I can’t even say anything this time.

It was bad enough when Heath read my manuscript of the story that features a character based on himself.

Now, he fires me and propositions me at the same time? The nerve of this guy!

Heath watches me intently, his eyes roaming over my curves in a way that makes me feel naked.

But to my surprise, instead of outrage, all I feel is… I don’t even know what this is.

Heat creeps up my neck and spreads across my face, while the hairs on the back of my neck rise. My skin is so sensitive I can almost feel the heat of Heath’s scorching gaze on me.

I take a moment to collect my thoughts. I may not feel the outrage, but that’s an outrageous proposition, right? What kind of a woman does he take me for? Just because he has money, he thinks he can buy me?

“Did you say you wanted me to carry your child?” I ask. “I hope you mean you already have a child and you want me to hold him for a minute.”

“No,” Heath says calmly. “I know you know exactly what I mean. I can tell from the way you’re talking. I want you to get pregnant and give birth to my child.”

“Sorry, I have to ask.” I mentally commend myself for not losing my composure at a time like this. “Is this a prank? Is there a camera somewhere? Is this just your weird way of hitting on me?”

Heath chuckles, as if I’ve said something truly funny. I asked perfectly legitimate questions, damn it!

“No, this is not a prank. And no, I’m not hitting on you, kitten,” Heath says with an infuriatingly serene smile. “I’m just making a business deal. It’s no different from your job as my assistant—you’ll be working for me, as my employee. I’m just telling you the terms of employment. You can take it or leave it.”

It dawns on me what he’s trying to do.

No wonder people call him a bully, although most people praise him for it because he only attacks unethical companies by trading their stocks in a way that shows he believes they're going to fail. And when this gets heavy publicity because he's Heath Anders, the market reacts by devaluing those same stocks. Then Heath profits, and so do his investors.

I don't fully understand how it works, even though Jane has tried explaining it to me. All I remember is he uses a technique called “short-selling,” which allows him to take advantage of stock prices that have dropped.

Heath doesn’t give any warning when he strikes. When his opponent realizes what he’s doing, it’s already too late.

That has always been his strategy, so I shouldn’t be surprised to see him use it against me. But it’s just so evil.

“Did you deliberately fire me first so I’d be unemployed and desperate to take your offer?” I ask, narrowing my eyes at my boss.

“Whoa.” Heath holds his hands up in the air. “I don’t know what kind of a monster you think I am, but that’s not why I fired you.”

“Why, then?” I challenge him.

“I just want to make things clear and separate. If you’re my personal assistant, then you can’t be my surrogate. If you’re my surrogate, then you can’t be my personal assistant.”

“But technically, I’m neither right now.”

“Yes.”

“So I’m unemployed,” I repeat my point.

“You can always go back to being my personal assistant if you want to.”

Heath’s smile looks genuine, but he has also practiced that look thousands of times in thousands of meetings and presentations. He could be lying and there would be no way for me to tell.

The man is dangerous. I can’t take on Heath Anders. I’m way out of my depth here.

“Okay, then I’ll do that,” I say. “I’ll go back to being your personal assistant.”

“That would be a mistake, kitten,” Heath says. “In a negotiation, you should at least listen to what the other party has to offer. Always. That’s the only way to make an informed decision.”

I’m pretty sure I’m not going to carry Heath Anders’ baby in my womb, no matter how much it pays. But I’ll humor him. “Okay. Tell me what you have to offer, Heath.”

“Of course,” he says with a victorious, confident smile.

That smile makes me wonder if I should've just told him, “No, thanks,” and went back to my desk outside.

But it's too late. Heath’s already opening his mouth, no doubt ready with a compelling sales pitch.

“Firstly, it won't be a nine-to-five job, so you’ll have more free time, enough to work on your book.

“You’ll also gain access to my contacts. If your writing is any good, you should meet someone willing to publish your book.

“And just in case it takes you some time to find a publisher, you’ll also get $500,000 from me. That way you won’t have to worry about money for a while,” he says.

For a while? More like for the rest of my life.

Heath’s basically offering me a shortcut to success.

I’d love to get a publishing deal, and Heath may know someone who can help me with that.

And if I decide to get into self-publishing, that $500,000 is going to be a huge help—not just because I’ll be able to live on that while waiting for my pen name to take off, but also because I’ll be able to use that money on marketing and promotions.

This could change my whole life for the better.

“Not a bad deal, huh?” Heath asks with an arrogant smirk. “I told you to at least listen to my offer.”

“You know I’m not like the girl in my book, right?” I ask. “That’s just fiction, Heath.”

“Of course I know that. I’m not an idiot.” Heath says.

So he’s not just doing this because he thinks I’m the submissive girl from my story. But then…

“Why me?” I ask.