The Secrets of Their Souls Read Online Free PDF Page B

the expense account, that is,” she said, still beaming like a small child on Christmas morning.
    “You’re welcome. By the way, this will be the first project to come to completion under my management so I would prefer it if we didn’t fuck it up, yeah?”
    “Well, you know what they say: when you back a winner, you go all the way,” she retorted, watching as his chest rumbled with laughter.
    “Who says that?”
    “Actually, I’m not sure, but it’s true,” she said all knowingly as she uncrossed her legs and prepared to stand.
    “So, you and Jemma—you’re very close, right?”
    She had assumed their conversation was over but apparently they were just getting started. Zahra sat back down in her chair, again looking past him to the skyline.
    “Yes, we are, but I don’t see how that’s professionally relevant.” She took a deep breath, relieved the navy blue shift dress she had chosen this morning concealed her tight, heavy chest.
    “It’s not, I’m just interested in getting to know you better.” He picked up a pen and twirled it in his fingers without breaking eye contact.
    “Is that so?” she asked. The energy shift in the room was palpable.
    “It is. My report tells me you’re not yet thirty but you’re already at the top of your field. That’s impressive.”
    “Gossip tells me you’re just thirty, and obviously you’re vice president of Mason Corp. That’s impressive.”
    “That depends on how you look at it,” he said, tilting his head. “I had a head start. My father prided himself on raising a hard-working child and I’ve worked at Tohmatsu since I was five years old. Every day after school I went to work for three hours—cleaning floors, photocopying… basically anything a five-year-old is capable of doing. As I got older, the hours increased, as did the responsibility. I’ve been primed for this role my entire life.”
    Wait until Jemma hears this , Zahra thought. She had been way too quick to judge him and now she would have to eat her words. “Your father must be very proud,” she said.
    Jayce chuckled. “Most days, but I still manage to displease him on occasion.” He clicked the end of the pen in. “So that’s my story. How did you become so successful?”
    “Well, I started later than you but much the same way, I suppose: hard work, long hours, sacrifice.”
    “What have you sacrificed?” He asked the question without mocking.
    “Relationships, a social life… but I love what I do so I suppose it doesn’t feel so much like sacrifice but rather a choice between certain things in life.”
    “Interesting,” he said. “And based on that statement I’m assuming you don’t have a boyfriend, then?”
    “No. Do you have a girlfriend?” she asked without skipping a beat. It was an inappropriate question to ask her new boss, but if he was going to ask such questions she was going to throw them back at him. She wove her fingers together and rested them on her knees and he smiled at her retaliation.
    “No. We seem to share the same problem. Success does come at a cost, and most women don’t want a boyfriend that they never see.”
    Zahra raised her eyebrows but said nothing.
    “You don’t agree?” He had a mischievous gleam in his eyes and he seemed to be enjoying the digression of their conversation.
    “I think there are plenty of women dreaming about marrying a young billionaire and having nothing to do all day but shop and look pretty.”
    It was his turn to raise his eyebrows. “Actually, my father is the billionaire, I’m not—I’m paid a monthly salary based on company performance. But, I suppose the rest of your assumption is true. Unfortunately, for me, I like my women a little more… challenging—” Jayce was cut off by the voice of his assistant advising his next meeting had arrived. “Ask them to take a seat, I’ll be done in a minute,” he said, releasing the intercom button. “Time’s up.”
    Zahra was surrounded by powerful men on a