“They suggested a restaurant.” Muffy was no fool and from the way she was narrowing her eyes I knew she could see I was not happy. “We thought it best if we kept things to a professional setting. He’s in one of the meeting rooms.” I could only nod. My brain was struggling so hard to process what was happening I half expected steam to come out of my ears any second.

Think of the money. Think of the money, I told myself. Those numbers were enough to set up Bookish, finish paying the last of what my mother owed in taxes, and even help my sister with her first year of college expenses. This could change everything. Theo knew it and he was using it to fuck with me.

The next thing that happened was unexpected but went a long way to help me get myself back together. Without any hesitation Muffy looked me dead in the eye.

“Now, he seems to be a perfectly nice man, but we also know perfectly nice, ungodly handsome men can be predatory assholes. He had nothing but good things to say about you, but if you have any reservations about working with or even meeting with him, we will call this whole thing off.” My chin wobbled, not because I thought Theo would get creepy or greasy on me. He’d had more than ample opportunity to do so while I worked for him and the man had never so much as looked at me the wrong way. I was just grateful that these women were not putting their own interests ahead of my safety. This was not something I would ever take for granted.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely then fought to come up with a smile. “I’m fine to talk to him. He’s never been anything but professional with me.” At least when it came to slick behavior. Acting like a jerk and trying my patience...that was another matter. In truth, him grabbing my ass was not my concern—me taking my hoops out, flying at him and wringing his neck...that was a more realistic concern.

“If you’re sure,” Muffy said cautiously.

“I am.” I was not sure about a single thing, including what the hell Theo Ganas was up to. But I also would not just let a chance at being on TV slip away because he was playing games. If anyone was going to look like a little bitch in this scenario it was not going to be me. “Let’s do this,” I said with a clap of my hands, getting the twins in gear. I could not wait to call Theo Ganas’s bluff.

“It’s just here down the hall,” Muffy said as our heels clacked on the marble floors. “I know this is not exactly the right moment, but honey, that man is a tall drink of water.”