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“You started it when you were 22 — that’s my age.” I swallowed hard. Idiot! He hadn’t asked me my age. I was so nervous I could hardly control what was coming out of my mouth.
“Think you’ll make your first billion by 25, too?” he asked lightly. It didn’t help my nerves that I found his accent absolutely irresistible even as he was making fun of me in front of my peers.
“I just hope I do a good job here,” I said, gripping my notebook tightly. “I’ve always wanted to make things happen the way you … make things happen. I admire your company’s philanthropic projects especially. The wifi popups in developing countries — that’s a game changer.”
“Hoping to do a good job isn’t enough here,” Maxim said. “I expect everyone — even interns — to excel. We don’t have time for hoping and wishing here. Volkov is a company of action.” He studied me a moment longer before finishing his welcome speech.
I sat heavily back in the theater seat I’d stood up from, the hinges squeaking in a way I found unbearable. I could barely process what he was saying, my body trembling with anxiety. He could probably tell even from up on the stage. Why had he singled me out of everyone else in here? My face was on fire.
Regrets. I had them.
Even now, as everyone rose around me, presumably dismissed to go excel or whatever, I thought of dozens of other things I could’ve said. That I was interested in project management because I did make things happen. That telecommunications
was in my blood. That I had ideas for projects that Maxim hadn’t even thought of. That I was going to do a great job.
Maxim Volkov, CEO, billionaire, sex symbol, and jerk. That sexy magazine photo of him was coming down from the wall as soon as I got back to the dorm.
“Ruth Miracle.”
I actually had to bite back a groan at the accent I had found so sexy mere minutes ago. All I wanted to do was slink into a restroom and lick my wounds in private.
Instead, Maxim towered over me, frowning. “Why are you still sitting here?”
Was I mortified before? No. Now I was mortified. In my despair, I hadn’t realized that everyone had filed out of the auditorium while I sat, stewing in my misery.
“I’m going,” I said, standing so quickly that I bumped into him. “Sorry!”
“Slow down,” he suggested, those wolf eyes amused and watchful, arms lightly caging me against a chest that was harder than it had any right to be.
Oh. My. God.
“I’d better go,” I whispered. “My manager’s probably waiting for me.”
“You’re not going to be interning in project management anymore,” he said.
“Just give me a chance,” I said, my words tumbling over themselves in my haste to make my case. “I’ve studied your company for years. I did a project on it in high school. I have ideas. This is my passion. I’ve never wanted something as much as this, and it’s not just hoping and wishing. I worked hard to get here, Mr. Volkov. Please don’t fire me on my first day.”
“It’s Max,” he said. “And I’m not firing you. You’re going to be reporting directly to me. You’re my intern now.”
He was still holding me as I shuddered at his sharp-toothed grin.
I found myself wondering if I would rather have been fired.
Three
Maxim
My body responded almost helplessly to the feel of a woman in my arms. That’s how I knew I had gone too long between fucks.
I’d fantasized for years about how best to exact my revenge on Gerald Miracle, and here was his daughter, falling right into my lap to take advantage of.
It almost made me want to forgive her father for somehow spawning a woman as beautiful as Ruth.
Almost.
But even the press of her full breasts against my chest wasn’t enough to make me forget everything Gerald had done to me. To my family.
That was something I would never forget. Could never forget — even if I wanted to.
