The Tycoon's Make-Believe Fiancee Read Free Page A

or the new productivity numbers?”
    That surprised him because someone at her level shouldn’t understand all the numbers on that report. “What do you know of the gross contribution for my divisions?” he tested.
    Whew, she thought, relieved that he was moving away from personal issues. This was familiar ground. “Which division?” she asked.
    “Retail.”
    She straightened her shoulders and started spewing out the numbers for his various companies within the retail division. He owned several department stores and she quoted the increase in sales from this quarter to the previous year’s quarter. “In the United States, the west coast and east coast stores are doing better than the Midwest, but the stores located in the southern states are doing the best, increasing their margins as the economy starts to recover.” She then went on to quote specific percentages and variances.
    He couldn’t help but be impressed. “What about overseas?”
    “Europe is doing well but Asia is taking off. The stores in China are slowing down as their growth also slows, but the comparison isn’t linear.”
    He shot question after question at her, moving to his desk and reviewing the report. He waved her into one of the chairs opposite his desk, shooting out rapid fire questions about his businesses and he was stunned by the amount of knowledge the woman could quote from memory, but she had also done some in-depth analysis of the problems and successes, which products were off and which ones had either met or exceeded expectations.
    “What’s your boyfriend’s name?” he finally finished off.
    “I don’t…” She stopped as soon as she realized what he’d done, glaring at him across his desk.
    Royston couldn’t help the deep chuckle that escaped once again. She looked so adorable sitting there glaring at him as if she had the right to admonish him. “That was cheating,” she told him, crossing her arms across her chest.
    Royston was delighted with the woman and instinctively knew that she would be perfect for the role of his fake fiancée. He considered his plan for a long moment, factored in all the problems then decided it would be a good idea. She was the ideal candidate. She was smart, beautiful and able to handle herself under pressure. And what was more, he liked her. He genuinely thought she was an interesting person. There was also the added benefit that she was smoking hot! His body definitely liked the idea he was about to offer her.
    “Let’s have some lunch,” he commanded arrogantly and stood up, walking around his desk.
    Miranda stared at his back, startled to notice how broad his shoulders were. “Excuse me?” she asked, standing up as well but not really moving except for her eyes which followed him. She honestly wasn’t sure if her eyes were shooting daggers into his well-muscled back or if she were wondering what he looked like naked. Okay, she was doing both, but one was probably more likely than the other, she told herself.
    “I have a proposition for you, but I’m hungry. So I’m taking you to lunch. Grab your purse and let’s go,” he told her and left his office.
    Miranda wanted to throw something at the arrogant man but settled for sneering at him once she was alone. Knowing that she didn’t really have a choice because he wasn’t just her boss but, literally, everyone’s boss, she walked out of his office, her hands fisted by her sides so she couldn’t grab something as she walked by. She was fairly certain he wouldn’t overlook her beaming him with that ridiculous silver blob thing on his coffee table. She’d be fired for sure.
    She exited his office, intending to go to her own office and get her coat and purse. But she found him standing by his assistant’s desk talking about something completely different so she just moseyed back to her desk and sat down. She had her purse ready, but she refused to stand beside him waiting like some pathetic minion until the man was ready to