Lord of Rain (The Dragon Demigods #5) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,72
on, then?” She makes air quotes when she says ‘allowance’.
“I didn’t.” I frown hard and pull the contract closer so that I can take a look. “Fuck,” I say under my breath. “My lawyer must have decided to add this in.” I didn’t check the final NDA. I went over the original draft, he gave me on Saturday, and outlined all the changes to the finest detail. I pay him big bucks, but I guess it was wrong of me to assume he would follow my instructions to the letter. I don’t have time to check on my staff. There aren’t enough hours in the day. I have to trust them to do as I say. It’s as simple as that. Fuck!
“Oh…how convenient. Hold your poor lawyer accountable, why don’t you?”
I don’t blame Miss Shaw for thinking along these lines. “It’s true. I only wanted a clause offering an allowance. We will be going to dinners, and yes, I thought some spa treatments wouldn’t go amiss…along with anything else you wanted to use the money for.” Like the bakery, which was my main intention. Only, I know Miss Shaw won’t accept straight cash.
She narrows her eyes. “Like waxing and nails.”
“I don’t give a fuck about waxing and nails. I’ll remove the clause in its entirety if it will make you feel more comfortable. I would prefer it if you got the allowance, though, but it’s up to you.”
“Don’t bother. I’m not signing.”
“That tells me that there are other aspects to this,” I touch the document, “that don’t sit right with you.”
“That’s an understatement. You want a sexual relationship with me for as long as it’s convenient for you, and when you’re done with me, you want me to resign. That much is as clear as day. I would then collect a payout equaling two years of work, minus however many months I end up working for you as your sex-slave. Is that right?”
“No,” I shake my head, “it’s not like that at all. You’re misinterpreting it. I’m trying to protect you, Miss Shaw. I assure you of that.”
“That’s not how it looks from where I’m sitting. Firstly, paying me that much money would feel…wrong. You would ultimately be paying me for sex.”
Oh, fuck! I didn’t think she’d see it like that. I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment or two. “It’s not like that. I would not be paying you for sex. Nor do I ever wish to pay someone for sex. I snap my fingers, and women flock to me. Why would I—”
“Arrogant as anything,” she mutters.
I bite back a smile. “I wasn’t being arrogant. I was stating facts.”
“Same thing.” She doesn’t look happy at all.
“The reason I included that clause was not to pay you for sexual favors but because I want you to feel safe. I want you to know that your job is not in jeopardy. Your future is secure. I hope you stay on once we mutually decide to end things sexually. I mean…” I shrug. “All I’m saying is, if at any time you felt like you couldn’t work for Zeus Group – for me – anymore, that you would be financially secure. I don’t want you to turn this down out of fear for your future. It would ultimately be your decision. You would be in a position to choose. I told you I wanted you in the driver’s seat, and I meant it.”
She blinks a few times. “When you put it like that…”
“That’s all it is. I swear. If you want me to change the wording to make it clearer, I can have my lawyer do that…no problem.”
I see her pulling in a breath, preparing to argue.
“I won’t take the clause out, though, Miss Shaw. You need this job. I won’t fuck that up for you. Don’t be hardheaded about something as important as your financial wellbeing.”
“This feels too much like a business transaction. I’m not one of your stocks or commodities. I’m a person.”
“I know that. I don’t see you as a commodity. This isn’t a business transaction. I don’t want to pay you for sex. I—”
“It’s the last clause that’s completely unacceptable, and quite frankly, I expected more from you.” She swallows thickly, looking hurt. “Then again, I don’t know you. My body is…my body is mine, and mine alone. I get to decide about anything to do with it. I can’t—”
I’m paging through the document while she is talking. I hit the last page. “Holy fuck!” I snarl.