Breaking Into the Business Read Online Free Page A

women in some
backwoods church in Mississippi.
    Of
course, much of what his critics said was absolutely correct, but the most
important thing to consider was that it made him a lot of money. Not the type
of “lot of money” that pays the bills and you can live off of. No, he had
enough money to put him in league with the highest earning percentage of the
population.
    “This
one was a tough assignment,” Jeremy agreed. “Some of the cases broke my heart,
but most of them did end happily.”
    “How
could those stories end happily?”
    “Some
of the women were able to use the money that I paid them for their story to
have surgeries, lose enough weight and become healthier. One of my subjects was
able to get below two hundred pounds and is currently trying again to have a
child. Two of the others who have lost a significant amount of weight are now
proceeding with plans for adoption.”
    “That’s
wonderful,” I said.
    The
waitress interrupted our conversation so that we could both place our orders. I
tried to make eye contact with the waitress, but that was hard, because out of
the corner of my eye, I could see Jeremy staring at me. I actually stuttered when
placing my order.
    When
she had written both of our orders down and disappeared, I turned back to him. Apparently,
he had never taken his eyes off of me.
    “I’m
really glad to have you on board for this project,” he said.
    “I’m
glad, too.”
    “I
can promise you a mention in my acknowledgments,” he said.
    “That
would be great.”
    He
was about to say something and then stopped. He cocked his head to the side and
his eyes narrowed, as if he were studying me like one of his subjects.
    “Is
something wrong?” I asked him.
    “Yes,”
he said pointedly. He studied me for a second longer before finally speaking.
“My friend failed to mention one key fact about you and your work.”
    “I
hope it won’t be anything that will affect the project,” I said quickly. My
mind reeled, trying to figure out just what it was he was referring to. I had
never made an enemy and had a proven record of accomplishment in my profession.
Granted, I didn’t have any notable work under my belt, but I still had plenty
of years’ experience.
    “I
must speak frankly and I hope that this does not make you uncomfortable,” he
said. “But you are incredibly attractive.”
    “Oh,
wow,” I said. Luckily, he brought that one out before the food arrived, because
if I had been eating, I would have spit the contents of my mouth out all over
the table.
    “My
intention is not to make you uncomfortable,” Jeremy continued. “But I have
never been taken by someone before. You really are ravishing.”
    I
didn’t know how to respond.
    “I
can see that I’ve made this uncomfortable.”
    “It’s
just that nobody has ever talked to me like that,” I managed. “On top of that,
you and I are going to have a working relationship with each other.”
    “Had
I known all the facts, I would not have requested you as my editor,” Jeremy
said.
    “I
apologize,” I said. “I can contact Mr. Leighton and request to be taken off the
assignment.”
    “No,”
he said quickly. “Don’t do that. I only meant that I would not have requested
you as my editor. I still would have come to the office to see you, but it
would have been to ask you on a date.”
    “That’s
very nice of you to say,” I said. “But the problem remains that I’m still your
editor.”
    “So
you are saying that if it weren’t for the working relationship, you would go
out with me?” he asked.
    I
did sort of just admit that. But seriously, who wouldn’t go on a date with this
man? He was stunning.
    “In
any other situation, I would go out with you,” I confessed. That was the most
forward I had ever been with a man.
    “Then
I must insist we work out a way to have a professional relationship and another
one that is fun,” he said. “Are you capable of separating the two?”
    “I
don’t really know,” I