Take This Ring

By Roxy Wilson

Is he her ticket to freedom …or heartbreak?

 

Peyton Cross's IT job barely pays enough to cover her student loans, the rent on her tiny NYC apartment, and the money she puts toward her father's medical bills. She hopes her hard work will get her a promotion -- but the last kind of attention she expects is a dinner date with her sinfully sexy boss.

 

She's even more shocked when he offers her a temporary marriage contract. The money involved would take care of her problems and then some…but if she agrees, she can't let on how attracted she is to him. She'll get her heart broken if she doesn't treat this like a business transaction.

 

Thane Wainwright started with nothing and earned his money. He works hard and gets what he wants…and he's wanted Peyton since the moment he laid eyes on her. But his aspirations--for himself and for her--go far beyond the business world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxy Wilson
• Release date: Apr 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201213893

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Hello Reader,

Because I want to show you how much I appreciate that you supported me by purchasing Take This Ring, I’m offering you a FREE copy of my sensual, BWWM romance, SCANDAL. 

To receive it via email, all you need to do is click https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ecwew3qpox

Thank you and I look forward to your continued support.

Regards always,

Roxy

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses and incidents are from the author’s imagination or they are used fictitiously and are definitely fictionalized. Any trademarks or pictures herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks or pictures used are specifically in a descriptive capacity. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead, is coincidental.

Editing: Leanore Elliott

© July, 2016. Roxy Wilson

Book Description

Is he her ticket to freedom ...or heartbreak?

Peyton Cross’s IT job barely pays enough to cover her student loans, the rent on her tiny NYC apartment, and the money she puts toward her father’s medical bills. She hopes her hard work will get her a promotion—but the last kind of attention she expects is a dinner date with her sinfully sexy boss.

She’s even more shocked when he offers her a temporary marriage contract. The money involved would take care of her problems and then some...but if she agrees, she can’t let on how attracted she is to him. She’ll get her heart broken if she doesn’t treat this like a business transaction.

Thane Wainwright started with nothing and earned his money. He works hard and gets what he wants...and he’s wanted Peyton since the moment he laid eyes on her. But his aspirations—for himself and for her—go far beyond the business world.

The contract is the perfect way to make sure Peyton is right for him...but he worries that when their time is up, she’ll take his money and walk away with her heart unchanged. How can he show her he deserves her trust—especially when his no-good ex gets involved?

Chapter One

Peyton glanced at the clock on the office wall and winced. It was already pushing nine at night and the mountain of emails in her inbox didn’t seem to be getting any smaller. Guiltily, she checked her phone and saw two missed calls from her sister, Lana. She didn’t need to listen to her voicemails to know what Lana had said. She probably went on and on about how just dropped in at the hospital to check in on their dad, and where the hell was Peyton? Especially, when she’d promised she would be there. Lana had no concept of how hard Peyton needed to work as she pushed her way up the ladder of the IT world. Lana worked in a well-paid, low stress job where she was never expected to work after 5PM and didn’t have to compete against twenty other male IT technicians to be noticed.

Just tell them you have to leave early, Lana would usually admonish when they spoke on the phone. "He’s your father, Peyton."

I know he’s my father, Lana, Peyton always ended up saying, trying to wheel in her exasperation. He’s the only reason I’m doing this in the first place.

Peyton loved her dad, possibly more than anyone else on the planet. She’d watched him struggle to make rent the entire time she’d been growing up. She’d noticed him wince with the arrival of each electricity bill, and rub his sleep-deprived eyes with every new school term, the creases around his eyes deepening with every passing year. Peyton knew her dad’s dearest wish was for all his girls to be financially stable, so Peyton had set aside the dreams of her youth to become an actress and focused on computing. She’d refused any financial assistance from her father and secured her own loans for college. It was no easy feat to graduate—but just barely—as an honor student, since she’d balanced two part-time jobs.

The graduate position with Psyche-Soft had been a godsend at the time, but was quickly turning into a back-breaking curse. Fighting tooth and nail to be recognized by the CEO, she’d proven herself to be a valuable employee. However, this hadn’t led to a pay raise or a more secure position she could proudly tell her dad about. Rather, it had led to later nights, harder problems, and a feeling of being the underpaid underdog. It wasn’t exactly the big city dream she’d imagined for herself, or the financial security her father must have hoped for.

Peyton stifled a yawn and rubbed her sore eyes. She didn’t have the energy to call Lana back, and it was many hours past the evening visiting time at the hospital. She started to compose a half-hearted text to Lana, making promises to visit her dad soon; promises she knew she’d be forced to go back on.

Just then, her colleague, Belle tapped her on the shoulder. Hey Peyton, we’re going uptown for a drink. Belle indicated a group of guys standing by the door. Do you want to come?

Peyton really didn’t want to, but as she scanned the group of guys, she saw they were all slightly senior to her and Belle. She and Belle had started the graduate program at the same time. So, if Belle went out with them on her own, then she would reap the benefits of a closer acquaintance with them in the workplace, and that would put her ahead. Peyton knew when it came to considering the future of both of their most junior employees, the company would definitely take into account the views of those senior technicians. She couldn’t afford to be the one people were indifferent to.

Yeah, sure, she said, hoping her voice would be bright enough to hide her tiredness as she picked up her purse and coat.

Great. Belle tossed her hair and led the way over to the elevators. Boys, Peyton’s coming with us. Isn’t that fun?

Looking at the way some of the men stared at Belle, Peyton could tell exactly what they thought was fun. They couldn’t keep their eyes off her shiny mane of blonde hair or her curvaceous body, which Belle deliberately accentuated in bodycon dresses.

When Peyton had met Belle it had been very clear, she wasn’t the standard computer tech graduate—more like your standard computer tech graduate’s fantasy. They’d sat in orientation on the first day, the only women in a group of ten. During the first fifteen-minute break, Peyton had been mesmerized by Belle’s bright red lips sucking suggestively on her Frappuccino straw. After introducing herself, Belle had flicked her false eyelashes and winked conspiratorially. Us girls have to stick together, she’d giggled.

I think you’re more of a girl than I am. Peyton had laughed, self-consciously reflecting on her boring black suit and her minimal makeup. She’d gone out of her way to make herself as un-feminine as possible, and yet here was Belle, looking like a Barbie.

Belle waved her manicured hand, dismissing her comment. I know, I know I don’t look the part. She’d sipped her Frappuccino looking around, and then lowered her voice. The truth is, I’m just really good at this stuff. I got interested through gaming and just started designing my own stuff. Then I got a scholarship to MIT and the rest is history. They thought I should look different too, but I’m not going to change who I am to work here.

Aren’t you worried about not being taken seriously? Peyton had asked quietly.

Honey, I’m a natural blonde with a G cup and an obsession with virtual reality. Belle had smiled wryly. No one has ever taken me seriously.

At first Peyton had found Belle’s Barbie-like qualities charming, but she quickly learned that Belle’s unique combination of being incredibly qualified, extremely sexy, and not giving a damn about what people thought was deadly. Although they were friends and often banded together against the boys’ club nature of the office, Peyton wasn’t fooled. Belle was her biggest competitor.

Is Martins okay? Belle asked the group as they stepped out of the elevator and crossed the lobby.

Yeah, great. One of the guys jumped forward to open the door for them, It’ll take us just about ten minutes to get there.

Peyton groaned inwardly at the mention of Martins. It was one of the priciest bars in the city, serving only incredibly expensive branded liquor and ridiculously priced cocktails. It was very popular with Psyche-Soft staff, especially the higher ups. For a girl whose drink of choice had always been whatever was pumped out of the keg at the block party, it was an intimidating place. As they began the brisk walk to get to Martins, she started to calculate how much was in her bank account. By her reckoning, she would maybe have enough for one cocktail.

Peyton, you’ve met Chris, right? Belle’s introduction interrupted her musings. And Dan and Greg?

Peyton could tell by the way Greg was staring at Belle that he had no interest in meeting her, so she turned her attention to Chris and Dan. I don’t think so. She smiled and shook their hands.

The famous Peyton. Chris chuckled. I know this will sound cliché, but your reputation precedes you.

Oh, really? Peyton laughed.

The problem-fixer is the nickname I’ve heard bandied around, Chris joked. You’re the go-to-gal.

Peyton smiled, tight-lipped, trying not to point out that she wasn’t so much the go-to-gal as the one who ended up with the problems no one else could be bothered to deal with.

That’s nicer than my nickname. Belle had allowed Greg to clasp her hand in his. I’ve heard a rumor they’re calling me the ball-buster.

I heard it was cock-blocker, Dan interjected snidely.

Now, now lady, put the claws away, Belle crooned. You can’t win every round.

Dan snorted and rolled his eyes.

Peyton frowned, looking at the trio, wondering what the hell was going on.

Chris must have noticed her confusion. Dan was hoping he might go home with Greg tonight, he whispered. He’s been working him for months. It looks like Belle might have beaten him to it.

Peyton nodded, trying not to laugh. Her high school life had been tame compared to the sexual politics of working at Psyche-Soft. There were just too many computer geeks who’d finally been let loose in the adult world, and the office seemed full of raging hormones. It was an environment in which a confident, unashamed woman like Belle was designed to thrive.

The group continued on their way to Martins. Dan sulked, and Belle and Greg exchanged giggly, soft spoken words in their own little world.

Peyton was relieved when they finally reached the bar. The distraction of finding a table in the crowded room and ordering a drink meant she didn’t have to engage in any of the unfolding drama.

By the time she sat down Dan’s funk seemed to have lifted. Well. Dan sighed, staring briefly at Belle and Greg, who were entwined at the bar. I guess he wasn’t as open for experimentation as he said he was. I can’t go ten rounds with her majesty of seduction. He shrugged his shoulders, reached over for his glass and took a long sip of his martini. He then turned his attention to Peyton. So, Peyton, what about you?

What about me? She twirled the stem of her twenty-dollar cosmopolitan. She’d almost sworn at the bartender when she was charged. She felt afraid to drink it too quickly and have to buy another.

Got your eye on anyone? Dan grinned. Any guys? Any girls?

No girls, no guys, no eyes. Peyton smiled. I don’t like to be distracted. Inwardly, she acknowledged that constant money problems and a family crisis were enough emotional responsibility.

Holding out for the CEO? Dan nodded over to the bar. You know, many have tried. God knows, if he swung my way I would give it a go.

Peyton turned to see the CEO of Psyche-Soft, Thane Wainwright himself, standing at the bar. She felt her face and neck becoming impossibly hot. Are you kidding? He doesn’t even know who I am.

The CEO was undoubtedly a gorgeous man, with a reputation for being a seducer of sorts. The few times she’d briefly seen him at team meetings and the like, she’d been struck by his looks and charisma. He could easily pass for Chris Hemsworth’s twin brother.

As Peyton glanced at him he seemed engrossed in conversation with a couple of very good-looking ladies, along with some senior managers from the company. However, she’d also noticed the way his eyes had been drawn like a magnet to the sight of Belle’s ever-prominent cleavage. Belle’s the one you should be asking about him. Peyton looked over to where Belle and Greg stood, now kissing intensely, leaning against the bar. She seems his type.

I wouldn’t be surprised if that ship had already sailed. Dan raised his eyebrows suggestively.

It wasn’t the first time Peyton had heard the CEO might have a taste for the company employees.

He loves them gorgeous. Not that you’re not gorgeous, Dan corrected himself hastily, catching Peyton’s eye. Because you are. He smiled. Puerto Rican, right?

Peyton shook her head, not wanting to get sucked into the game of guess my heritage. As the child of Hawaiian-born parents (her father was Afro-Hawaiian and her mother of Filipino ancestry), Peyton hadn’t felt out of place growing up in Albany, which had been their home since her mother had passed when she was eight years old. There, among the large immigrant population, she and her sisters had been simply accepted into a large group of Jamaican friends. Lots of the extended family on her father’s side had Jamaican roots through her Aunt Francis’ marriage. It was only when she’d moved into the city, people seemed obsessed with guessing exactly what ethnicities contributed to making her face look the way it did.

Well, I know someone who definitely thinks you’re gorgeous. Dan wiggled his eyebrows and sipped his drink as Chris appeared and sat next to Peyton.

That bar is rammed. Chris laughed. It took me forever to get the bartender to find the Glenlivet.

Peyton glanced down at the glass of expensive scotch and wondered how much the two inches of golden-brown liquid had cost him. She wondered if Chris had even checked.

What are you drinking, Peyton? he asked, turning his attention to her.

Cosmo.

You’re a vodka girl, then?

I guess so. She didn’t mention she’d only ordered it because it was the cheapest cocktail on the menu.

Chris nodded,

Reviews for Take This Ring

[Amalie Veyrat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Super ! Ça parle aux personnes comme moi ! Bravo pour le début.