Page 115 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire

“You seriously can’t expect me—”

“Collect data to determine whether your algorithms are accurate?”

Argh!

“This isn’t funny, okay? There is no way I’d subject myself to public humiliation—”

“Why would you think I’d be fine with that myself?”

Oh.

“The device is designed to be completely discreet. And with scent dampeners in effect, no one will be able to detect any physiological changes.”

When all I could do was stare at him, Nicolo went on to elaborate, “Think heart rate elevation, increased skin temperature, perspiration—”

“I know what you meant!”

“Perfect.” He stepped closer, and suddenly the conference room felt much smaller. “What’s the problem then?”

“The problem isyou—”

“—seemed to forget that this is part of the testing protocol, and if you refuse...”

His eyes glinted in a way that almost made me step back.

“You’ll be in violation of your signed participation agreement...which means I can shut down your agency for breach of contract.”

And so to sum it all up, I was trapped.

Completely.

If I refused, I’d lose everything I had worked hard for.

But if I agreed, I’d lose all of myself to him.

“This is insane—”

“I believe what you mean is that this isscience—”

“Or you being a controlling alpha who’s mad about Prince Alexei!”

The words slipped out before I could stop them, and the moment they hit the air, I knew I’d made a mistake.

Nicolo went very still.

“Prince Alexei,” he repeated softly.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Is that what you think this is about?”

“I—”

He moved closer, close enough that I could see the flecks of gold in his green eyes, close enough that I could smell his cologne and feel the heat radiating off his skin.

“If you can’t handle the device in a ballroom full of strangers, how do you expect to handle a relationship with someone who might set your body on fire with just a look?”

The question made my insides twist with a mixture of anger and desire. Because he was right, and I hated him for it.