Read Online The Billionaire's Demands (A Boardrooms and Billionaires Series Book) (Entangled Indulgence) by Addison Fox - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Addison Fox
Tags: lifeless women and he’s anxious to get to know her better.When circumstances conspire to throw them together, Booth takes a chance.Little does he know it’s going to be the biggest gamble of his life....because now his heart’s on the line., has had his eye on Camryn for months. The woman is a breath of fresh air in a sea of stale, heir to the Harrison media conglomerate and billionaire businessman in his own right, which is why her attraction to her sister’s new brother-in-law is tossing a monkey wrench into all her well-laid plans.Booth Harrison, Divided loyalties. Family secrets. They were perfect for each other. CFO Camryn McBride likes her life as neat and orderly as her financial spreadsheets. She avoids messy entanglements
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love of her life…until he wasn’t.
Even now, nearly a decade later, that subtle bitterness when she thought of him wouldn’t quite vanish. That he could tell her he loved her—hell, propose to her even, and begin planning their life together—then abandon her when her entire life crumbled around her mother’s illness.
At the moment she’d needed him most he’d walked away. And way down deep inside, in those places that truly counted no matter how hard she tried to keep them locked up tight, that truth hurt. It had been a raw admittance, but a necessary one.
She brushed her hair behind her ear and refocused on the spreadsheet. “And yet another jaunt down memory lane you really don’t have time for.”
She’d nearly completed reviewing their portfolio of car advertisers when her phone rang. Still caught up in just how large the column of numbers was, she didn’t even glance at the caller ID. “Camryn McBride.”
“West Harrison.”
The cool tone, filled with pompous authority, snapped her out of the column of numbers as little else could have. “West. It’s good to hear from you.”
Her dinner at Keira and Nathan’s had served up more than her fill of West Harrison for a while and she’d thought she wouldn’t need to deal with him again until Hawaii.
Clearly she’d been far too optimistic.
“What can I do for you?”
“I think it’s what I can do for you.”
Anger balled in her throat but she kept her tone civil and added a subtle lightness around the edges. “Come now, you know never to tease a CFO like that.”
He didn’t laugh, nor had she expected him to, but his tone softened a notch. “I’m calling about Hawaii.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Our team at the FJ is not like your people at McBride. We’re a financial paper. There’s a gravitas to what we do that you’re likely not used to.”
“We do have a biweekly financial magazine that’s rather hard-hitting, in addition to our newsweekly. Not every property at McBride media is fashion and celebrities.” Even if both industries drive a heck of a lot of big business , she thought, but kept it to herself.
“We’re a daily financial newspaper. The markets look to us as they make decisions. It’s a bit different.”
While she knew West’s modus operandi was to bully and intimidate his opponents, she couldn’t help but question if the reason for his call went deeper. Although her normal reaction would be to simply ignore West, trivializing his need for the call, an image of Booth rose up in her mind’s eye, stopping her.
Booth wasn’t dismissive of her. Nor did he seem to feel his own personal power and success hinged on bringing down others. In fact, despite his willingness to overtly express his interest in her, she felt a true sincerity in him when he’d invited her to speak in Hawaii.
“West, while I respect each business has its unique challenges, the focus of my keynote will be about team-building and about helping each other find success.”
The heavy snort that echoed in her ear told her all she needed to know. “Team-building. We sell papers. To individuals. What the hell do we need a team for?”
“Surely you of all people know the value of making people feel like they’re a cohesive unit, all working together toward the same goal.”
“Touchy-feely bullshit, if you ask me.”
“I’m afraid you’re just going to have to live with it because that’s what I’m focusing on for the talk. You’re taking a significant number of staff members on a rather expensive trip. Surely you hope they come back invigorated to help grow your business.”
“Of course.”
She flirted momentarily with saying nothing further, but the small, impulsive part of herself she kept in check finally broke free. “What’s the real reason for your call? I don’t think it’s to argue the merits of Team-Building 101.”
“What do you and Booth have going on?”
“You mean other than the fact that we now
Even now, nearly a decade later, that subtle bitterness when she thought of him wouldn’t quite vanish. That he could tell her he loved her—hell, propose to her even, and begin planning their life together—then abandon her when her entire life crumbled around her mother’s illness.
At the moment she’d needed him most he’d walked away. And way down deep inside, in those places that truly counted no matter how hard she tried to keep them locked up tight, that truth hurt. It had been a raw admittance, but a necessary one.
She brushed her hair behind her ear and refocused on the spreadsheet. “And yet another jaunt down memory lane you really don’t have time for.”
She’d nearly completed reviewing their portfolio of car advertisers when her phone rang. Still caught up in just how large the column of numbers was, she didn’t even glance at the caller ID. “Camryn McBride.”
“West Harrison.”
The cool tone, filled with pompous authority, snapped her out of the column of numbers as little else could have. “West. It’s good to hear from you.”
Her dinner at Keira and Nathan’s had served up more than her fill of West Harrison for a while and she’d thought she wouldn’t need to deal with him again until Hawaii.
Clearly she’d been far too optimistic.
“What can I do for you?”
“I think it’s what I can do for you.”
Anger balled in her throat but she kept her tone civil and added a subtle lightness around the edges. “Come now, you know never to tease a CFO like that.”
He didn’t laugh, nor had she expected him to, but his tone softened a notch. “I’m calling about Hawaii.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Our team at the FJ is not like your people at McBride. We’re a financial paper. There’s a gravitas to what we do that you’re likely not used to.”
“We do have a biweekly financial magazine that’s rather hard-hitting, in addition to our newsweekly. Not every property at McBride media is fashion and celebrities.” Even if both industries drive a heck of a lot of big business , she thought, but kept it to herself.
“We’re a daily financial newspaper. The markets look to us as they make decisions. It’s a bit different.”
While she knew West’s modus operandi was to bully and intimidate his opponents, she couldn’t help but question if the reason for his call went deeper. Although her normal reaction would be to simply ignore West, trivializing his need for the call, an image of Booth rose up in her mind’s eye, stopping her.
Booth wasn’t dismissive of her. Nor did he seem to feel his own personal power and success hinged on bringing down others. In fact, despite his willingness to overtly express his interest in her, she felt a true sincerity in him when he’d invited her to speak in Hawaii.
“West, while I respect each business has its unique challenges, the focus of my keynote will be about team-building and about helping each other find success.”
The heavy snort that echoed in her ear told her all she needed to know. “Team-building. We sell papers. To individuals. What the hell do we need a team for?”
“Surely you of all people know the value of making people feel like they’re a cohesive unit, all working together toward the same goal.”
“Touchy-feely bullshit, if you ask me.”
“I’m afraid you’re just going to have to live with it because that’s what I’m focusing on for the talk. You’re taking a significant number of staff members on a rather expensive trip. Surely you hope they come back invigorated to help grow your business.”
“Of course.”
She flirted momentarily with saying nothing further, but the small, impulsive part of herself she kept in check finally broke free. “What’s the real reason for your call? I don’t think it’s to argue the merits of Team-Building 101.”
“What do you and Booth have going on?”
“You mean other than the fact that we now
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