Read Online Fighting for My Billionaire Boss by Cynthia Sax - Free Book Online

He opens a drawer, extracts a flat black box. “I don’t want anyone to mistake who you are to me.” Brick opens the lid.
    I blink, dazzled by diamond flowers set amidst delicate gold leaves. The necklace is a work of art, classic and fine, a piece of jewelry a real lady would be proud to wear. “Oh, Brick.” Emotion threatens to overwhelm me. “It’s too much.”
    This isn’t a gift a man might give to his lover. This is a future heirloom he’d give to his wife.
    “It’s not enough.” He fastens it for me, the gold cool against my skin, and he guides me to a mirror. “But it will suffice for now.” He kisses my nape.
    We gaze at the image of us together. I appear small and dainty, standing in front of his broad shoulders, his tall physique. Brick’s black tuxedo frames my peach-colored dress. The possessive gleam in his eyes rivals the sparkle of the diamonds.
    He hooks his arms around me, drawing me closer to him. “These stones are beautiful and rare and they look fragile, like tiny pieces of glass.” He touches the diamonds. “But they’re the hardest mineral in the world, able to cut less durable surfaces.”
    This is how he sees me. I’m a diamond, beautiful and rare, a carnation, sturdy yet delicate, a cussing, scrapper of a lady, his assistant, and now his lover.
    And I love this man for viewing me this way.
    I love him. Period.
    I meet his gaze through the reflection, yearning to tell him how I feel, not brave enough to open my mouth. My brothers would call me a chickenshit and I guess they’d be right, but it’s too soon and I have too much to lose if I make a mistake.
    Then the moment is gone. Brick grasps my hand. “We should go.” He walks with me out of our bedroom, a space he had decorated for me. “The paparazzi will be waiting.”
     
    ***
     
    They are waiting. Chaos erupts as the limo rolls to a stop in front of the gothic, revival-style mansion Arianna Ross chose for the St. James’ annual charity gala. Hands pound on the vehicle’s tinted windows and I jump, not expecting that level of aggression.
    “The bodyguards will push them back.” Brick appears cool and collected, lounging languidly against the leather seatback, his left arm around me, but I feel the tension in him, the flexing of his muscles. I see the veiled aggression in his eyes.
    I can’t allow the paparazzi to bother me or my billionaire will lose his shit. He needs a woman who can handle herself in the public eye.
    “You’re a fuckin’ lady,” I mumble to myself, loud enough for him to hear. “No fighting. No jabbing reporters in the eyes with your fists or kicking cameramen in the nuts.”
    This self-coaching snags all of Brick’s attention. His eyes gleam. “No fighting. Save that feistiness for me, Lucille.”
    “You have to wait until they call me a homewrecker, to experience my feistiness,” I remind him.
    “They’ll call you that, but not until they mention cheating four times.” He nods. “I’m coming on your chest tonight, while you wear your pretty necklace.”
    The door opens. People yell Brick’s name.
    “That’s too bad.” I move with him toward the commotion. “I was hoping you’d choose to come down my throat.”
    Brick stops abruptly, turns his head and stares at me. “You want that?”
    “I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t want it.” I push him forward.
    He steps out of the limo first. Lights flash. The yelling increases in volume. My tuxedo-wearing man holds out his hand. I clasp it, proud of myself because my fingers are damn steady. He helps me out.
    I’m temporarily blinded by brightness and I follow him, not knowing where we’re going or who is shouting at us. The questions and words blur together. Cool plastic bumps against my leg. Someone tries to grab my arm.
    “Are you okay?” Brick murmurs into my ear, partially shielding me with his big body.
    “I’ll be seeing spots forever,” I whisper back. “Next time we do this, I’m wearing big ass sunglasses…and