Page 14 of Merciless Heir

“Yes,” she says, the dryness like centuries old dust, “because you’re waiting for true love to drop in on you.”

“I don’t believe in love.”

“Neither do I. It’s a construct developed by the patriarchy to keep women in check.”

I smile, and close the gap between us, letting my fingers trail against the soft smoothness of her shining hair. “I think we know it’s the other way around.”

“Only because women have been taught their shelf life is short.”

“So, a true romantic, then?”

Her smile flashes like a knife. “Just like you.”

“We should run away.”

“Misery does love company.”

I laugh. “You keep that up, Sadie, and I’ll start liking you.”

“Call me Sally in here.” Her voice is barely audible, yet it shimmies through me. “And we can’t have that happening.”

“Give me my watch and when are you starting work for me?”

Her hand slips along the side of my suit and I’m overcome by the urge to check to see if she stole anything. Except I don’t have anything in that pocket. Sadie’s expression says she knows exactly what I wanted to do.

So I don’t.

The music in this hellhole is terrible. The place filled with the kind of interior decorating that’s insanely expensive, generic, and lacking in individual taste. Like a show apartment. And I’m betting someone like Sadie Hess hates it as much as me.

“I never said I would work for you.”

“You will,” I say. “You can’t resist the challenge or the money.” I look her over. “I’m betting it’s the thrill of the challenge over the money that will hook you.”

“It’ll be the money, too. So, are you stalking me?”

“What would you do if I said yes?” I’m genuinely curious. We both know it’s not stalking, but I did make it my business to find out where she’d be.

“I’d say I’m not interested in you.”

“We know that’s a lie.”

“I don’t like you, Mr. Sinclair.”

I smile. “And I don’t like you. Like has nothing to do with interest.”

“Anything we do will be strictly business.”

I take a sip of the warming champagne. “Like stealing my watch was business?”

“Maybe you lost it.”

“No. I didn’t lose it or misplace it. You took it.”

Sadie smiles.

“You’re also working for me.”

“And,” she says, “like I keep saying, I’ll let you know.”