Bound (Mastered #1)(123)

"Amery?"

She glanced up. "Yes, even now."

"I'm not glad to hear that, because those feelings suck, but I sort of am because it lets me know I'm not alone with some of these hang-ups." She smiled sheepishly. "So thanks."

"Anytime."

"So what do you think I should do about Zach?"

"Break it off with him. He had his chance; he blew it. Hang out with the guy who wants to spend time with you. No pressure. Just have fun." Amery grinned. "And if he's good? Girl, hit that hard every chance you can."

Molly smirked. "Now that the woman who's banging the hottie known as Master Black has given me sex advice . . . I plan to."

"Good."

"And there's one other thing I need to talk to you about." She threw her shoulders back and lifted her chin. "Are you planning to let me go because business has dropped off?"

She'd hoped to have this conversation later, possibly even never. "I won't lie. It's not looking good. The new clients I've picked up still aren't making up for the loss of income from Townsend's. And I've been out on every call, no matter how small the job . . ."

"What about the secret project you've been working on? Does that have potential?"

Amery's eyes narrowed.

Molly rolled her eyes in response. "Come on, Amery, I work here. I'd have to be blind and stupid not to notice the packages and phone calls from Seattle. Why is it so top secret?"

"I signed a nondisclosure agreement with them. And I've got that don't talk about it and jinx it superstition too-I'm not sure anything will come from it." Which would be too bad because she'd really enjoyed the challenge and the creative freedom of working on something completely different. The client had assured Amery she'd welcome all ideas and designs that focused on thinking outside the normal frozen food box. So she'd worked up several concepts after-hours while Ronin was torturing his jujitsu students and doing his mysterious nocturnal things. Maggie said she'd hear Amery's full pitch in Denver sometime in the next month, which put extra pressure on Amery to have it ready soon.

"Earth to Amery."

She looked up from the doodle she'd drawn on her printout. "Sorry, I'm zoning out today."

Molly leaned forward. "Let me help you work on this project."



       
         
       
        

"While that's sweet-"

"Hear me out. I'll work on this project for free."

"Why?"

"Because if Hardwick Designs doesn't get new business soon, I'm going to be out of a job anyway. So there's an incentive for me to bring my best. And I've already signed a nondisclosure with you, so if you bring me onboard I can't discuss it with anyone."

Amery tapped her pen on her desk, studying her eager employee. "Extra work for no pay won't put you in a bind?"

"No. Look, my grandma is so elated I finished college and I'm pursing an MBA that she's funding my living expenses. What I earn here goes into my savings account. Besides, a lot of students in the grad program spend their summers and even part of the school year in unpaid internships. At least you pay me. If it makes you feel better, we can call this an apprenticeship because I'll bet you're not getting paid either unless you land the project. What company is this?"

"Okada Foods. They have roughly thirty percent of the overseas market in Asian food and they're looking to expand here in the U.S."

Molly's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "Are you fucking kidding me? No offense, but how did that happen? They're huge."

No idea. "I guess they saw my ad work with my other organicfood – based clients. Maybe lady luck is finally smiling on me."

"You have to let me work on this project with you. Please."

"You sure you want to do this now, Mol? The extra hours will cut into your social life."

"The reason I love this job is that I get to use the creative side of my brain, not only my business side. It balances me."

That tipped Amery into the yes camp of bringing Molly onboard. Ronin had mentioned the same type of thing: a need to express himself creatively outside of his normal routine. Who was she to deny Molly that chance?

Plus, she loved that she'd have someone to talk to and bounce ideas off for this opportunity.

She grinned. "Order us some Jimmy Johns and I'll bring you up to speed over lunch."





CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX


One month later



"AN hour?" Take a deep breath. "Absolutely I can be there. I'll be meeting with Maggie?" She felt her hopes plummeting. "No. I understand. Of course. Please tell her I'm looking forward to it. Thank you." She hung up the receiver and said, "Fuck."