The PlayLion Billionaire: A Paranormal Billionaire Romance Read Online Free Page A

fluttering at her throat, he could smell her mingled emotions—anxiety, a slight twinge of fear, and a little bit of desire.
    “Alex,” Robert said when the man picked up. “You have until the end of the day to clear your desk. Your separation forms should be submitted to HR by the time I check with them after lunch. I’ve put up with your shit for too long and now you’ve nearly chased away a promising prospective employee.”
    Alex sputtered and Robert’s smile deepened. “Yes, I am serious—before you ask. I’ll have Klein in HR give you the details on your separation package, but I am deadly serious about you being out of the building and moved out of your desk by the end of the day.”
    Robert hung up the handset for the office phone and looked at Olivia speculatively. “How do you feel about seafood, Olivia?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER TWO
     
    Olivia wasn’t sure what to think of Robert Lowe. He had brought her—still slightly protesting, still uncertain of whether she trusted him—to a restaurant that was nicer than she would ever be able to afford on her own. He had been professional.
    Once they had left the office in his chauffeured car, there was no suggestion that he was trying to hit on her. He asked her questions about her education and experiences, and after a while, Olivia found herself beginning to relax. It became easier and easier to answer his questions.
    There was not a trace of sexism as he asked her question after question, all the way to the restaurant he had selected. “What initially interested you in marketing and publicity?”
    “I liked the challenge,” Olivia answered. It wasn’t a question that she had actually thought she would ever receive. “I like thinking strategically; I like the constant need to stay ahead of things.”
    Robert surprised her with his interview style. He didn’t ask any of the questions that she had come to expect from a standard interview. He asked about her most difficult class in college, about what flaw she thought her least favorite professor had. He asked about what she thought made for a good leader—and what she thought made for a poor leader.
    It was more like a philosophical discussion than it was a proper job interview, but somehow, it was still utterly professional and still without any hint that he was trying to convince her to hook up with him.
    When they arrived at the restaurant, the interview had been suspended. Robert waited until they had been seated, and told Olivia that if she didn’t mind, he would put in their order: he asked for the tasting menu. “It’s an hour and a half,” he said with a faint smile at Olivia. “Enough time to find out a few things.”
    True to form, Robert ordered wine to go with the meal, and Olivia found herself drinking a glass of it and then another. She was surprised to find herself gradually opening up to Robert as the interview wound down. “What’s your verdict?” she asked him, feeling daring. Her cheeks were warm from the rush of blood in her body.
    “I think you’re an excellent candidate for any position you might want,” Robert said, smiling slowly. “Fortunately, you already have a position in mind. I’ll get in touch with my HR Director this evening.”
    “Thank you,” Olivia said, glancing down at her empty plate. She’d tasted so many delicious things; everything that the waiters put in front of her so carefully, so unobtrusively, seemed to go perfectly with the wine Robert ordered.
    “This…” she hesitated a moment, looking at Robert once more. She had to admit to herself that he was actually extremely handsome. With his dark and messy short hair, his bright eyes, the slight stubble on his cheeks, his lean build and the impeccably tailored suit he wore, she would find it hard to say no to him. “This isn’t because you want to wear down my resistance, is it?”
    Robert held her gaze for a moment and then laughed.
    “I am not going to sexually harass