“Fuck, Alexa, now is not the time to be getting starry-eyed about Leandros Kaplan. You can’t, I mean it. You absolutely cannot keep working for him.”

I swallow hard against the crazy mix of joy and fear welling up inside me at the realization Natalie is right about Leo wanting me. Now that I know the idea of quitting is cruel. “Why?”

“Oh my god. You cannot be serious. Are you not listening to me? If Leo wants you, then he’s going to get you. Which I can see is a given by your reaction, and hey, I get it. If this wouldn’t end all kinds of fucked up for the both of us, I would be holding your clothes while you got naked and climbed up on his desk. But this will end fucked up, for the both of us if you don’t quit.”

“It can’t be that bad. If something happens between us, he wouldn’t be vindictive.”

Natalie’s jaw drops as she looks at me. “Are you insane? Tell me that you are not thinking of fucking him. Alexa, if Leo fucks you, then once it’s over he’ll know you lied to him. Leo prizes loyalty above everything, even money, it’s a fucking quote of his. You lying to him is the equivalent of knifing him in the back. He won’t be all happy and filled with joy you aren’t married.

“When Leo has been wronged, he takes on a scorched earth policy. He will burn your life to the ground with you in it.” I want to accuse her of being overly dramatic except I’ve never been able to get what he did to his father out of my head. “Then there’s you. Alexa, of all the guys to get involved with, Leo is not the one for you. He does not do relationships, it’s only about sex for him. Once he’s had you, he won’t give you another thought. He’ll hurt you without even trying.”

The truth of her words makes it hard to swallow. Leo just told me it’s only about sex for him. He won’t be happy to find out I’m a know-nothing virgin, my lack of skill would probably be another nail in my coffin. Then Leo’s words whisper in my ear, he never fucks employees. He was never going to fuck me, it was a statement of fact as much as a notice of his lack of intent. It didn’t matter if he wanted me, he wasn’t going to have me. Even as disappointment runs through me, I know it’s for the best. Natalie was right, Leo is so far out of my league we don’t even play the same game. “I’m not quitting.”

“Alexa, can you please explain why you are willing to take my career and toss it into a bonfire?”