The billionaire who stole my heart

Raleigh pov

"The blue shirt or the pink." I held my two options out side by side for my cousin to inspect them. After all, she was the one who worked for a huge fashion brand. As a secretary though, but whatever. A fashion brand was a fashion brand.

"The blue shirt says you're begging for this promotion and the pink says you wish you could get it." Imogen looked up from her coffee to reply. "So neither?" "Neither. Wear that cute zebra print blouse and the wide legged black pants."

She made a chef's kiss motion. "You'd look like a boss bitch that knows that promotion is hers." I gave her a look. "I don't want to come off as too cocksure." She rolled her eyes at me, swinging her legs down from the barstool.

"You've busted your ass for that promotion, it's yours, you deserve it, and everybody knows that." She raised one shoulder in a shrug. "There's nothing cocksure about that." I took a deep breath. "You're right. I'm gonna go get dressed. "Oh my God."

I can't believe I'm about to become the chief editor." We squealed in unison."Omg! Congratulations, Leigh. You really deserve this." Mo said. "Thank you." I beamed. "Okay, I'm gonna go get dressed and ready." "I'm gonna bake you a cake. Chocolate or carrot?" She asked. Mo was terrific in the kitchen. Honestly, if it weren't for her, I'd be living off pizza and instant noodles.

Growing up, mum had forced all the children to shadow her in the kitchen. To her eternal consternation though, only Mo had picked up all her love for cooking while her own children could barely even boil an egg. "Both." I beamed at her. "You can go halfsies. One side chocolate, one side carrot. A hybrid cake. How cool would that be?" "Chocolate it is." She said, "Now shoo, you're going to be late and it'll ruin your perfect attendance to get this promotion."

I hurried to my room. Keith and Telle was one of the biggest magazines in the city. Getting a job there right out of college had literally been a dream come true for me and I had done everything in my power to make myself indispensable to the company.

Extra hours, risqué news stories, going the extra mile to discover the truth, showing up on time, I did it all. This promotion was the culmination of all my years of effort. Mo was right, I deserved this. I slipped into the bathroom. I brushed, shampooed and conditioned my hair and took a thorough shower in skin scalding water. I had cut my hair into a bob half a year ago and so far, I had no regrets. Blow drying and flat ironing my hair was the only work I had to put in for it to look picture perfect.

Everyday I thanked God I wasn't Mo with her mass of untamable red curls. I did a quick facial skin care routine before applying make up. Then finally, I put on the clothes Mo had recommended.

The mirror revealed a powerful looking woman who was out to conquer the world. I loved it. Winking at my reflection, I grabbed my bag, phone and charger and headed to the kitchen.

Mo slid a plate of hash browns and bacons towards me as I approached the island. "Have I told you how much I love you?" I asked as I settled into the stool. "Not enough." She grinned. "I've made a mental note to correct that horrible overture." I said as I stuffed food into my mouth

. "No work today?" I eyed her unmatching pajamas. "Leora's not coming in till about noon. Her boyfriend flew her to New York last night for a date and they'll fly back this morning." "Damn." I said. "get it, Leora." Mo grinned. "I bet my over fifty year old boss gets more horizontal fun in a week than the both of us combined get in a year." "Your boss is a very stylish and famous millionaire. I'm not even surprised. We can't compete with that. We are two overworked women who can barely afford rent. We aren't exactly a hot commodity." I pointed out. "We're half her age." Mo said. "We should really go out more.

You especially. You need to meet somebody, even if it won't get all that serious. Some romance in your life is desperately needed and you can't use work as an excuse right now." "Fine." I conceded. "Tonight? Let's celebrate my promotion in grand style. It's Friday after all."

She whooped. "That's what I'm talking about.""I really have to go now. Bye, babe.""Break some legs." She called out as I left the apartment. I was too giddy with excitement to tell her that that wasn't the correct expression.

By the time my Uber pulled up at the curb of my office building, I felt like I was on cloud nine. Not even the fact that the guy in the elevator didn't hold it for me and I had to wait extra minutes for the next one could bring me down. I would have gladly climbed up the twenty flights of stairs to get to my floor in the state I was in.

"Good morning, Raleigh. Love that blouse, where did you get it?" Victoria smiled as I walked past her. "Thank you. I got it from an online shopping platform, I'll send you the link. There's a sale going on right now." "You better." "Hey, Leigh." Someone else waved at me from their cubicle. "Hey, Jason.

"How's Tim's hand?" I asked about his son. "The girl he likes signed on his cast so he's ecstatic right now." Jason grinned. "Let's just hope this doesn't motivate him to climb yet another tree." I laughed.

I made sure to exchange a smile or a kind word to everybody on my way to my own table. I didn't mean to brag, but everyone at this office kinda adored me. I guess it was the difference between just being a coworker and being work friends.

Mo liked to say that I hadn't met anybody that I couldn't befriend and she was right. It was a natural charm I had gotten from both my parents. Mo liked to call us 'the family next-door'.

"Mr. Dunner said he would like to see you in his office." Kendra, his secretary said as I got to her table. I tried to control my excited grin but I was sure I failed. Kendra chuckled. "girl, you deserve this." She said, "Go in there and get your promotion." Jason shot me a thumbs up from his table. I guess my promotion wasn't all that much of a secret anymore.

With a deep breath, I made my way to Mr. Dunner's office. His door was open as he liked to remind us that he was always available to us. Hugo Dunner was the best boss anyone could ask for. Not only was he super nice, but he was also fair, which in my opinion was a trait that wasn't given as much recognition as it deserved.

,,"Mr. Dunner? Kendra said you wanted to see me." I said as I walked in. "Hello, Raleigh." I whipped my head to the side to see Mikel, the human version of a bag of shit sitting on Mr. Dunner's sofa. I looked at Mr. Dunner who sat behind his large desk looking bleak. Oh no. "Miss Maverick,

Mr. Summers over here has contested your promotion on the grounds that he has worked here for longer." Mr. Dunner said. Which frankly meant nothing and didn't have anything to do with a promotion. Years of service didn't mean you had served well. In fact, the fact that he had been completely overlooked while he had been here far longer than me said a lot.

Mikel Summers was an asshole, a raging one. He walked around the office with his shoulders up high feeling like he was better than all of us and didn't need to get down and dirty with us. He hadn't written an acceptable story in years and the few he had turned in were more tales and gossip than actual stories. When I had newly gotten employed, he had made him fetch him coffee countless times till I had put my foot down and made it very clear to him that I was his goddamn colleague and not his assistant. He didn't like me, and I didn't have pleasant feelings for him either. "That's bullshit." I spat.

I looked at Mikel. "That's utter bullshit and you know it." "Do I?" He smirked. "You shouldn't curse in the office." He could go cry into a river about it. "We both know this promotion is mine. I deserve to be chief editor." I growled. "Then prove it." Mikel said, raising a challenging brow." I looked at Mr. Dunner in confusion. He let out an exhausted sigh. "An assignment for the both of you will determine who gets to be chief editor."

"Let me guess, Mikel came up with this plan?" I scoffed. "So what if I did?" Mikel asked. "If you're that good, this should be easy peasy for you. Unless you're scared of actually going against me." I was more terrified of doing a footrace against my aging grandfather with arthritis and a bad hip.

"What's the assignment?" I asked, eyes locked on Mikel's. "Both of you have to shadow a prominent, new or fairly new, fast rising company and make a full story about the ins and outs, the workings, the motivation behind the company. You have two weeks, your time starts on the fifteenth and will end on the twenty eight. You'll report back the Monday morning after and you'll be judged by both me and your new bosses." Mr. Dunner said.

"Child's play." I said with a confidence I didn't feel. I looked at Mikel. "I'm going to beat you fair and square, again, and then, I'm going to lord it over you for as long as you work here."

"Let's make it more interesting." Mikel said slowly so only I could hear it. "whoever loses, has to leave the company." I blinked, taking a cautious step backwards.

"W-what?" That was taking it to an extreme I wasn't sure of. He smirked. "Come, now, would you really want to work under me? Because you can bet your ass I'll make it a living hell for you. Now, you are under me on the other hand."

He gave me a salacious look. I shuddered in revulsion. "Deal." I turned around and marched out of the office wondering what the fuck I had just agreed to and cursing myself for being so foolish. I could just bet that that had been Mikel's plan all along and I had fallen right into it. I marched to my table and sat down, fuming.

Kendra approached me warily. "I heard everything. That bastard." She hissed. "What a snake." "Right?" She squeezed my shoulders. "You'll beat him again. Mikel wouldn't know how to write a good story if it hit him in the face, and you've been delivering big story upon big story since day one. You've got this."My shoulders eased a little at her reassurance.

She was right though. I had nothing to be afraid of. Mikel wasn't going to do in two weeks what he hadn't done in ten years of work for Keith and Telle. "Thanks, Ken." I smiled at her. "Anytime." She walked off.

Now I just had to figure out how I was going to get some company to agree to a journalist digging into them with their permission and disrupting their business. Not just any company though,

I needed to find one whose name and stats alone would secure me this win. How I was going to weasel my way into such a company before today ended was another hurdle. I sighed.

Fuck my life.

Raleigh pov

"Congratulations!" Mo screamed, confetti rained in the air as I stepped into our apartment minutes past five pm on the day that should have been the best day of my life but turned out to be a complete shit show. All thanks to Mikel Summers. She must have registered the look on my face because her smile immediately died off. "Oh no, you didn't get it. You know what, fuck that job, fuck Mr. Dunner, how could they not see how hard you've worked. You should totally sue them. That'd teach them to be unjust assholes." She growled.

I laughed at her fearsome expression. She really was my biggest champion. "Whoa, whoa, put your brakes on. Yes, I didn't get the promotion, but it has nothing to do with justice." "You had better not be about to defend whatever made them pass you by." "I'm not.

Can you just let me talk?" I asked in exasperation. "Well, we're not letting my effort go to waste, that's for sure." She said, "Let's gorge on chocolate cake while you tell me." "Have I told you recently that you're my favorite cousin?" I groaned. She snorted. "No, but I heard you telling Eli he's your favorite three days ago. I won't believe a word from your lying mouth." I laughed.

"Don't eavesdrop on my calls." We sat around the kitchen island and I caught her up to date on what had gone down in the office. "That sneaky, evil, conniving thing." She hissed.

"I can't believe Mikel of all people thinks he's better than you. Jason, I'd totally understand, but Mikel? That bottom feeder? Never." I nodded in support, shoveling delicious chocolate cake into my mouth. "I cannot wait for you to win this thing and make him cry. Oh my God." She threw her head back and laughed.

"It's not even a competition. I honestly feel sorry for him." "Imayhaveagreedthatanybodywholostgottoleavethecompany." I said in one breath, muffled by the food in my mouth. She cocked her head at me, brown eyes flashing.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but did I just hear you say that you made a deal, as in, you willingly made an agreement with Mikel Summers that the loser of this thing will have to lose the company?" She screeched.

"You just said that it's not even a competition!" I cried out accusingly. "You can either trust me or not. There's no in between." "There's an in between for girls who make moronic deals with the devil. What were you even thinking?" She asked.

"But-" "I know what I said." She snapped. "I still stand on that, but this illegal upping of the stakes – wait- Dunner doesn't know about this, does he?" "No." "People do terrible things when they are desperate, Leigh. You of all people should know this." She said,

"You've just turned this into a normal, innocent office battle to a full out bloody war. I wouldn't be surprised if Mikel has spread word that you have Ebola so no one would want to come ten feet close to you."I sighed. "It's alright, I'm going to win this thing. Have some faith in me." "I do." She sighed.

"It's Mikel I have no trust whatsoever in." "Well, in any case, we are getting ahead of ourselves. What company is even going to let me turn them into my little pet project?" I groaned. "I spent all day trying to find one and got about a million rejections. What the hell am I going to do?"

"If only we knew some super successful head of some company." Mo said. There was a pause. "Wait! I do." I looked up at her with raised brows. "You do?" "Did I ever tell you the story of the most humiliating one night stand experience of my life?" She asked. "Something about a mix up, apples and a blindfold?" I asked. "That one?" She made a face.

"Even thinking about it now, all these years later makes me cringe.""What does your one night stand have to do with my situation?" "Well, we still kinda keep in touch." To say I was lost was an understatement. Mo had a habit of beating around the bush, but this took the price.

"His name is Mason Law and he's the co-owner of Sprocks." She finally said. My mouth dropped open. Sprocks was one of the biggest if not the biggest tech companies right now. They had seemingly risen out of the dust to overthrow long standing companies by leaps and bounds.

The two owners had begun designing their first app from their high school days and finally sold it during college for millions of dollars. It had been all uphill for them since then. "You can get me into Sprocks?" I asked. If I wanted to win this thing, there was literally no other company better than that to get into. Just the name alone would grant me the impressive factor.

Since their onset into silicon valley, nobody had yet been able to get an interview with the elusive owners. Everything the general public knew about them right now was just rumors and gossip. "I can try." She grinned.

"But Mason kinda owes me one so this is sort of a done deal." I jumped out of my stool to fling my hands around her smaller frame with an excited scream. "You are simply amazing." "I know, I know." She gasped as I squeezed her tight in my arms.

On Monday morning, I walked into the twenty fifth floor of the building that was home to the Sprocks company. I was in a dark green, polka dot shirt tucked into a black form fitting skirt and three inch, black heels, Professional but relaxed.

The last thing I wanted was to give the impression of an infiltrator. I wanted to blend in to the point that everybody would kinda just forget I was here and I wouldn't severely interrupt their process. "Good morning." I smiled at the woman at the front desk. "I'm here to see Mason Law." "Good morning. Hold on, please." She picked up the desk phone. "What's your name?""Raleigh Maverick." She nodded before speaking into the phone. "A miss Maverick for you... Alright." She hung up, then smiled at me.

"You can go on in. His office is at the end of the floor." "Thank you." I walked into the office and froze. It wasn't what I had been expecting. Suited men and women were nowhere to be seen. Was this dress down day or what? Most people were in jeans and t-shirts, others had on sweatpants. Only very few people were properly dressed for the office.

I looked down at myself in horror. "Shit." I muttered to myself. I couldn't stand out more if I had actively tried. Stealing my spine, I crossed the floor. Some curious glances followed me all the way to Mason's office. His office would have been impossible to miss.

A plague in front of the door announced his location. I knocked."If it's Raleigh, come on in, if it's Mark, I never want to see you again." He called out. Frowning, I opened the door and stepped into... Absolute chaos. It looked like a mini hurricane had happened here. Books strewn about, several computers arranged on one corner, wires streaming about.

I carefully picked my way through them till I was standing in front of Mason's desk. He looked up at me, green eyes studying me intently. Then he stood up, rounded the table and to my surprise, wrapped me in a big, bear hug.

Mason was extremely handsome. At five feet eight plus my three inch heels, I wasn't a small woman, but Mason towered over me with about four inches. He had long blond hair, and dark green eyes. He looked like a Viking. Well, if Vikings wore cargo shorts and T-shirts that is. "Is today costume day?" I asked when he pulled away. He threw his head back and laughed. "No. We just like to be comfortable when we work.

Plus the weather is like a million degrees.""Oh." "Everybody would prefer to be at home in their pajamas if they didn't have to go out and make a living. Well, why not bring that vibe to the office, hmm?" He asked. "That honestly sounds amazing." I admitted.

He flashed me a grin that I was sure had made hundreds of women swoon. I was proud to say that it did nothing for me. Mason wasn't anywhere close to Mo's type. She preferred her men to be more corporate and serious. I was the one who enjoyed the beach grunge, relaxed vibes in my men. It was a surprise then that Mason did nothing for me. I was glad about that.

I didn't want to be attracted to my new quasi-boss. That would create complications I didn't want at all. "C'mon, let's go meet everyone." He walked past me and out of the office. I followed after him.

"Everyone, this is Raleigh, she's a journalist, the good kind. She's here to discover our secrets including why we wear sweatpants to work. Be nice to her." He said before leaving me standing before several pairs of curious eyes.

"H-hey." I said nervously. "What shade of lipstick is that? I've been experimenting with new makeup products and I think that that color and texture is divine." Someone said, I turned to see a brunette grinning at me. "I'll send you the link to the website. It's thirty dollars. Expensive as fuck but so worth it. I don't even need to blot it after application." I replied.

"I'm Raleigh, please, call me Leigh." "I'm Kenzie." She said, It was like a dam bursting open, everybody came to introduce themselves. Everyone was so nice, welcoming and cheerful. I was so glad I had gotten this opportunity and I knew these two weeks were going to be amazing. "The magic happens downstairs." Kenzie informed me as she led me to an empty desk.

"We call them the bats. They live in perpetual darkness and I once tried to open a window and nearly died from my efforts." I laughed as I settled into my seat. It was a little bit apart from the rest of the desks, closer to another office with one way glass walls and door. "Whose office is that? I feel weird sitting all the way out here." Whoever was in there was just going to be staring straight at me whenever they looked up. "That's Mr. Hunt's office." She said, face screwing up.

Before she could say more, Mark walked up to us with a stack of documents and dropped them in front of me. "What are those?" Kenzie asked. "Non Disclosure Agreement." He stated. "If she's going to be very much around, like in meetings with the boss and all, there are some things she's going to see or hear that aren't meant for the public. The bosses will have the final right to go through your written work and be able to remove information they think is vital and delicate. Is that okay with you?" "Of course." I said quickly. I had expected it, obviously. It was only fair though.

I immediately signed my name on all the indicated dotted lines. When I looked up, Mark and Kenzie were staring at me in horror. "What?" "Did you just sign four pages of documents without even going through it or having your lawyer go through it?" Mark asked. "I trust you all." I grinned. "And it's a sign that I'm beginning this business relationship with utmost transparency as I hope you are too."

"Mr. Hunt is going to hate her." Mark said. "Don't I know it." Kenzie eyed me curiously. "Who's that? Who's Mr. Hunt?" Kenzie chuckled. "Oh, sweetie. There are just some things you have to find out on your own. But dont be scared, there's no one in there right now." She pointed at the office.

"Welcome to Sprockets." "Thank you." I said. This was already turning out to be so exciting.

Raleigh pov

It was my third official day working for Sprocks and I was elated. So far, everything had been perfect and if it continued like this, I was going to win this thing by a landmine. Mikel Summers who? Everyone was so nice, the environment was relaxed and productive.

The himbo boss wasn't slacking off, he actually showed up to work on time and put on inappropriate outfits regardless. In fact, I seemed to be the odd one at the office. The outfits ranged from loosely formal to completely relaxed, I guessed everybody was taking a book off Mason's page. It was sweltering and no amount of AC was chasing away the melting heat. In lieu of that, I had decided to fit in better and combat the heat by showing up to work in more casual clothes. Mo had told me it was a good idea and helped me pick out the peach floral playsuit which I paired with brown sandal heels.

I looked beautiful and best of all, I now fit the laid back vibes of the office. I walked in with a box of Mo made chocolate chip cookies for the office. "Hey, Sid." I greeted the front desk receptionist. "Looking good, girl." She winked at me. "Thank you." I was still smiling as I stepped into the work floor and then froze. Once again, I was the odd one out. Were they doing this on purpose? I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

Everybody was suddenly in suits and formal wear. Was this some elaborate prank on me conjured up by Mo in association with Mason and the whole of Sprocks. I headed towards Kenzie's table. She looked up at me and froze. "what's going on?" I asked worriedly. "What are you wearing?" She asked back. I looked down at myself then looked down at her outfit. "I should really be the one asking you that." "Mr. Hunt is back.

He doesn't support the non professional dress code. We only do that when it's just Mr. Law." She explained. Ahn, so the elusive Mr. Hunt was back and it seemed he was an asshole. How fun."Why didn't any of you tell me this?" I asked.

"How were we supposed to know you would do a three sixty on your dress code?" She shrugged. I had to admit that it was a fair point though. "Anyway, it's fine. You're not exactly an employee here. I'm sure Mr. Law wouldn't let his colleague toss you out on your rear end." "That was very encouraging, thank you." I rolled my eyes. "You have bomb legs. It would be a shame to cover them." She waggled her brows at me. I giggled. "Cookies?" I held out the box to her.

"Oh my God, yes." "Did I hear cookies?" Someone else piped up. "Chocolate chip, homemade, by my very talented roommate." I replied. A small crowd formed around me as people came to grab a cookie.

"If you're all quite done, turning this office into a farmer's market, I suggest you all go back to your desks and get back to work." A cold voice suddenly said, sending everyone scurrying away like cockroaches till I was left alone, standing there in my singular outfit and an empty box.

The very picture of the culprit. Kenzie shot me an apologetic look from behind the man before hurrying away. My first impression was that he was tall, but not in the way Mason was tall. He had in lieu of a better word, a striking presence.

There was something about the man who stood a few steps away from me that drew your eyes and all your attention and didn't let you look away. He had light brown hair, streaked with gold, creating an effect that many people spent hundreds of dollars trying to achieve in a hair salon.

The blue of his eyes were a unique azure that looked like they could see deep into me. He had the face planes of a Roman statue, all high cheekbones, pronounced brow bone and a jaw that could cut glass. In a charcoal suit that fit his trim frame, the man was quite simply stunning.

"Who are you?" He asked, gaze taking me in from the top of my head to my feet before they met mine again.

"I'm Raleigh Maverick." I stepped forward with my most winning smile, hand outstretched. "You must be Logan Hunt." The previously absent boss. He looked down at my hand and ignored it.

"I didn't ask for your name, Maverick. I want to know who you are. What's your business here? Why are you dressed like someone headed to a Taylor Swift concert." My eyes twitched. I retracted my hand. "I'm a journalist and-""No." He cut in. "You can leave now."I blinked at him.

"y-you don't understand. I'm employed here to-" "You're employed here? Not by me, you're not." I thrust my chin in the air. "Last time I checked, you aren't the only word of authority around here. Mason Law employed me.

Don't worry, I'm not getting paid to be here, if that's what you're worried about. He took an Intimidating step forward. "That's the least of my concerns. There's a reason why our company isn't splashed at the front of some magazine and that's because we want it that way."

"I'm starting to think that 'we' means 'you' in this context." I said, trying to keep my cool. It wouldn't do to alienate one of my bosses so soon and lose this amazing gig.

My job was hanging in the line for this. My pride and dignity was also up there with it. I took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Hunt. It seems we got off on the wrong foot. I promise that-" "Save it.

Your promises mean zilch to me. Journalists, reporters, the likes of you aren't welcome here. You take a story, you twist it to serve your narrative, serve it to a bunch of morons and watch your numbers and profit spike up, not caring who's getting hurt by the bullshit that's lining your pockets.""That's not true!" I snapped.

"In fact, you have the final right to choose what I eventually-" "You can start packing up your things, Maverick.

Go find some other company to worm your way into and spy on." He turned around to walk away. "You know what, no need to tell me to leave. I was leaving already. There is no way I'm going to stay here and work anywhere close to a raging asshole like you. You walk around like the big, bad wolf huffing and puffing and feeling superior to every other person.

Well, you can take that attitude and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. With all due disrespect, Hunt." I turned, grabbed my bag and walked straight towards the elevator, ignoring all the wide eyed glances being thrown my way.

It had been a long time since someone made me this angry. I was generally a bundle of joy but Logan was the most horrible person on the planet.

In the space of minutes, he had set my blood to boiling, something most people hadn't been able to achieve in years of knowing me. That bastard.

I didn't need Sprocks. Realistically though, they were my best bet in winning this thing, but I was a damn good writer. Their wow factor wasn't necessary for me to win this. I had a whole vault of talent, dedication and experience on my side.

I could find some other company and do just as well if not better there. In the elevator, I began to rummage through my bag in search of my phone.

That was when I suddenly recalled my phone being in my hand and me dropping it on the desk while I was speaking to Kenzie. Shit.

My dramatic exit was going to be made very anticlimactic by me returning mere minutes later to collect my phone. With an irritated groan, I stepped off the elevator and got into another one moving up. By the time I stepped out of the elevator, I was more relaxed and in a better frame of mind to say goodbye to my very temporary coworkers.

I liked them and I hoped I'd be able to keep in touch with some of them. "Did you remember some things you should have said to Mr. Hunt on your elevator ride down and now you're here to say them?" Kenzie asked as I walked back in. I laughed. "Nothing that dramatic. I left my phone somewhere around here." I spied the familiar bubble gum pink casing on the corner of someone's desk. "There it is."

"I hope we keep in touch. I'd hate to never taste that amazing cookie again." Kenzie said. "I knew you only wanted me for my cookies." I teased. I went to retrieve my phone and leave, but at the last minute, I decided that it'd be wrong to not say goodbye to Mason. He has given me this job after all, it was only right I informed him before I disappeared.

I made my way towards his office. Before I could raise my hand and knock, I heard Logan's voice. "She has to go."

"No, she doesn't. I happen to like her. She's sweet and delightful.

A veritable ray of sunshine in this dark and gloomy world." "Cut it out with the Shakespeare shit. I was gone a week and everybody lost their fucking minds. We do not let reporters-"

. "She isn't a reporter." Mason cut in. "Journalist, editor, same difference." Logan replied. "She spies, she turns it into a story and makes money. That's basically what they all do."

"Well, we don't have anything to hide and even better, I added a clause on the NDA she signed blindly that we have final rights to review what she'll submit." He said.

"A single word or phrase we don't like, we scrap. And if she ends up publishing it anyway, we'll bring the whole law down on her head."

"Who signs an NDA blindly?" I rolled my eyes. Was that his problem now? "What exactly is your problem with her, Loge? I've looked into her, she's clean as a whistle and she's Imogen's cousin."

"Who's Imogen?" Logan asked. Mason spluttered. "I cannot believe you're asking me that. I tell you about Imogen all the time. The gorgeous redhead? Ring any bells." "You know I don't pay any attention when you start waxing poetic about women." Logan said.

Like an asshole. I wanted to punch him in his pretty face. "That girl is ridiculous." "Imogen is ridiculous? You don't even know her." "I don't mean your redhead. I mean the reporter girl." Logan growled. "She's a journalist and she's twenty seven, she's not a girl. Honestly, Loge, you're acting weird as hell. You're too bent out of shape about this.

Me thinks that thou protest suspiciously too much. Is this like one of those situations where little boys pull their crushes ponytails and tell her they hate her?" I could hear the amusement in Mason's voice. I scoffed silently.

This was definitely not one of those situations. I didn't think that black hearted villain had it in him to like anybody. He had stared at me like I was dirt under his shoes. "Her?" He snorted.

"There's more class in my pinky finger than there is in the whole of her. Give me more credit than that." "I like Imogen and she'll never speak to me again if I let you kick her cousin out. Raleigh stays." Mason said.

"What sort of name is that anyways." Logan muttered. I hurried away from the door before they could catch me eavesdropping. Well well well, this certainly changed things.

It seemed that despite Logan's disapproval, I would be staying after all. I grinned gleefully. I was going to make my two weeks here a living hell for Logan Hunt and the best part, there was nothing he could do about me because Mason was set on keeping me.

Things were starting to look up for me.