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He lets go of my hand as he tosses the bag on the desk, holding it with one hand as he unzips it with the other.

My brow furrows as he pushes back the sides of the bag, revealing a red silk dress. “What is that?”

“It’s for you.”

I blink several times. “I beg your pardon?”

“For the benefit.”

“I…” The dress is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I reach out my hand and then withdraw it again. “The benefit?”

He clears his throat. “This is a networking event for me. My breakup with Veronica was very public.”

I nod, though I still don’t understand what that means for me.

“I would prefer not to bring a real date, it would be a distraction. But I don’t really wish to go alone either. A woman on my arm softens my image and keeps the female guests from attempting—” He stops. “I’d like you to be my plus one for the evening.”

“I…I’m sorry…” I can’t quite make sense of what he’s saying. Is he asking me out? This flutter in my chest makes me a bit dizzy, and I reach for the desk.

“I need a date who understands it’s not a real date. I will pay your overtime wage. Your job will be to nod and smile so that I can use the night for the business it was intended for.”

“So am I your date or your employee?”

“Employee. But I’d like the other guests to think you’re my date. I know it’s a ruse, but I can’t afford any distractions, and I think we can manage it.”

“But…will people think…the staff…” I don’t want to care. But I also want to keep this job for a while and if the entire staff dislikes me, that will be difficult to do.

He sighs. “I thought I explained. I have a house manager and an executive assistant. What I’m looking for is more of a personal assistant who helps me with all the jobs that are out of bounds for someone in the executive realm.”

I gasp, because, when labeled like that, I think I understand. “A personal assistant?”

“You can continue dusting. It will fill your hours. But I think we can dispense with the uniform. We’ll get you a wardrobe that is more fitting to your title.”

I stare at him like he’s lost his mind. This can’t be real…

“Any after-hours events will command a fee of one hundred fifty an hour.”

I gasp. “That much?” I look down at the dress. I understand what he’s asking. The job he’s suggesting is not just good money, it’s an excellent opportunity for a woman who wishes to attend law school.

With all that said, it’s a foolish idea. I don’t know anything about society and even less about dating.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Triston

I feel a twinge of regret.It’s not right to dangle money in front of Honeyeh, knowing how desperate she is for cash.

Then again, how else do I help her?

The very fact I want to help is problematic. Who pays someone eighty thousand dollars a year to dust? It’s why I’m creating this new position for her. It helps Mason, helps Honeyeh, and moves me closer to my professional goals.

It also means that I’m spending larger amounts of time with the woman I’m finding increasingly tempting. It’s like I’m tying my own noose, but I can’t make myself stop.

I know I’m losing control of this situation, but every day I spend in Honeyeh’s company, I want a little more of her.

When I watched her dust, bent over my bureau, I did all I could to not hike that dress up and bury myself deep inside of her.

I’ve spent the last two days in the company office instead of working from home, just to manage my raging hard-on. But that means that I’ve spent the last two days wishing I was here.