Master of Fortune by Katherine Garbera Page A

down.”
    She did.
    “What’s on your mind?”
    “Last night.”
    “What about it?”
    She took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. His respect for her rose a notch.
    “I like you, Henry. But this job…I’m aware that this is probably my last chance to make a go at the music industry. And I don’t want to mess this up.”
    “Why would last night have anything to do with that?” he asked. “I’m not your last boss. If I kiss you, I’m not going to fire you.”
    She glanced down at her lap where her fingers were tightly laced together. “I wasn’t fired due to our affair. Daniel kept me on after things ended. I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of Daniel.”
    Henry didn’t like her defending the other man. That reaction made little sense to him so he ignored the source. “Why then?”
    “I was sick. And I did take a lot of time off from work. That was what made him sack me.”
    “Did you find it difficult to work with him after your affair ended?” he asked. Then realized he was prying into very personal areas. He could work with Astrid, kiss her and whatnot, without knowing any of the details of her past. Except he wanted to know more.
    “No. It was something else entirely. But I like you and I really like this job. I don’t want to make another decision based on lust and end up regretting it.”
    Henry leaned back in his chair. “So you lust after me?”
    “Henry, please, I’m trying to be serious.”
    “Sorry, Astrid, but you brought up sex and I’m a guy. That means my mind is going to automatically shut down.”
    She smiled. “You are more than some sex-crazed maniac. That’s why I’m talking to you. I know you want to beat your half brothers and I think we have a chance of doing that, but only if we both concentrate on business.”
    “This is all in my best interest?” Henry asked.
    “Well, it’s not going to be bad for me, either,” she admitted.
    His respect for Astrid rose even more. And he realized she wasn’t the kind of woman he’d always been attracted to. She was so forthright. She wasn’t just out for herself and what she could get.
    That was more refreshing than he would have imagined.
    “I just want us both to be successful,” she said.
    He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk, leaning back against it so that he faced her. “Thank you, Astrid. I will do my best to keep my baser instincts in check, but I’m not sure I’ll be successful.”
    “I’m going to keep dressing in my ultraprofessional suits,” she said.
    He laughed. It wasn’t the clothing or her sexy body that was making him want her, though they definitely played a part. It was the woman she was, but he doubted telling her would help either of them.

    It was a late night almost three weeks into her tenure at Everest Records. She’d been on the phone with a number of radio stations throughout the U.K. and Europe to make sure that everyone had received the packages she’d sent out about Steph.
    Henry had been out doing his nightly club thing, and she was sitting in the office by herself.
    “Another late night?”
    She looked up to see him standing in the doorway. “My boss can be a slave driver.” She smiled.
    “Really? I thought I was easing up a bit. Giving you room to grow and all that.”
    “Is that what you are trying to do?”
    “I think so. You said that you wanted a career in music so I’ve been introducing you to all the departments—A & R, marketing.
    “It has been smashing,” she said.
    “Truly?”
    “Well, it’s different than what I did for Daniel. I mean, for him I was just his assistant, but you are giving me my own responsibilities. I’m enjoying it.”
    Henry nodded. “Good. Then maybe you can start to relax here at the office.”
    “I already have,” she said. It surprised her. She’d kept her guard up and tried not to see Henry as anything other than her boss. But he was a stand-up guy behind the celebrity profile. She fielded a