“You have a degree in design.” Nigel glanced at the portfolio photos on his computer screen he’d been looking at before she’d arrived. “These are pretty impressive. Why the switch to media? Did you just want to make a change?”
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “Why can’t I do both? I’ve always loved design and I’m fascinated by media. Who knows? Maybe one day I can design living spaces and work areas for the stars. This is a good step in that direction.”
Nigel leaned forward, lacing his fingers together on his desk. “Is that what you’re hoping to gain here? The chance to meet celebrities and get your foot in the door?”
Roslyn opened her mouth, but he quickly held up his hand. “I’m not judging,” he added. “I think it’s brilliant.”
“You got me,” she laughed. “I’m always thinking ahead. I figure if I’m going to take the leap into a new kind of market, why not make it a big one? I want to cover a wide variety and when I have my own company, I’ll be well versed in all the things.”
“That’s exactly the type of asset I want on my team,” he told her. “What’s your favorite food?”
Roslyn blinked, then laughed. “Excuse me?”
“Favorite food.”
“Um... I don’t know. I guess sushi. Why?”
“I like to have dinner meetings and I want to make sure I choose something you’ll enjoy.”
He hated most kinds of sushi, but this was New York. Plenty of places served a wide variety that could accommodate both of them. For now, though, he wasn’t quite ready to end this talk and he wasn’t ready to dive right into work, though that’s exactly what he should have been doing.
“Why don’t I show you around,” he said, coming to his feet.
Craig would’ve normally tour new employees, but Nigel had already blocked this morning off because he wanted to do so personally... Now he wished he had let Craig retain that honor.
“There are aspects of this company that you should know from day one,” he continued. “I want you to be comfortable and think of this as your second home for as long as you’re employed here. We’re all friendly and, for the most part, we all get along.”
Roslyn stood and eased her purse back onto her shoulder. “That’s impressive with such a big corporation. I’m excited to be part of something so positive.”
As committed as he was to making sure his staff all worked well together, he wouldn’t settle for anything less, Nigel needed a little more drama and action on the set of Secret Lives. The show couldn’t afford to be all sweetness and niceness all the time. There needed to be a reason for viewers to tune back in, excited to see what would happen next—but right now, he just didn’t have the answers.
He did, however, have a new consultant eager to see the offices and he might just have to take her to the penthouse suite and show her that breathtaking rooftop view. The penthouse was used on occasion for special events with the staff since it had a large boardroom table and full kitchen. But, it also had a private en suite that he would sometimes stay in when his office hours became too long and he just needed to crash.
His job right now was to save his show, and this woman may be one of the most striking and gorgeous consultants he’d ever seen, but he needed her and he wasn’t going to do anything to jeopardize his show...especially by hitting on his newest hire.
“We’ll start with the best part of the entire building.”
Nigel gestured to the lift in the corner.
“Your own private elevator?” she asked, with a half grin. “I’m impressed.”
“There are perks to being the CEO.”
And as the CEO, it was his responsibility to remain 100 percent professional, 100 percent of the time.
He worked with gorgeous women every single day. This shouldn’t have been any different...yet it was.
Sophie wasn’t sure how to deal with her spiral of emotions as she stood next to Nigel in the elevator. She wished she’d known that she’d be working directly with him. She wished she’d known just how potent this powerhouse truly was. And she sure as hell wished she’d known just how her entire body would heat because this was a completely new territory for her.
Granted she didn’t believe anything could’ve fully prepared her for that heavy-lidded stare, the strong jawline, the right amount of expensive cologne and that polished British accent.
Mercy’s sake. She certainly hadn’t counted on how sexy a conversation with a Brit would be. How did any woman in this office get work done? How was she going to get work done? She couldn’t afford to get fired from her faux job because she was too busy fantasizing about the boss.
The man opened his mouth and a slew of inappropriate thoughts filled her head. But that wasn’t why she was here. Though the eye candy certainly didn’t hurt.
A man like Nigel Townshend wasn’t just a panty-dropper, he was a billionaire bad boy with a bit of a reputation. He always had the sexiest women on his arm at award shows and debuts. He’d been known to date some of the hottest supermodels in the industry, but, to her knowledge, he’d never been seen with the same woman twice, which led her to believe he was a player.
And she was the total opposite, considering she’d never been with a man.
What would it be like to be with a bad boy? Maybe that was precisely what she needed. Perhaps she should give herself to a man who knew exactly what he was doing.
Then again, she wasn’t about to announce to a man she just met that she was a virgin. She wasn’t ashamed of the fact, and she certainly wasn’t sorry she’d spent her years building her career and devoting every waking minute to growing herself as a successful businesswoman and YouTube sensation. There was no rule or timeline for sex, and she’d do it when she was damn well ready or when a man intrigued her enough to make her want to.
Unfortunately, her new boss intrigued her way more than he should. She could easily imagine him doing a clean sweep of papers off his desk and ripping her clothes off in a heated moment of passion. The clothes would be utterly ruined, of course, but she wouldn’t mind sacrificing these skinny jeans.
Why were they called skinny jeans anyway when she clearly had curves and wore a size sixteen? If they were supposed to make her feel skinny, then they were failing.
Regardless, she’d much rather think of Nigel finding her irresistible. Maybe late nights would turn into lingering glances or sensual touching. Not that she thought he’d do anything inappropriate...but a girl could fantasize, couldn’t she?
The elevator chimed as the doors slid open. Just in time to pull her from yet another delicious daydream about her new boss.
Good grief. She had enough issues right now. She needed to focus on the job her brothers had trusted her to get done. Getting down and dirty with the CEO of Green Room Media was not quite the angle she’d been thinking of. Besides, she’d promised herself to be back in a week and getting tangled in anything other than her plan would eat up time she didn’t have to spare.
Nigel gestured for her to exit the elevator, and as soon as Sophie stepped out, her breath caught in her throat.
“I had the same reaction when I first saw the view,” he told her, staying right by her side. “I admit, it never gets old. There’s something so timeless, so classy and sexy about the New York City skyline.”
From this rooftop penthouse with a wall of glass windows all around the perimeter, Sophie felt as if she could reach out and touch the sun. She had to agree, there was something