Resisting the Billionaire: The Jack Kemble Duet, #2

By Sky Corgan

Jennifer Strayer needed an attitude adjustment. She'd managed to get fired from nearly every job she'd ever had thanks to running her mouth. When a chance meeting lands her in Jack Kemble's office, she's offered the opportunity of a lifetime.

Working for Jack Kemble's company is a dream come true. It comes with decent pay, good benefits, and a ridiculously sexy boss to ogle. But there's more to the job than meets the eyes, and Jennifer's presented with lines she doesn't want to cross.

Will she be able to keep her job strictly professional, or will the billionaire playboy get his way?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sky Corgan
• Release date: Jul 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386859048

Book preview

Resisting the Billionaire

––––––––

SKY CORGAN

Text copyright 2013 by Sky Corgan

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author.

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SYNOPSIS

Jennifer Strayer needed an attitude adjustment. She'd managed to get fired from nearly every job she'd ever had thanks to running her mouth. When a chance meeting lands her in Jack Kemble's office, she's offered the opportunity of a lifetime.

Working for Jack Kemble's company is a dream come true. It comes with decent pay, good benefits, and a ridiculously sexy boss to ogle. But there's more to the job than meets the eyes, and Jennifer's presented with lines she doesn't want to cross.

Will she be able to keep her job strictly professional, or will the billionaire playboy get his way?

Resisting the Billionaire is a steamy stand-alone romance with a side of BDSM.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

––––––––

I needed a job, and it didn't matter where. Going home everyday was like walking into a never-ending nagfest thanks to my portion of the rent being overdue. Of course, I couldn't blame my roommate for being mad. We had gone through this time and time again. I'd get a job, screw something up, and be back out looking for another one within a few weeks. More often than not, I'd barely have scrounged up enough money for my portion of the rent.

I don't understand why you can't just stick with one thing, Mandy complained. She'd been my roommate for the past two years, but I was beginning to fear that arrangement was coming to a close. I could see the weariness on her pale face, the same look I'd seen on my previous roommate's face before she gave me the boot in lieu of a more stable friend. It hurt to think the same thing might happen again, but I really didn't know what to do about it. If jobs were supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it a job. They'd call it happy eight hours of the day, Mandy continued.

I know, I sighed, resting my head between my arms on the table, so I wouldn't have to look at the disappointment on her face anymore.

I don't know how much longer my Dad is going to help flip for your part of the rent. He's getting really agitated with this whole thing.

I just need a little more time.

Where all did you go today?

Now the interrogations began. I knew what she was getting at. Mandy thought I really wasn't looking for a job, that while she went to school and work, I moped around the house or went out with friends. She'd caught me lying before. It was an isolated incident where I had gotten fed up with the search and decided to go have a beer with our friend Eric instead. Eric had paid, so I couldn't see what the big deal was. Besides, I had needed a break. Job hunting is exhausting.

I groaned, feeling my anxiety levels rising. To keep the peace, I needed to keep my cool. If Mandy kicked me out, I'd be screwed. I wasn't on good terms with my parents, and none of our other friends were dumb enough to room with me. None of them, except for Eric.

It was a thought, but I definitely didn't want to go there. Eric had a crush on me from the moment we met in college. He pursued me relentlessly for about a year, but he eventually gave up when he realized it wasn't going to happen. Occasionally, Eric would drop a hint or two, but I'd quickly dash his dreams by turning it into a joke. Living in close quarters with him wasn't a comfortable thought.

I went to a few restaurants and gas stations, I finally responded.

How many is a few?

My jaw clenched involuntarily. Two restaurants and a gas station. Would you like to know the addresses and the times I went as well? Perhaps you'd like the phone numbers so you can call and find out if I was actually there?

Jen, stop. She rolled her eyes, quickly blowing off my bad attitude. When you go to one gas station, it's not gas stations plural. Three places aren't enough. I hate to tell you this, but you have until the end of the month to get a job, and if you don't stick with the next one, I don't think we can do this anymore.

My heart sank. Damn. I knew this was coming. What am I going to do now?

Listen, Mandy's voice softened as she watched depression flood my face. I don't want to lose you as a roommate. You're a really cool girl; you just need . . . Maybe you're not applying for the right kind of jobs. Maybe you should try something out of the public eye.

I'm not qualified for anything better than restaurants, gas stations, or retail, I grumbled, now wishing I had stayed in college. It was too late to go back though. My parents had cut off my funding long ago, and I couldn't afford to send myself. Besides, so many years had passed that I'd feel old compared to everyone else there. It made me cringe to think thirty was just around the corner. Where had the time gone? Wasn't life supposed to be getting better by your thirties? Not for me, apparently. I had managed to screw that up too.

There are other jobs that don't require a degree. Better jobs, Mandy gave encouragement. I looked up into her small blue eyes, made even beadier behind coke-bottle glasses. She was not a looker, but what she hadn't been blessed with in attractiveness she made up for with intelligence. While I had dropped out of college after one semester, Mandy was only one semester away from graduating Summa Cum Laude with an MBA in Business from New York University.

For all the nagging that she did about me getting a job, I couldn't understand why she hadn't gotten a better one. Mandy had worked at the bowling alley since we were teenagers, and she showed no signs of giving it up until her college education was complete. I suppose that was all well and good if you had wealthy parents to leech off in your times of need, but I couldn't help but think life could be better for both of us if Mandy put the degree she already had to good use. That was just me being selfish though.

Well, if you find one, let me know, I said.

Actually, that's kind of what I was thinking of doing, she replied hesitantly, and I could tell she was afraid I wouldn't like where she was going with this. I arched an eyebrow quizzically. I could get online and see if I could find something for you.

You don't think I've been looking online? I huffed.

I just . . . think you've probably passed up a few opportunities that might have been good for you. I mean, this restaurant thing obviously isn't working out. How many restaurant jobs have you had this past year? Three?

Five, I corrected Mandy, cringing at my own answer. It sounded a lot worse when I put it in perspective. Five restaurant jobs, two gas-station jobs, and one job at a car wash, which was the most miserable of the eight, though it made the most money. Having a nice body and a wet T-shirt helped me get tips, but it was also horribly degrading.

Just, let me see if I can find something I think you'll be better suited for.

How do you know what kind of job I'll want? I asked incredulously.

I'm your closest friend, right?

Yes, I replied hesitantly.

I know you better than you know yourself. Trust me.

Fine. I gave in with a sigh. If this got her off my back for a while, then it would be worth it. Besides, I didn't have to accept anything she picked out for me.

Good. It's settled then. Mandy's face brightened in triumph.

By the following day, my phone was ringing off the hook with people wanting to interview me. Whatever Mandy had done, it had worked, and while I was glad, I was also a bit apprehensive. It felt strange having to act excited about jobs that I knew nothing about.

Keeping up with my part, I went out to meet every prospective employer who called. The jobs Mandy had applied me for varied, as if she had literally gone down a list and put me in for anything she thought might take me. I did countless interviews for custodial work, mail room positions, retail stocking, and even a traveling inventory position. No one seemed very interested in hiring me though once they began going over my resume of jobs past.

After a week of no luck, Mandy gave me a pep talk about how to interview. The moral of the story was lie lie lie. Tell the employer what they wanted to hear, not the truth. Play up your strengths. Avoid talking about your weaknesses, and when you're forced to, try to twist them into a positive light.

Despite all my effort, the end of the month was quickly approaching, and I was still jobless. Tension was rising between Mandy and I since she grilled me every night about where I had gone and what I had said during my interviews. It was getting to the point I was just about ready to walk out on my own.

What do you have lined up for tomorrow? she asked with a hint of agitation in her voice.

I've got an interview to be a bather at Poppy's Pet Grooming at nine, and then in the afternoon I have an interview to be an office assistant at Syngex Incorporated.

You probably won't get the Syngex job, Mandy commented dryly.

Then why did you apply me for it? I gritted my teeth.

Half of the job postings didn't have the company name listed. I mainly just applied you based on job description.

Well then, I guess I won't bother going to that one.

Go anyway.

Why? If it's a waste of time, then what's the point?

She thought for a moment. It might not be a waste of your time. They probably won't put you anywhere near Jack Kemble. I was just over thinking things when I said that.

Who's Jack Kemble and why does it matter if I'm near him or not? I arched an eyebrow.

She shook her head. No wonder you haven't gotten a job yet. Haven't you been researching these companies before you've gone out to them?

No.

Jennifer! Mandy raised her voice, a clear sign of disappointment. When I didn't respond, she continued, "Jack Kemble owns Syngex Incorporated. The guy is a celebrity around