Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

For a moment, I’m starstruck, forgetting I’m annoyed with him. He’s wearing one of my favorite ties, dark purple, with a sleek black suit and a crisp white shirt. He brings his pen closer to his lips, golden metal gleaming against pink, the diamond-studded H of his family crest sparkling.

But when he curls his lips, clearly relishing in my discomfort, the veil of lust drops from my eyes. Straightening my shoulders, I meet his haughty grin head-on.

I slam the Post-it pad onto his desk with force and plant my hands firmly beside it. “Let’s hear it. You want to make fun of me? Go ahead.”

His smile falters, his gaze finally falling, and I follow it to the standard yellow Post-it pad—the one color I barely use. But I’m like a wild, untamed spirit right now. I’ve had enough of men mistaking my politeness for weakness.

“What? No words? Let me help you, then. Yes, I’m crazy. Yes, I was outside a family restaurant holding a bunch of almost nude pictures. And no, I don’t have an explanation for my behavior.” My throat tightens, and I avert my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

A heavy silence hangs between us until Charles rises from his chair and strides over to the minibar. He returns with a water bottle, a glass, and one of the pink-and-gold unicorn napkins I’ve been keeping there all week. After carefully filling the glass halfway, he places it on top of the napkin.

A sad chuckle, which sounds more like a cough, escapes me. He arches an eyebrow, and I offer a shrug.

“You’re such a control freak,” I mutter. “I’m sure someone like you would never find themselves in such an embarrassing situation.”

“And what situation are we talking about here?”

“I didn’t know you were such a dense man, Charles.” I narrow my eyes on him, which of course doesn’t work with my boss. “The one where I come off as a prev. Happy?”

I divert my gaze to the table, fixating on the sleek surface even when he leans against its edge.

I can see from the corner of my eye the smooth fabric of his pants clinging to his thighs like a second skin. They scream wealth and power.

“I never took you for a pervert. If I had to guess, you and your friends were performing a jerk-boyfriend purging ritual.”

What the heck?

“How do you know about that?” I gasp. “I thought it was something Violet just made up to cheer me up.”

“You do know I have a sister, right? I’ve done all sorts of crazy stuff for her, including summoning Mother Nature and the Supreme Goddess to a bonfire.”

“Holy crap! I can’t freaking believe it.”

Could this man get any more perfect? Suddenly, I’m jealous of Chloe and whatever heiress Charles is meant to marry.

“One thing I didn’t understand, though. Why were you burning pictures of him without his clothes on? As far as I know, the goddesses aren’t biased on the level of nudity.”

“You’re definitely more informed on the subject than I am.” I cross my arms. But when he waits for my reply to his question, I sigh. “It’s not like I went around with a camera, desperately trying to catch him naked. He sent them to me.”

“He sent you his pictures of his junk? Including the one in a pink brief?” As usual, Charles’ way of showing surprise is just a raise of an eyebrow, but I don’t miss his clenched jaw.

“So you saw that too?”

“It was quite…unmissable.”

Contrary to how I thought this morning would go, I suddenly feel much better. But then I remember Jax’s text from this morning with the subject “WOOD MORNING.” There was a matching picture, thankfully with his dick hidden behind white briefs this time.

“He sent more?” Charles doesn’t wait for my response and extends his hand. “Show me.”

“I’m doing no such thing.” I’m not going to embarrass myself further.

“You think I’m interested in him?”

“Are you?”

“What?” He blinks rapidly, as if in shock.

“Are you interested in him? Because since I’ve worked here, I haven’t seen you interested in a woman.”