Chapter 6

JADE

Dominic Cross's office was on the top floor of a tall building in the business district. I arrived fifteen minutes early and spent most of that time wondering whether I should have stayed home.

The receptionist took my name, asked me to wait, and returned to her computer. I sat on a chair near the window, holding my handbag on my lap.

I'd chosen a black dress and a jacket. I wanted to look like someone who had come to discuss business, not a woman who had spent the last two nights crying over her ex.

Still, I kept checking my reflection in my phone.

When the receptionist finally called me, I stood and followed her down a hallway.

She opened a door and let me into Dominic's office.

He was standing beside the window, speaking on his phone. He exuded energy and a really dark vibe, the kind that something in you told him to run very far from him. But I wasn't going to run. At this point, he was the only one who could help me tear down what I and Julian had spent years building. I needed him on my side.

He glanced at me, held up one finger, and finished the call.

Then he turned.

"Jade Hart."

The way he said my name sent a shiver through me, but I tried not to show it.

"Mr. Cross." I said, walking closer.

"Dominic is fine."

He gestured toward a chair.

I sat down while he moved behind his desk. He wore a dark suit, and his expression was as serious as I remembered from our meetings.

"I received your email," he said. "You said you have information about Sterling International." He said in a cool voice.

"I do." I answered as my heart raced in my chest. I never would have believed I would be having a meeting like this.

"What kind of information?"

"I know how the company works. I was involved from the beginning. I know which investors matter, which deals Julian can't afford to lose, and where the business is vulnerable."

Dominic watched me.

“And? Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want to bring him down." I said with conviction.

He leaned back in his chair as he watched me with an intense look.

"That's an interesting request. Why should I help you?"

"Because you want the same thing." I said with confidence. He couldn't deny it.

"Do I?"

I held his gaze.

"I've seen the way you and Julian behave around each other. I know there's more to it than business."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You're observant."

"I had to be. I spent seven years dealing with Julian's problems."

"And now you want to ruin everything you worked hard for."

"Yes."

He didn't look surprised.

"What happened?"

I hesitated. I'd promised myself I wouldn't sit in front of this man and cry over Julian. But the memory of that night was still too fresh.

"He was sleeping with Vanessa Reed. I caught them together in bed in his apartment."

Dominic's expression changed slightly.

"The investor?"

"The same one I introduced to him."

He said nothing.

"Then he announced their engagement at a business event," I continued. "In front of everyone. When I tried to speak to him, security threw me out, you were there. Later, he told me he was grateful for everything I'd done, but he wanted to move on to greater things."

"You want to destroy him because he left you."

"I want to destroy him because he used me." My voice came out sharper than I intended.

"I helped him build that company. I worked on his proposals, introduced him to investors, and supported him when he had nothing. Now he acts as though I was just someone he dated along the way."

Dominic studied me for a moment.

"What are you offering me, Jade?"

"I can help you with the company. I know things other people don't know."

He laughed softly and the hairs on my neck stood.

"That isn't enough."

I knew he would say that.

I looked down at my hands, then forced myself to meet his eyes.

"I don't have money to offer you."

"I didn't ask for money."

"I know. But I need you to understand that I can't pay you to do this. I'll give you whatever information you need, and I'll help you in any way I can."

"Any way?" He asked with folded arms.

I swallowed.

"I can offer you myself."

He went very still and I forced myself to continue before I lost my nerve.

"You can have my body. If that's what you want, then fine. I know you're not the sort of man who does favors for free. I'll give you what you want if you'll help me bring Julian down."

Dominic stared at me for several seconds. Then he stood.

I felt my body tense as he walked around the desk and stopped in front of me.

"Is that what you think I want?"

I looked up at him.

"I don't know what you want."

"Clearly."

His voice was low, and there was a warning in it.

"You come into my office, tell me you want to destroy a man I've been dealing with for years, and offer me your body like it's the best thing I could ask of you."

"I didn't say that." I said as my heart raced.

"You just did."

I stood, embarrassed and angry.

"Then tell me what you want from me, Dominic."

He looked at me for a moment, like he was calculating.

"I want you to be my wife."

I stared at him. "What?"

"You heard me."

"Why?" I asked. I knew he wasn't really asking me to date him. He had an agenda.

"Because it would serve both our purposes. You want Julian to regret what he's done. I want to bring down him down. You know his business, and a relationship between us will put you in a position to help me."

I struggled to understand what he was saying. I'd expected him to accept my offer or reject it. I hadn't expected him to ask me to be his girlfriend.

"You want a real relationship?"

"I want a relationship that looks real to everyone watching. We can discuss the rest of the arrangement before you agree."

I searched his face, but he gave nothing away.

"Why me?" I asked again.

"You're useful to me. You know Julian better than almost anyone in the business. And you have a reason to want him to lose."

At least he was being honest.

He wasn't pretending to be interested in me because he felt sorry for me. He wanted something from me, and I wanted something from him.

I sat down again.

"All right," I said. "Tell me your terms."

Dominic returned to his chair.

"Good. Because there's something you should understand before we begin. I'm not a generous man, and I'm not going to make this easy for you."

I looked at him.

"I didn't come here looking for easy."

For the first time, he smiled properly. It was brief, but it changed his face enough to make me notice.

"Then we might get along."