Executive Perks Read Free Page A

to start with, Miss Beckett. But from now on, I promise you, you’ll be spending half your time answering to me.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Winston, for making your bullying tactics abundantly clear. I suspected this would be the case, but I at least wanted to hear what you had to say. Now that I have, I can be prepared for your shareholder eroding tactics and tantrums and can act accordingly. Was there anything else we should discuss?”
    Aaron wondered how he had gotten so hostile so fast. Sure, he played hardball, but usually with a little more finesse.
    That didn’t shut him up, though. Apparently he was on a roll.
    “Well, for the record, since we’re already on such shitty terms—”
    Her lashes dipped. “Your vocabulary is so wonderfully varied as well.”
    “I’ll just throw in that if you want to fuck while we work this out, I’m more than amenable.”
    Uh oh. He had said that one out loud. Clear as day. He levered himself away from the vending machine and licked his dry lips, waiting for her reaction. It was sort of out of line. He was actually a little ashamed of himself. He was usually more politically correct. He was a lot of things, many of them not so nice, but he’d never been a sexist.
    But what the hell? Hard to believe he could go any lower in her estimation. And frankly, as much as she was pissing him off, she was turning him on too. Bizarre.
    She didn’t slap him. By her calm reaction, she had expected the worst of him anyway, no matter what he said. Or else she was used to getting propositioned more often than her lofty station would suggest.
    “This keeps getting better, Mr. Winston. Is this part of your normal intimidation tactic or are you making a special case for me?”
    “Absolutely a special case. I’ve never wanted to fuck one of the CEOs of a company I’m taking over before. It adds a whole new dimension to the experience. But don’t worry, it’s not a one-time offer. Any time you feel the urge to take me up on it, give me a call. In the meantime, think about my other offer.”
    “I’d rather die on both fronts, you conceited jerk.”
    She stalked out of the room, nearly knocking over Rye who was coming through the doorway.
    “What was that all about?” Rye asked him.
    “I think I just made your job harder. I really pissed off our target.”
    “Aren’t all our targets pissed off—unless they have a golden parachute, that is?”
    “After the conversation I just had with Virginia Beckett, I don’t think a platinum parachute would help. We’re going to have to modify our approach in this case.”
    “Why? What’d you say to her?”
    “I offered to fuck her while she thought about my offer to take over her company.”
    Rye pushed his glasses back up, then shrugged. “Wow. That bachelor-of-the-year thing really went to your head.”
    * * * * *
     
     
    Only when Virginia was safely back in the plush blue comfort of her office, the noon autumn sun streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, could she permit herself to think about what had just happened. Losing her legendary cool was putting it mildly. She was livid. Ever since Aaron Winston had entered her life a few days ago, she’d felt off-balance. Conservative and careful herself, she was baffled by Winston’s erratic behavior. First, threatening to try to take control of BFD and now, this. Insulting her with the oldest way to make a woman feel inferior—implying she was put to best use on her back.
    Maybe Winston hadn’t gone quite that far, but he’d been inching up to it. Unbidden, the memory of how he had looked as he casually propositioned her came to mind. She had to admit he was handsome. His ruffled black hair, deep blue eyes and tall, lean frame had undoubtedly earned him a good deal of female admiration. But he could not possibly be arrogant enough to believe she would just fall into bed with him while she was fighting to save her company.
    Even though he was rather hot.
    A tousled blond head that would