked, “You startled me.”
    A hint of amusement crossed his face. “Did I catch you napping on the job?” Nolan leaned on my desk, his biceps stretching the arms of the grey dress shirt he wore. The cuffs were folded over a few times. How the hell did he manage to look so sexy even in a cotton button down?
    “Um, I was just thinking...” I scrambled for my laptop, keying in a few strokes. “I need to get some more details from finance about that project we’re closing on next week.”
    Nolan’s smile grew wider as he looked over my shoulder at the screen. “Ten Ways to Boost Your Resume? Are you thinking of leaving me, Miss de Monaco? No woman has ever left me.”
    Oh shit. I closed my laptop. “I’m sorry about lunch,” I started, changing the subject. “I’m supposed to stay at my desk, but we can order out?”
    “Why?” he inquired and look down to my feet. “I don’t see any chains.”
    “Because Jasmine said I had to help man the phones this morning. The receptionist was sick.”
    His eyes narrowed. “I see Jasmine strikes again, which makes me very unhappy. I’m going to get a bad business reputation to go with my raunchy personal one.” Nolan stepped around the desk and peered into the