Dare to Love Read Free Page B

who’d withheld his intentions of cleaning house and bringing in fresh new talent, as he called his hires, until the final papers were signed.
    He brought in all his own people for lead jobs, which Riley grudgingly admitted made sense. But he also sought to hire new people from outside the company, those willing to work for less money. He didn’t give the long-standing, once-valued workers a chance to prove their worth. Many older employees with families to support were let go and they’d have a tough time getting a new job for the same pay.
    It sucked, Riley thought, and she wanted to at least try and save her department. To do so, she had to prove to her new boss that she could run things well and efficiently and make him money. Sadly, he wasn’t the type to listen, and every day, more people left with their belongings in a box, escorted out by security.
    When her intercom rang, calling her in to see the new boss, Riley had no doubt she would be the next one out the door. She flexed her fingers and rose, taking the stairs to the next floor, using the time to give herself a pep talk before approaching Franklin O’Mara.
    “Go on in,” Gail, his personal secretary, also new to the company, said. “He’s expecting you.”
    “Thanks.” She stepped into his office.
    In his forties with a receding hairline and paunch in his stomach, he epitomized the lazy executive, and it killed Riley to see the company she loved be destroyed by someone who didn’t see the value of the employees he’d inherited.
    “Ms. Taylor.” He held a file in his hand, no doubt filled with her evaluations and track record at the company.
    “Mr. O’Mara.” She waited until he gestured for her to be seated before nodding and settling into the chair across from his massive desk.
    “I’m sorry to say, we’ll be letting you go.”
    She swallowed hard. “I understand your new corporate policy involves bringing in fresh talent,” she began.
    “Then you understand it’s nothing personal. We’ll give you a good severance package and references. Marge in HR will discuss the details with you.”
    “What if I told you I could get you access to the Miami Thunder?” she asked, grasping at the first—and clearly most absurd—thing that came to mind.
    No doubt because Ian Dare, president of the Miami Thunder, who kissed like a dream, had been in her dreams day and night since their hookup Saturday night.
    O’Mara’s eyes lit up with interest. “Keep talking.”
    She ran her tongue along the inside of her dry mouth, wishing she could take back her words. For one thing, Alex would kill her. For another, she didn’t even have access to the man.
    But she had a department of employees whose jobs and welfare depended on this one Hail Mary. “I have a personal connection with Ian Dare.” The lip-lock they’d shared was very personal, she thought, suppressing a shiver.
    “Go on.”
    She crossed her fingers in her lap and continued. “I’ve been planning on talking to him about changing suppliers for his team’s inventory, or at least giving us a shot. I figured once he sees we’re reliable and our deals are solid, maybe he’ll throw more business our way.”
    She twisted her fingers, hoping he didn’t notice how badly she was panicking as she spoke. Even she knew football teams had major multi-year contracts with big companies, but the words were out, and there was no taking them back.
    “Now that’s a way to put yourself on my radar.” He nodded approvingly. “Okay, talk to him. You have until Friday noon. No deal? I’m bringing in my people.”
    Riley rose to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, extending her hand for his sweaty handshake, then turned and headed for the door.
    “Noon Friday,” he reminded her as she let herself out.
    For the return trip to her office, Riley took the elevator, unsure her legs would support her on the walk down. She didn’t want to lose her job, but unless she could reach Ian Dare and talk him into