I survived the death trap that was the car ride over here, only to learn it was a test. A stupid test. And it all could have ended if I had just said stop.

That’s how Sean is going to play it. He’s going to throw test after test at me and hope that I give up and quit. This is all just a fun game to him.

A game he isn’t going to win.

Now that I know his game, he no longer has the upper hand. I’m prepared for anything now.

I’m just not prepared for the stares as I walk into the most expensive restaurant that I have ever walked into. I’m wearing the dressiest clothes I own, but it still doesn’t feel like enough to be inside this restaurant.

“Can I take your coat?” a man asks as soon as I enter the restaurant.

I nod even though I don’t want to give up my coat. I want to keep wearing it because it hides the fact that my outfit isn’t enough. It’s far too cheap, and it shows the second that Sean’s coat is gone.

Sean continues walking once inside, like he owns the place. Maybe he does.

I follow but immediately feel everyone’s eyes go from Sean to me as we walk through the restaurant. When they look at him, they are in awe. When they look at me though, they are wondering why I’m with a guy like him. Even in slacks, he looks like he belongs while I look like…an assistant.

I sigh.

We finally make it to our table, a small circular one near the window that looks out at the city. We take a seat across from each other. I smile, trying to act like walking through the restaurant and getting stared at didn’t bother me.

Sean smirks, and I know that he knows how uncomfortable I was while walking in here.

The waiter comes over and looks at Sean. “Mr. Burrows, so nice to see you again. Would you like your usual?”

Sean nods.

The waiter then looks at me, a bit surprised. “And what can I get you? Or do you need a few moments with the menu? I can start you off with something to drink.”

I know I need to make a decision quickly. That is what Sean wants. A decisive woman who is willing to stand up for herself.

I glance at the wine menu in front of me. “I’ll have your house pinot grigio and…” I glance down at the menu and find the cheapest thing I can find. “The Caesar salad.”

The waiter raises an eyebrow and then looks at Sean, like he is going to approve or deny what I just ordered. Sean and him exchange some kind of secret conversation that I’m not privy to.

“Very good, sir,” the waiter says.

“What was that about?” I ask after the waiter has left.

“You come to the best restaurant in town, and that is what you order? A salad and cheap wine?”

I frown and then lean back as waiters begin pouring us water, and a napkin is placed in my lap.

“You know what my salary is. I can’t afford anything more.”

He chuckles. “You think I would let you pay?”

I feel the anger growing fast inside me. “Excuse me? Let me pay? I’m more than capable of paying for my own dinner, thank you.” I throw my napkin down on the table, not caring that I am making a scene. “You know what? This job isn’t worth it.”

Sean stands and grabs my hand. “Stay. I’m just trying to push your buttons. It seems it’s the only way to get that fierce, sassy mouth to tell me how you really feel.”

I frown. “You can push me without insulting me.”

He nods and slowly sits back down while I still stand, towering over him.

“I would love for you to have dinner with me. I’ll try my best to behave.”

He grins, and everything inside me calms. One stupid grin, and I believe everything he says. I slowly sit back down.

An appetizer platter larger than anything I have ever seen and a bottle of wine are brought out. My eyes grow large as I watch Sean taste the wine and then nod in approval. I can’t believe the amount of food that has been placed in front of us, and this is just the appetizer. The waiter pours me the red wine as well and then leaves us in peace.

“I don’t like red wine,” I say, looking at the full glass in front of me.

“You’ll like this one.”

I frown. “I doubt it.”

“Just try it,” he says, sighing.

I take a sip and immediately say, “I don’t like it.”

But it’s a lie. I’ve never tasted anything so smooth, sweet, and delicious as this glass of wine.

He raises an eyebrow.

“Fine. It’s delicious. Why do you have to be right all the time?”

He smirks. “I like being right. So, you’d better get used to it.”

“So, Mr. Right, what do you recommend I try from this appetizer platter since there is no way I’ll be able to eat it all along with whatever you ordered me for dinner?”

He laughs and then says, “Try the squash blossoms. But I would try to make room for a bite of everything.”

I sigh and take a bite of one of the squash blossoms. I close my eyes as the food swirls around my taste buds before I finally swallow. When I look up, I see Sean smiling at me.

“What?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Do you know that you moan when you eat?”

“I do not.”

He laughs. “You just did.”

“Well, that is because this food is delicious.”

I take another bite and try not to moan, but I can’t help it. The food is the most delicious thing I have ever eaten. I keep my eyes open this time while I eat, staring intently into Sean’s eyes. He swallows hard, like he is struggling with something as he watches me eat, but I can’t imagine a man like Sean struggling with anything.

I take a sip of the wine, and I watch his gaze shift from my mouth to my throat as the liquid goes down. It’s almost like…I’m turning him on. But that can’t be. He doesn’t find me attractive. I’ve messed up too many times for him to find me the least bit attractive. And it would be entirely inappropriate for anything to happen between us. He’s my boss.

But the way he is looking at me tells me something different. It tells me he wants me. And the way my heart is beating in return tells me something that I thought was impossible to feel. That I want him, too. Strictly in a sexual way. After all, from what I can tell with his clothes on, his body is all muscle. I’d love to see what is beneath his clothes.

I have a boyfriend though, whom I love deeply. I’m not going to throw a year away just so I can see what my boss looks like naked. I have to stop whatever is going on between us. Now.

“So, should we talk business since that is why I am here? What would you like to discuss?” I ask.

Sean smirks. “We don’t need to talk business. It would be a waste until I’m confident you have the skill set to be a leader. I don’t really think understanding how the company works is your problem. I’ll pay for you to take the realtor’s test, and I’m sure you’ll pass with no problem. Once you have the leadership skills, then we can talk business. That is the easy part to teach.”

I take another bite of food. “Then, why am I here? I thought you brought me here to train me.”

“I did.”

I blink rapidly. “I’m confused.”

“Eat, and then I’ll give you your first lesson,” Sean commands.

And so, we do. We eat mostly in silence, just enjoying our food. We don’t have to say much to each other because the food more than makes up for entertainment. It is the most delicious meal I have ever eaten. But, as our dinner comes to an end, I grow more and more anxious, trying to figure out what his plan is.

The waiter brings Sean the check, and I try my best not to snoop and find out how much this extravagant meal cost. But Sean doesn’t even glance at the number. He just throws his credit card down on the bill, like it’s nothing. I need to spend some time researching him later to understand what he does when he’s not driving me crazy. Then, maybe we can be on a level playing field.

“So, what is this training you have planned?” I ask.

Sean shakes his head. “You’re impatient, aren’t you, Olive?”

I frown. “No. Just curious.”

The waiter returns with the bill.

Sean signs the receipt and then gets up. “Follow me,” he says.

I stand and follow him, but we don’t go far. Just to the bar. Sean takes a seat in the booth, and I take a seat opposite him, more confused than ever.

“Relax, Olive. You are going to have to learn to trust me if you are going to work for me.”

“I work for Jamie. She was the one who hired me. You’re just a temp.”

Sean sighs as he runs his hand through his hair. He glances over at the bar. I assume he’s found a hot woman to take home for tonight.

“Lesson number one: Confidence. That is the number one thing you need to be a leader. Get that guy over there to buy you a drink.”

“What?”

“If you can get that guy to buy you a drink, then you can convince someone to buy a house or an employee to change how they work.”

“I have a boyfriend though.”

Sean laughs. “I’m not asking you to date the guy. Just get him to buy you a drink. If you can do that in a place like this, then I must have really underestimated you.”

I narrow my eyes. He doesn’t think I can do this.

“Fine.” I get up and look at the man Sean is looking at.

He’s dressed in a suit, sitting at the bar by himself. He’s about my age, but far more successful, it seems. He’s good-looking. Not as good-looking as Sean, but he’s still way out of my league.

He doesn’t know that though. All the man knows is that I ate at this restaurant, same as him. And, as long as he doesn’t know much about fashion, then he won’t know that my whole outfit cost less than thirty dollars and that I got it from a thrift store.

I start walking toward him, trying to be as confident as I can, when I hear Sean say, “I would unbutton that top button or two if I were you. That’s what got me.”

I feel my body fuming. But then I remember everything else Sean has done today. Every time was to get a reaction out of me. Every time was to build that fire up inside me. Well, it worked. I’m fired up, but I’m just not sure I can handle any more of Sean’s training.

I have to find a way to prove to him that I can be a strong, confident woman who is perfect for the job. I’m not sure how to convince him, but I’ll start with getting this guy to buy me a drink without unbuttoning my shirt.

I slide onto one of the high-top chairs next to him. Even though there are dozens open, I’ve chosen the one right next to him.

The man looks over at me.

“I’m Olive,” I say with a large smile on my face.

“I’m Dave. And, as much as I would love to sit next to you while we both enjoy a drink, my wife is going to be here any second and would love to sit next to me. So, if you don’t mind scooting down a couple of seats, that would be great.”

I nod and bite my lip as I make my way back over to where Sean is sitting.

He laughs. “Failed already?”

“He’s married and meeting his wife here. I don’t think that was really a fair fight.”

He shrugs. “It wouldn’t stop most married men.”

I frown while he laughs at me again.

“Okay, fine, fine. You can try again.” Sean glances around the bar and then spots the next target. He nods toward the guy who must have just sat down at the bar. “Get him to buy you a drink.”

I smile. “Done,” I say, getting back up and walking over to the man seated at the bar.

Of all of the men Sean could have picked, he picked the one I know I will be able to get to buy me a drink. I’m almost to him when a blonde woman takes a seat next to him.

I frown. She isn’t going to get him because the man she is flirting with is already taken. By me.

The woman grabs hold of his neck and begins kissing him. He doesn’t fight her off. He kisses her back.

I freeze.

I never thought I would be in this situation, but here I am.

It doesn’t take me long to decide what to do. I finish walking toward him and tap him on the shoulder. Slowly, Owen, my boyfriend, soon-to-be ex, turns around and looks at me with wide eyes.

“Olive. Hi, baby! Uh…this isn’t what it looks like,” Owen says.

I slap him hard across the cheek. “We are through, Owen.”

I turn back and walk toward Sean, angrier than I have ever been. Owen wasn’t perfect; I knew that. But I loved him, and he loved me—or so I thought. Now, that’s gone.

I look over at Sean, who now has a large grin on his face. I know I’m about to do something else I never thought I would do. I’m going to fuck my boss.