Page 1 of Beguiled

PROLOGUE

Saige

“Why am I here?” I asked the question when I already knew the answer. And it wasn’t so that I could experience the wandering eyes of half the men at the Christmas party, a solid two-thirds of them arriving with a beautiful woman by their side.

“To keep me from losing my mind,” Tawny said while grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the open bar, one of several offering sparkling beverages in cut crystal.

“Then too late,” I teased, pulling away.

“Very funny. Did you forget you’re my plus one?”

“How could I forget? I’m squeezed into a dress a size too small just for the joy of being your date.” Disdain tainted my tone.

“Stop whining. You look beautiful. Most of the men in the room are hungry little bastards.”

Her laugh sparkled throughout the room. “I would call most just bastards. My guess is three-quarters of these men are married.”

“Not all of them. Remember, you’re here to make an impression. I heard there might be a job opening you’re perfect for.”

“How quickly you forget I’m not into marketing.” She was well aware of the number of jobs I’d applied for.

“No, my darling best friend. You’re into numbers even if they aren’t sexy. Now, my job on the other hand…”

“I’ll have you know numbers are very sexy. Besides, you could make funeral directing look sexy.” And she could. Nothing fazed her, a bubbling personality that refused to quit.

“Two champagnes,” she ordered, even flirting with the bartender. “Numbers are black and white, not like the hot, sexy flesh of a man.”

I had to admit that he was kind of cute with his thick wavy hair and nonchalant attitude. But the last thing I needed was to engage in raw, carnal sin. Even if it had been a long time since I’d indulged in anything but numbers. Mostly, my failing ones in keeping afloat. While I enjoyed being a barista in a fancy Fifth Avenue coffee shop, my bank account didn’t.

“Why do you believe there will be a job opening?” From her I’d learned some about the elusive Chertov Corporation, a company who’d recently appeared on the cover ofFortune Magazine. They appeared to be a shooting star. They’d gone from rather shady beginnings to fast becoming a giant in the hospitality industry.

And that was before they’d diversified into gas and oil.

Maybe a strange combination, but with them, the model had worked very well to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. If the predictions were correct, they could hit a billion-dollarempire by this time next year. Companies like them required experience, and being an intern for a financial advisor once didn’t seem to cut it.

“Don’t worry. It’s in the finance department. I heard it from a reliable source that one of the owners can’t keep an assistant to save his life.”

“An assistant?”

“He’s the CFO and from what I was told, a horrible man to work for.” Tawny giggled as she handed me a crystal flute, the bubbles drawing my attention. She and I had been friends for a couple of years. She was a woman who enjoyed fancy parties where everyone pretended to be on their best behavior. This wasn’t my scene whatsoever.

I was the homebody, uncertain if I could even cut it in the Big Apple.

“Perfect. You want your best friend to go to work for a certifiable jerk. That’s exactly what I dream of every night.” The crush of people coming to the bar forced us to step away, allowing me a perfect view of the spectacular ballroom. With elegant chandeliers, gleaming marble floors, and a historic vaulted ceiling, the location was one of the most exquisite hotels in all of New York.

The hors d’oeuvres were scrumptious, the caviar and smoked brie my favorites.

Even the name of the establishment reeked of opulence. Chateau Elegance.

A girl from Iowa didn’t belong here. I’d thought more about returning home, trying to help my parents save the ranch. Itwas my mother who’d insisted I follow my dream of becoming a stockbroker on Wall Street. That felt like a million miles away.

“I’m saying that you’d be perfect for him. The way you handle arrogant assholes is amazing.”

“So what exactly does he do that’s so terrible?”

She laughed, even rolling her eyes. “The typical. He expects perfection, doesn’t seem to understand not everyone desires to work all night or into every weekend. He’s curt, never giving praise, but quick to criticize. And he’s grumpy all the time.”

“Oh, wow. That sounds like just the boss I’d want to work for.”