Jackson wiped the corner of his mouth, not even flinching at the sting from his cut. "Here''s the deal: I want a long-term partnership with your studio. You need funding? Projects? Come find me. All I ask is one thing in return."


    She didn''t bother replying. She just spun around, eyes fixed on herputer screen. "Get lost."


    He leaned in, arms reaching around from behind, hands bracing on the other edge of her desk.


    "Sleep with me."


    He barely finished the words before he bent down to kiss her.


    Kaitlyn snapped. She grabbed for a file to smack him with, but he caught her wrist like it was nothing.


    She almostughed from sheer frustration. "Jackson, didn''t you see my husband the other day? Is your taste really that wild? Even married women? What, I spend my mornings in your bed and afternoons in his? Doesn''t that gross you out?"


    Jackson brought her wrist to his lips and kissed it. "Of course it bothers me. So don''t say things that''ll piss me off. Your husband''s just a small-time actor, right? I can get him some roles, send him out of town to work on a set. The busier he gets, the further away he''ll be. You stay here in the city with me. You two are apart long enough, things will fall apart. When you finally divorce, I won''t have to worry about anything else."


    So that''s what he''d been doing all this time—not just psyching himself up, but plotting out his next move.


    Kaitlyn stayed silent. She knew she couldn''t win against Jackson now, and if he really started digging, her secrets woulde out. Divorce would be even harder.


    Her grandfather promised he''d handle the divorce in six months. There was no way she could let Jackson find out who she really was before then.


    She lowered her eyes, not saying a word.


    Jackson was like all the men in his circle-spoiled since birth, never denied anything. Once he wanted something, he never let go.


    If he pushed her too hard, she''d lose everything, maybe even drag her whole team down with her.


    She took a deep breath and gently pushed him away.


    Jackson let her, then dropped onto the couch nearby. "You''ve got ten minutes. Think carefully."


    Kaitlyn closed her eyes,shes brushing her cheeks. "So that''s all you want? Just to sleep with me?"


    He smirked. "What else? Don''t tell me you think I''m in love with you. We''re just hooking up. When I get tired of it, I''ll cut you loose. You''re not that special."


    Whether it was once or a hundred times, it didn''t matter.<fnea8b> Content originallyes from find?novel</fnea8b>


    He couldn''t get her out of his headtely-obviously, he just wasn''t bored yet.


    Give it a few more times and he''d move on.


    Kaitlyn actually felt a wave of relief. As long as it wasn''t about feelings, things wouldn''t get messy.


    She even smiled a little. "So, how long are you nning to drag this out? Might as well give me a number. Otherwise, I''ll always be looking for the finish line.”


    Jackson''s face darkened, his lips pressed tight. So she really wanted to draw the line that clearly?


    He didn''t answer, wrestling with something he couldn''t name, until she went on, "How about twenty times? After that, we''re done. You don''t bother me, I won''t bother you. My marriage was arranged by our families. If I really get divorced, it''ll ruin me. His family did a lot for me back then. I''m not leaving him-not now. So, Jackson, I''m asking you to back off a little. Don''t push, or I''ll just ditch the agency and leave the country. Then it''s over for everyone."


    Something about it just felt wrong to Jackson, but he couldn''t put his finger on why.


    He''d been the one to say he wasn''t tired of her yet-now she was proposing a set number. He should''ve been d, at least she wouldn''t get clingy.


    "Jackson?"


    Kaitlyn had no idea what was going through his head. She opened her mouth to say more, but he suddenly strode over, scooped her up, and set her on the desk in one swift move.


    Her expression changed on the spot, trying to shove him away, but his kiss came down hard and fast.


    His voice was low, edged with urgency. "Today''s the first time."


    Kaitlyn turned her head away. "Not here someone could walk in any second. The door''s not even locked."