meeting time. She'd spent the weekend researching everything she could about being a persona

tekeepers, confidantes, and often the only people who saw behind the carefully constructed public personas. They

exander Blackwood for an entire month

led the city slowly awakening below, lights twinkling like earthbound stars. Sophia

ble doors were slightly ajar, and she could see li

me

han she made in three months. His hair was perfectly styled, his tie knotted with precis

arly," he

d to be

to the chair across

Professional. Composed. Completely unaffected by the way his

with an intensity that made her skin warm. "First, when you're working as my assistant, you ca

nal af

His lips curved in what might have been a smile. "Don't look

er cheeks. "I

er. The position put him close enough that she could see the slight stubble along his jaw, could

ng the children's wi

cond. "Second rule: complete honesty. I ask you a question, you gi

a rather one-si

e paying yo

ty goes both ways, Alexander. If you want me to be

: what happens in this office, stays in this office. You'll have access to confidenti

cour

"If you're going to work for me, you need to understand that I'm not a nice man, Sophia. I'm demandi

iver through her, but she held his

sper, and she saw something dark and

. "Your first task is to cancel my eleven o'clock with the Peterson Group and reschedule for next week. Th

ntation

o present your case properly. I don't make decisions based on emotion

was actually giving her a r

sing her. "Mrs. Patterson's desk is outside. She left detailed ins

she reached the door,

more

urned

your brother received surgery in the

t her off guard. "

ow is

senior year of high school." She paused, s

" His expression was unreadable. "And you, Sophia Ch