A Secretive Deal with My Billionaire Boss novel Chapter 9

Madison

I trudged down the dimly lit street toward my apartment, my heels clicking against the concrete. My feet ached, but the

physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional exhaustion weighing me down.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Hazel’s number.

“Mads, where have you been?” Hazel’s voice burst through the speaker. “I’ve been trying to reach you all day!”

“Yeah, about that…” I dodged a guy walking his chihuahua. “Remember those side gigs you helped me get?”

“Yeah, what about them?”

I winced. “Mr. Knight found out.”

“WHAT?” Her shriek made me pull the phone away from my ear. “How? Please tell me you didn’t use the office computers.”

“Um…”

“Madison Harper, you did not.”

“Look, I was desperate and short on time!” I kicked a pebble, watching it skitter across the sidewalk. “And in my defense, I thought I’d cleared everything.”

“Honey, nothing is ever really cleared from a computer. Like, ever.” She sighed. “So what happened? Did he fire you?”

“My job’s safe. For now. But I had to drop all the side work.”

“Shit. What about your mom’s medical bills?”

I hesitated. “Mr. Knight… offered to help. With a loan.”

“A loan?” Hazel’s voice dripped with suspicion. “Just like that? What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch. He’s just… being nice, I guess.”

“Alexander Knight doesn’t do ‘nice‘ unless there’s something in it for him. But hey, maybe I was wrong about him. All this time, I thought he was just another rich playboy with too much hair gel, but look at him now: he is offering loans to his struggling employees” She paused. “Oh my god, Mads. What if he likes you

“What?” I nearly dropped my phone. “No. No way.”

“Think about it! He caught you moonlighting, which is totally grounds for firing, but instead, he’s offering financial help? Girl, he’s got feelings.”

I crossed the street. “Trust me, Mr. Knight doesn’t do feelings. He does models and actresses, and whatever flavor of the month catches his eye, Not assistants who can barely afford their rent.”

“But-”

“No buts. He’s just…” I couldn’t exactly tell her about his real proposition. “Being professional.”

“Professional my ass.” Hazel’s laugh echoed through the phone. “Since when does he care about his employees‘ personal problems?”

*He mentioned something about company programs. You know, for employees dealing with medical issues or emergencies.” The lie tasted bitter on my tongue.

“Oh my god, that’s perfect!” Hazel’s enthusiasm made my stomach twist. “Take the loan, Madison You’ve been killing yourself with all these side gigs, and your mom needs you focused on her recovery, not scrambling for cash.”

Chapter 9

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“I’ll think about it.”

“Think about what? Your mom needs those treatments Heloofdering help. What’s there to think about?”

“It’s not that simple-”

“It is that simple! Unless…” Her voice turned suspicious sagain.”1st theres something you’re not telling me?”

My stomach churned. “No, nothing. You’re right I just need timecoopprocess everything.”

“Process what? Either take the loan and get your mom betterpokkeepingggling And if he expects you to pay it back super- fast, then he’s an even bigger asshole than I thought. But at least typuunmoonwillbe okay.”

If she only knew the real terms of his “loan.” But I couldn’t tell heer Nootyget Maybe not ever.

“You’re right,” I said to end the conversation “Look, I’m home now Talkkommorrow?”

I hung up before she could protest, staring at my reflection in the lobby saggimmyynmrcorThe woman looking back at mere seemed different somehow older, more tired, more desperatee.

Maybe Hazel was right about one thing what choice did I have??

I trudged up the stairs to my apartment, each step feeling heavier than thedastt Theedator was broken again – probably plotting with the washing machines in the basement to drive all tenantssinsanee.

The guilt of lying to Hazel gnawed at me. Some best friend I was, féedingcher that loamstcoyywhen really, Alexander wanted to rent me like some girlfriend–for–hire. How would I explain that one??“OhhbyythleewayyHazzeremember that loan I mentioned? Funny story: I’m trading my body and girlfriend status for my mom’s medical bills’s Passsthleewim@?”

My key was stuck in the lock–another daily battle with my apartment’s stellànsecurityysysteem Afters some creative jiggling and a few choice words, I finally stumbled inside.

The contrast between my cramped one–bedroom and Alexander’s penthouse hit medikemas tapp Hisss bloween was probably bigger than my entire bathroom. Hell, his walk–in closet could house a small familyy.

I kicked off my heels, watching Madison’s problem

one bounce off the wall and land behind my sad excusedora couchh Whatever Future

The whole girlfriend–for–hire thing felt suspiciously like glorified prostitution with extra stepss What was met aacontract specifying how many times I had to fake orgasms per week? Required lingerie categories? Aminimumquodàæóf’Dh Alexander, you’re so amazing” declarations?

Hazel’s woods echoed: “What if he likes you?” Right. And maybe I’d wake up tomorrow as the Queem

But what of the wasn’t completely wrong? The way he’d looked at me that night in his penthouse even through his addugg- induced base. No Stop it, Madison. The man probably practiced those smoldering looks in the mirror

I flopped onto my bed the springs protesting loudly. Alexander Knight didn’t develop feelings he developed strategiess Mudd right now, his strategy involved using my financial desperation to get me into his bed–again..

Classic Playboy move fand vulnerable woman, exploit weakness, add to conquest list. I was probably “Desperate Assistant #83 * in his little black book.

The thought twisted may stomach, but I couldn’t deny the allure of his offer. It wasn’t just the money–it was the chance too breathe and focus on my BROOK Without feeling like I was drowning every day,

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What was worse? My pride or my mother’s health? It felt like a cruel joke ethe universes throwing me a lifeline wrapped in

The man had called me Katherine during what was supposed to be an intimate moment If thatavasha agreon sign flashing” BAADI IDEA“, “then I didn’t know what was. But every time I pictured Mom in that hospital bet paleleni fragile, it felt like my optioosssshrank into nothingness.

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