Sealing the Deal Read Online Free

her to resolve. They seemed oddly easy; no-brainers. Maybe she had been doing what she had been doing for so long; maybe there was a catch. For they were unnervingly easy problems. He didn’t indicate one way or another if he liked her answers. He sat and listened, his head bobbing as she responded. Then he looked up.
    “So now about what happened with the last job?” he asked. Something about him – Dionne didn’t want to lie. She told him most of the truth.
    “I pitched an idea to the competition because I honestly didn’t believe my own place would listen. They found out and fired me. Not before letting me know that my idea was now their idea.”
    “The other place didn’t bite, I take it?” Stan asked.
    “No they didn’t. That’s why I went to The Mandarin. To blow off some steam,” she said.
    Amusement gathered in the corner of his intensely blue eyes. “I see,” he said, lingering a little. “What does your contract say?”
    “They reminded me the contact said that anything I create while under contract with them was theirs,” she answered.
    He perked up. “Do you have the contact? Can I see it?”
    “I am sure I have it somewhere,” Dionne answered, growing weary of the subject. It was now a done deal.
    He raised his brow. “But you did review the contract at your termination, right?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “I screwed up. I took a shot and missed my mark.”
    “I want the contract, if I may please. I want my legal team to review it,” he said.
    Dionne was getting a little fed up. It may have been too soon to undertake an interview after all. “Who would that be? Your gardener?”
    Stan furroughed his brow. “So when did you get fired?”
    “This morning as a matter of fact,” she answered.
    “And that’s why I am going to overlook the gardener remark,” he smiled but she could see he could be a formidable foe if he wanted. He gently reiterated, “I would like to see the contract please and thank you.”
    She started to protest but he cut her off.
    “I am not asking,” he said with a very polite but dark look in his eye.
    “I didn’t say I was taking the job,” she countered, getting a little haughty herself.
    “I haven’t offered you one. I just want to see if I can, so I would like to see your contract,” he said.
    “You want to see if I made a mistake this morning,” she argued.
    “No, Ms. Ellis. I want to see if they did,” he said. His mouth spread in a wicked smile.

Chapter Three
    Dionne did as she was told. She agreed to forward the contract that she had with Category. It was just that she kept putting off digging it up and actually sending it. Stan told her to dress. He was taking her to dinner in honor of her joining his team. He sent a car to pick her up.
    “I am fine with driving,” she said. She liked to be in control and to be able to leave when she wanted.
    “Indulge me,” he said and sensing her apprehension he added, “trust me.”
    For the occasion she wore a bare-shouldered shell dress with an empire neckline. The fabric was a lavender silk print with a luminescent quality. It looked like it was designed for her. Dionne loved the way she looked in it. It was both tasteful and flattering. She wore her hair straight and down. It fell to just past her shoulders in long layers. The only jewelry she wore was a costume bracelet of emerald cut crystals and matching earrings. She opted for neutral pumps rather than sandals. Dionne admired herself in the mirror. She looked good.
    The limo driver was right on time. She would rather be driving herself but enjoy it as she ducked into the car. The ride was as smooth as a magic carpet, floating beneath the palm-mottled moonlight. Stan wanted a late dinner – for no other reason than he was working and was in a groove. He didn’t want to break his stride.
    The location of dinner was a secret surprise. When Dionne recognized that the car was heading for Stan’s house, she just assumed they were