Nancy Herkness | How To Start A Billionaire Office Romance

Who would have thought a flu epidemic could be romantic? Certainly not Chloe Russell and Nathan Trainor in THE CEO BUYS IN.

In fact, romance is the last thing on temporary assistant Chloe’s mind when she gets moved up to the executive suite because the CEO’s admin comes down with the flu. Nathan is even less interested in a romantic relationship after finding out that the woman he was involved with had lied to him from day one. Not to mention that since he’s the CEO, he’s annoyed about being stuck with a temp. However, the flu epidemic leaves him no choice.

Forced into an unusual intimacy by those nasty little germs, Chloe and Nathan discover that a CEO and a temporary assistant have more to offer each other than they ever imagined.

How do they come to that realization? Here’s the advice Chloe would offer to anyone looking for love in a billionaire’s office:

Don’t hide your talents.

Due to the flu epidemic, Chloe unexpectedly gets assigned to CEO Nathan Trainor as his executive assistant. Because she’s only a temp, he expects her to do nothing more than answer his phone and keep his calendar straight, and he’s not even sure she’s capable of that.

But Chloe happens to be good at editing as well as handling phone calls, so when a poorly written memo lands in Nathan’s inbox she asks his permission to fix it. When her boss sees her improvements, he’s intrigued and wants to find out more about his super-competent temp.

Dress appropriately.

Since Chloe isn’t expecting to be moved up to the executive suite, she’s wearing a cotton shirt and khaki pants on her first day there. The next morning she arrives in a silk blouse and tailored skirt. Nathan notices her upgrade and gives her kudos for being a savvy businesswoman. He’s even more intrigued by his temp now because he suspects that Chloe has hidden depths.

Don’t be intimidated.

Chloe is always professional and courteous in her business interactions with Nathan, but she doesn’t behave like a door mat. If she has a useful suggestion to make, she makes it. If she thinks Nathan is overlooking something important, she points it out. At first Nathan is surprised and even irritated by what he sees as her intrusions. However, he realizes she’s often right and comes to trust her opinions, not only on a professional level but on a personal one.

If you have to work in the boss’s penthouse, go with it.

Nathan is a workaholic, so when he’s struck down by the flu and confined to his very luxurious penthouse home, he can’t leave the office behind. That lands Chloe at a makeshift workstation by his bedside, answering emails and writing memos. It’s amazing how seeing her very hot boss lying in bed in his pajamas can send her thoughts in all the wrong directions.

Don’t let anyone undervalue you.

When Nathan high-handedly expects Chloe to stay at the penthouse so he can keep working late, she demands a much higher hourly rate, assuming he will refuse and let her go home. She’s shocked when he agrees to her exorbitant number, while he’s impressed by what he perceives as her confidence in her own worth. He relishes her feistiness. She discovers he is willing to negotiate to get what he wants. It’s the beginning of a spark-filled relationship.

Remember the rich are still human beings.

Flu germs don’t care if you’re rich or poor. Chloe discovers this when she finds Nathan in his office, delirious with fever. Despite the number of staff and medical professionals who race to treat him, Nathan seems isolated and alone. No one is there to simply hold his hand and tell him he’ll get better.

On some subconscious level, he seems to feel the same lack, since he latches onto Chloe in his delirium. As she works with him in the intimate environment of his home during his convalescence, all the barriers of wealth and influence fall away until she sees him as a man who has the same need to be loved that we all feel.

Make a mean ice pack.

Read THE CEO BUYS IN to find out why this is a crucial talent for a billionaire office romance.

About Nancy Herkness

Nancy Herkness is the author of the award-winning Whisper Horse series, published by Montlake Romance, as well as several other contemporary romance novels. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award. Her new series, Wager of Hearts, follows the romantic adventures of three very wealthy men who make a life-changing bet.

Nancy is a member of Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, and Novelists, Inc. She has received many honors for her work, including the Golden Leaf Award, the Maggie Award in Contemporary Romance, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing.

A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives in suburban New Jersey with her husband, two mismatched dogs, and an elderly cat.

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About THE CEO BUYS IN

Self-made billionaire Nathan Trainor feels restless and disillusioned. His company may be thriving, but he can’t find a woman who sees him for more than his wealth. With his love life in the red, he meets two other billionaire bachelors at the ultra-exclusive Bellwether Club. The three of them make a wager of the heart: they must find women who love them for who they are, not their money.

Savvy office temp Chloe Russell is trying to scrape together the money she needs to support her grandmother. So when a flu epidemic strikes Trainor Electronics and she’s promoted to Nathan Trainor’s assistant, she jumps at the lucrative opportunity. But then Nathan himself falls ill, and he and Chloe must work from his penthouse while he recuperates. Before long, it’s clear there’s genuine heat between them, and it’s more than just a fever spike. Will Nathan win Chloe’s heart—and the bet? Or will their differences destroy any chance for love?