第3章

The next morning, I showed up to work with dark circles under my eyes.

I'd spent half the night searching every second-hand site I could think of...

The result? Even the secondhand ones were way out of my budget.

So I came up with a new plan.

I'd work hard, make myself useful, and somehow convince Nathan to forget about the debt.

The moment I reached my desk, Derek called me into his office.

"Claire, what exactly is going on between you and the boss?"

Derek looked dead serious.

My stomach dropped. "N-nothing. There's nothing going on between us."

"Nothing? Then why did he have Sandra transferred to the mailroom because of you?"

What?

Sandra got transferred?

I stared at him in shock.

"The order came straight from the executive office yesterday afternoon. She was transferred immediately."

Derek studied me with a complicated look.

"Claire... I had no idea you had connections like that."

I didn't even know how to explain myself.

Nathan and I really are just roommates!

Well, maybe things had gotten a little complicated after I ripped his boxers.

I dragged myself back to my desk and immediately noticed my coworkers looking at me differently.

Some looked envious, some jealous, and a few even treated me with newfound respect.

Some coworkers even started bringing me coffee and offering to help.

"Hey, Claire, want some coffee?"

"Claire, I brought snacks from home. Want some?"

I was speechless.

So this is what having connections feels like?

Sure, I was borrowing Nathan's power, but I had to admit... it felt pretty good.

Sandra's desk was empty. Apparently, she'd shown up at the mailroom in tears.

I didn't feel sorry for her.

The office was a battlefield. If I went easy on her, she certainly wouldn't go easy on me.

That afternoon, I closed a huge deal.

The client was famous for being difficult. No matter what anyone offered, he wouldn't budge. Several of my coworkers had already tried and failed.

I'd been working on him for two months.

Then, out of nowhere, their point person, Adrian Brooks, contacted me and said they were ready to sign.

I could barely believe it.

After the contract was signed, I couldn't help asking, "Adrian, if you don't mind me asking, what made you change your mind?"

Adrian smiled.

"Claire, you already know the answer. When your boss personally calls to put in a good word for you, how could I say no?"

Nathan again.

What exactly is he trying to do?

First, he made me pay for his ridiculously expensive boxers. Now he was helping me land deals.

Was this his idea of the carrot and the stick?

I stared at the signed contract, not sure whether to be happy or annoyed.

When I got back to the office, I went straight to Nathan's office on the top floor.

His secretary tried to stop me, but I walked right past her.

I pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Nathan sat behind his desk, reading through a stack of documents.

He looked up when I entered but didn't seem surprised.

"What is it?"

"The Brooks deal. Did you help me get it?"

I got straight to the point.

"Yeah."

He admitted it right away.

"Why?"

I honestly didn't understand.

He put down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

"Don't you want a raise and a promotion?"

"A raise and a promotion, and then what?"

I eyed him carefully.

Is he about to ask me for something in return?

Well... with that face and that body, maybe I wouldn't be getting the short end of the deal.

His next words killed that thought instantly.

He picked up his pen and returned to his paperwork.

"Then you can replace my boxers."

He said it as if it were perfectly reasonable. I stared at him, speechless.

So he's helping me make more money just so I can pay him back?

What kind of crazy debt collection is this? At this point, he might as well ask for something else.

"Thank you very much, boss."

I forced the words out through clenched teeth.

"But from now on, please keep work separate from our personal business."

"I want to earn my deals myself. I don't need you pulling strings for me."

I slapped the contract on his desk.

"Here's the contract. You can look it over yourself."

I turned to leave.

"Stop."

His voice turned cold.

I froze with my back to him.

"You think you could've met Adrian without me?"

"That project is funded by Prescott Group. Adrian is only the person in charge of it."

My body went rigid.

"So, Claire."

He stood up and slowly walked over until he was right behind me.

I could feel his presence looming over me.

"Since you owe me, be good and do as you're told. Got it?"

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms.

Humiliating... this was downright humiliating.

I spun around and glared up at him.

"Nathan Prescott, you're such a jerk!"