Olivia Hayle

"So you want to quit," he says.

"No,” I say. “I mean, I might in the future. This has been a terrific job, truly. But I think I've learned all I can in this position. So I’m thinking of finding another job, one more challenging, so I can continue to grow. But that’s in the future.”

“Right. Well, that’s excellent."

I stare at him for a long moment, my heart pounding like I’ve run a marathon. His words don’t make sense. "It's… excellent, sir?"

"Yes. I have a new job proposal for you."

"You do?" He has never expressed anything but disdain or a complete lack of interest in me. Had I managed to impress him? I do everything he asks of me and a lot more he doesn’t.

"Yes. It's unorthodox."

“Unorthodox?”

“It’s ridiculous," he says. "But as it so happens, I've decided to do it."

"To get married, sir? To whom?”

“I’m glad you asked, Miss Myers," he says. There’s a hint of humor in the ice blue of his eyes. "To you."

“You want me to marry you?”

Victor meets my gaze. I've never looked at him for this long before. It's terrifying. "You want a new job.”

"Not as your wife."

“Marrying me would get you out of this office."

"Yes, but not away from you."

St. Clair blinks once and then his usual scowl breaks, lips curving. Something glitters in his eyes and damned if it doesn't make me more afraid. "I always knew you wouldn't last a year.”