Because He Takes Me (Because He Owns Me, Book Two) (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) (10 page)

I wanted it so badly.

Everyone here seemed so happy here, I thought
as I watched the girls in their heels and skirts click around the hallways,
everyone moving to and fro like bees in a hive.
 
The whole place was covered in books, shelves
of them lining every hallway and glass-case displays of them in the waiting
room.

I wasn’t naïve – I knew jobs in
publishing paid very little and required long, tedious hours, especially when
you first started.
 
But there was no
other industry I’d rather work in.
 
To see a book go from an idea to publication, that was… I couldn’t think
of another way I’d rather spend my life.

My leg jittered nervously and I reached out and
picked up the publishing catalog for one of Archway’s imprints, Fireside, off
the table in front of me.

I’d familiarized myself with their catalog as
much as I could on the subway ride over, but you could never be too prepared.

I flipped through.
 
The Fireside imprint did a lot of
non-fiction - pop culture and biographies of young entrepreneurs, mixed with
some fiction -
-
 
novelizations
of tv shows, that kind of thing.

I’d only made it a few pages into the catalog
when I saw it.

A picture of Callum.

There he was, standing in what I assumed was
his office, gazing out across the city, a contemplative look on his face, like
he was thinking of ways he could own it.

My pulse quickened as my gaze moved to the other
side of the two-page spread.

“Coming soon from Archway Fireside, the life
story of one of the city’s youngest billionaires, twenty-eight-year-old Callum
Wilder writes about life, business, and getting ahead in this gripping memoir…”
My eyes slid down the page.
 
“Three
hundred thousand planned first print run, national book tour, national press
tour.
 
For television or even bookings,
please contact Archway’s publicity team at 212-555-0112.”

I couldn’t breathe.

A rubber band was tightening around my chest.

What were the chances that Callum would have a
book coming out from the exact publishing house I’d been called to interview
at?
 
A publishing house I’d had no
recollection of even applying to.

Had he set this up?
 
Had he done it so he could see me
again?
 
And if so, why?
 
I stared down at the picture of him, his
profile so strong, so sexy.
 
I
remembered his hands on my body, the taste of his lips on mine, felt the
soreness on my ass that was still there and would be for at least a few more
days, a constant reminder of our time together.

Run.

Get out of here.

You said you weren’t going to be reckless with
your heart anymore.

Even if he hasn’t set this up, you’ll run into
him again,
he’ll be here
,
he’ll
–

“Adriana?”
  
I looked up to see a woman standing
in front of me.
 
“Hi,” she said, her
brown eyes kind.
 
“I’m
Michelle.
 
Are you ready?”

I glanced down at the catalog, still open on my
lap.
 
I remembered how he’d shut me
out, how horrible I’d felt yesterday on the flight home as Callum had acted
like I was nothing more than a stranger.
 
I remembered the sound of his voice as he talked on the phone, probably
to a girlfriend.
 
I thought of how
just one night with him had shattered my heart.

Get out of here, Adriana.
 
Go home.

But I was powerless.

I wanted this job even more now.

Not in spite of Callum.

But because of him.

I closed the catalog.

“Yes,” I said.
 
“I’m ready.”

I gave Michelle a smile.

And then I stood up and followed her into her
office.

End of Book Two -- Look For Book Three, Coming
Soon!

In the meantime, check out Hannah Ford’s bestselling
series WHAT HE WANTS

Click
here to read a boxed set of the first three books for only 99 cents, or borrow
them for free as part of your kindle unlimited subscription!

Twenty-one-year-old law student Charlotte
Holloway isn’t the type of girl to lust after things she can’t have. But when
she starts working for the sexy and mysterious Noah Cutler, Charlotte can’t
help but dream about the gorgeous billionaire, even though she knows it’s just
a fantasy. Men like Noah – gorgeous, dark, and driven-- usually aren’t
interested in women like her. 
Noah Cutler is a man who doesn’t take no for an
answer. His drive to go after exactly what he wants has made him one of the
most powerful men in the city. And while he could have his pick of any woman,
his sights are set on Charlotte. And he won’t stop until he’s taken control of
every inch of her deliciously curvy body… 

Click
here to read more!