Read Online Bought: A Billionaire Romance by Sadie Keynes - Free Book Online Page A

for a meal with your boss and suddenly they’re all waiting for the wedding invitation.
    “I know. I know. I’m just used to seeing people hurt when they get too close to Kyan is all, even if though he doesn’t mean to. I’m not saying it will happen to you, he just has this sort of restless energy. It’s what drove him to be so successful in the first place but it also keeps people away.”
    I can see why she was anxious now. She has a lot of respect for Kyan but she’s also smart enough to see that sometimes he can hurt people. It must be a big deal for her to warn someone away from him. Still, I’m not stupid enough to let myself get obsessed with Kyan Ellis…am I?
    “Thanks.” I don’t know what else to say.
    “So I’ll tell him you’ll be in at 4pm?”
    “Sure.”
     
    ****
     
    I wave to Mira as I walk past her desk. I check my watch, 4pm, exactly on time and with the report finished. It took me the rest the day and I didn’t manage to get a lunch break, but I got it finished.
    I knock on the door to Kyan’s office and wait for him to tell me to come in. I’ve learned my lesson about bursting into people’s offices uninvited after last time.
    “Clara! Take a seat,” says Kyan.
    I sink into the luxurious leather chair that sits in front of his vast desk and slide the printed report across its shiny, dark surface to him. I sent him an email copy as well, but I think he likes to have something he can touch too.
    “You’ve finished the report?” he says as he picks it up and begins to leaf through it, “anything important I should know right now?”
    “I don’t think so. The only problem we might have is getting the Chinese to agree to pay for the expenses listed on page four.”
    “Ah, yes. Well, hopefully, that won’t be too difficult. It’s their power plants that are getting this technology after all.”
    “I’ve also modeled the expected reduction in carbon emissions from the plants as an appendix. I know you didn’t ask for that, I just thought you might be interested.”
    “Thanks. Hopefully, the Chinese guys in charge of the project will be into the whole eco-warrior thing,” says Kyan in a voice dripping with sarcasm, “I’m meeting them next week so I’ll find out then.”
    “You’re meeting them next week?”
    I didn’t realize the project was moving this quickly.             
    “Yes. I want to move quickly on this. They’ve agreed to meet in Beijing next week. That’s why I called you in for this meeting. Clara, I want you to be at that meeting with me.”
    I want to say something but I can’t. Typing up boring reports and sorting through paperwork isn’t the work I dreamed of doing, but this meeting is a huge deal. This is exactly what I wanted. A thousand thoughts are rushing through my head simultaneously.
    This is a huge opportunity! What if I mess it up? What if they figure out I’m not really a genius? What if I’ve got all the numbers wrong? What if? What if?
    “You know the numbers on this better than anyone else and I think you want to see this project through,” says Kyan, his words interrupting my waterfall of emotions, “If you don’t think you can handle it, I’m sure I can find someone else to take the trip with me.”
    “No!” I almost yell, “No. I can handle it.”
    “I thought so,” says Kyan.
     

Chapter 18
Kyan
    After Clara leaves I skim through the report she’s prepared. She’s more than just a pretty face: she really knows her stuff too. I definitely made the right decision hiring her.
    I tap the intercom button on my desk.
    “Mira, can you come in here a second?”
    A few moments later Mira’s plump form is breezing into my office.
    “Mira, I’m going to be taking the jet to Beijing next week. Can you get the flight plan and all the usual documentation filed please?”
    “Sure,” she replies, “How many passengers?”
    “Just two: me and Clara.”
    “You’re taking Clara to Beijing with you?”
    I detect