Bride Bargain

Marrying the Boss

by Cassie Mint

I’ve loved him since high school. Now he’s my hot but socially awkward boss.

And this morning he proposed marriage in the elevator…

Elliot Ramsay has always been… a little awkward. A genius? Absolutely. Clothes-meltingly gorgeous? Oh, you’d better believe it. But ever since high school math class, I’ve been the only one who’s really understood the guy.

Until now, anyway.

Because I do not get it. I don’t get why marrying will somehow fix Elliot’s public image, and I don’t get why he’s picked me when he’s rich and powerful enough to have anyone. Don’t get how we’ve survived years and years of sexual tension, only for him to blow it all up at 9am in the office elevator.

But the most confusing thing of all?

I don’t know why I agreed.

And now I need to keep my hands off my husband...

Bride Bargain is a short and steamy instalove novella, starring one socially awkward boss and the assistant who'd do anything for him.

Genres: Novella, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Workplace Romance

75 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

About the author

Cassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.

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Reviews

[Jen ♥]

Look, I love a dual V. It's more than enough to make me read a book, no questions asked.

Unfortunately though, even that trope wasn't enough to save this story. The frustration I got from this novella was an all-time high; it's not even funny. There's nothing, and I mean nothing more baffling than having to read two grown adults (30s??) who can't freaking communicate. 🤦‍♀️ Their inner monologues and running thoughts got so exasperating to read, and that probably should say a lot considering this is only a novella.

I wanna enjoy it; I really did. But the constant wrong assumptions and miscommunication took the fun out of reading this. 🤷‍♀️

Anywaaaay, although it didn't work for me, I hope this would resonate with someone else and find its intended readers.


Book info:
- Novella
- Friends to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Dual V
- No cheating, OM/OW, separation
- HEA (1 yr later, married and pregnant)

[atomickitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

󠀢

"Elliot, the man who refuses handshakes and doesn’t like the sensory overload of a crowded elevator, is ducking his head and capturing my lips with his.

And—god.

The heat of him. The hungry press of his mouth against mine, stern and demanding; the way his head tilts so he can kiss me deeper, harder, more. If you’d asked me to imagine Elliot’s first kiss, I’d have guessed he’d be detached and clinical. Going through the motions so he could get it over with.

Joke’s on me, because Elliot lets out a ragged groan and slips his tongue past my lips. He grips my hips and yanks me half off the sofa, rubbing our trembling bodies together, and he’s hard and hot as sin."

Me right now:



See?

This is the Cassie I love!!!

LOOOOOOOOVE!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

[Christina (stinarinareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3✨
1.5🌶️

The main characters were cute together, although for being friends for 10+ years, sometimes they had a hard time actually communicating with each other.

I’m not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers for a couple reasons, but I didn’t mind it in this one (although 10 years pushed it). As a couple, they were sweet and I can see them lasting for sure.

[Kailynn (slump 😔) · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5

𝓜𝓒𝓼:
Elliot (nearly 30)
Claire (nearly 30)

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼/𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
🖤 Boss x Assistant
🖤 Marriage of Convenience
🖤 Mutual Pinning (14+ years)
🖤 Best Friends to Lovers
🖤 Cinnamon Roll MMC

𝓘𝓷𝓯𝓸:
Dual 1st person POV
No ow/om drama
No cheating
Both virgins
Open door spice
No third-act breakup
Epilogue (1 yr later)
HEA

𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
➤ This was cute!
➤ The angst?! OH MY GOSH!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
➤ ”I hate everyone but you.” 🤭💗
➤ This would be a good short story to help you get out of a slump or for when you don’t have much time/motivation to read a whole book. It’s not going to be a five-star, but there isn’t really anything wrong with this (imo).
➤ The one thing I didn’t like was they were in love with each other since high school! Like, why did nobody say or notice anything?! All those wasted years *sigh* 🤦‍♀️
➤ They were both kinda stupid 😭

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

s h e l v e s :
angst
best friends
boss
cinnamon roll !!!!!
marriage of convenience
men in suits
mutual pining
neurodivergent hero
office
possessive
protective
rich hero
sensitive guy
shy guy
virgins (both)
wife her up

k i n k s :
no condom
office sex
tss

e n d i n g :
HEA + baby otw!

🔥
He grips my hips and yanks me half off the sofa, rubbing our trembling bodies together, and he’s hard and hot as sin.

♥︎

…hot breath puffs against my slit, and a warm tongue slides through my folds…

♥︎

Her pussy is still bared to the living room air, pink and swollen and salty and so damn delicious.

We stare at each other for a long moment. It’s the first time we’ve made eye contact since my mouth was on her clit.

♥︎

Every cell in my body goes still, entirely focused on Claire as she reaches into my underwear, her fingertips skating over my hard cock. Yes. She draws me out into the cool air, fingers wrapping around me and giving an experimental squeeze.

♥︎

Claire’s thumb rubs a bead of moisture over my cock. My stomach twists with pleasure—

Claire’s lips close around my shaft. The wet heat of her is so sudden, overwhelming my senses, and my hips strain to buck up, thrusting into her perfect mouth—

“Mm,” Claire hums, pulling off all too quickly with a shameless pop. Her hand keeps pumping, teasing, twisting, and my pulse thuds madly in my ears as I fight to keep still in the desk chair. “You taste really good.”

I do?

I mean—good. Yes. I am rigorous with my personal hygiene, and I’m very glad that Claire is satisfied that—


“Fuck!” I bark out as she takes me deeper this time, her cheeks hollowing.

♥︎

Christ. My abs tighten, and when the weeping head of my cock brushes Claire’s slit, it’s like a shock wave travels through my insides.

♥︎

He’s inside me.

I’m naked on his desk, thighs spread…my inner muscles quivering from shock. But he’s in, so thick and hard, thrusting deep enough to make my back teeth clack together.

“Christ,” Elliot mutters, his jaw taut as he fucks between my thighs.

I like it.

I like the harsh snap of his hips, burrowing deep into my pussy, claiming his territory.

If anyone walked in and saw this… saw the stern, powerful boss fucking his assistant on his desk, still fully dressed while I’m completely bare and vulnerable, scowling like a murderer while he pounds between my legs…

…For a brief moment, Elliot looks pained as he thinks about his digital critics—then he shakes it off, focusing one hundred percent on the movement of his cock inside my body. He bends down and licks a bead of sweat off my neck.

“Who cares?” he says against my skin. “I hate everyone but you.”

He proves it, too, with every scrape of his teeth and merciless thrust of his cock.


♥︎

The wet, obscene sounds of our bodies joining fills the penthouse, Elliot stares between my legs with primal, cave-man satisfaction.

“Fuck, you feel good.” His deep voice is ragged. Ruined. Elliot groans and ducks down to suck on my nipple, and my belly twists in response. “Ah, Claire. This pussy. It’s so hot and tight and sweet.”

Elliot switches to my other nipple, dragging hard with his hot mouth, and I cry out at the ceiling.

And I’m arched like that, all dizzy and dazed, feeling my husband claim my body like a one-man invading army when it happens. Elliot’s cock moves inside me right as his thumb rubs my clit—and it—and I—

“Shit!” My toes curl as I come, every muscle in my body locking tight.

♥︎

“Can I—?”

Another hungry clench low in my belly. Can he come inside me?

“Yes.” God, yes. I want that so badly.

So my husband growls, low and pleased, and snaps his hips a few more times before burying as deep in me as he can go. His whole body going taut as he holds his breath. I hold mine too, desperate to feel every detail.

Then Elliot swells inside me, and delicious wet heat floods my channel, filling me up as I pant and squirm from the pleasure of it. So good. It spills down my thighs and drips onto the desk

[Callie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not enjoy this one.

They both loved each other since they’re young and now they’re 30, get married for PR, and basically don’t talk the whole story.

There just wasn’t any satisfying moments or the usual happiness after tension.

It has dual v, my favorite, but that was about all I liked. 🥲

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Cassie Mint's novella, Bride Bargain; it's a sweet, fun, entertaining read with a hint of spice. Oh, and did I mention it's dual v!rg!ns. 😉

Claire and Elliot's bond goes way back to their high school days when they first became best friends. Now, they not only share a strong friendship but also work together.
Elliot has had a secret crush on Claire since high school and has always wanted her close by, so he hired her as his executive assistant.

Elliot isn't friendly and hates everyone but Claire. He doesn't mind it until he is trashed in the papers for a misunderstanding and needs to clean up his image, so he asks Claire to marry him. Claire is hesitant at first but finally agrees. However, she worries about how this marriage will work because they secretly have feelings for each other, but neither is willing to admit them.

[Kate Russo ❦ (Rina Kent’s Version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie Mint never fails me omg this was so fucking cute!!! Elliot is absolutely adorable and I need a man like him honestly. The pining omg the way he literally based his whole future to make sure she would be happy BE STILL MY HEART

[effin surrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Took them long enough. All those wasted years🙄This one’s not for me

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuck that was so fucking cute.

She did it again, guys. Once in a while, this author would surprise me with her books. I love myself some neurodivergent male lead and a devoted/understanding best friend female lead, with mutual pining. Gosh, I'm thirsty for this kind of romances.

[Cindy thismomreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will jump at the chance to read this author, she is definitely a comfort read for me and I enjoyed the writing of this one so much.

I was intrigued by the tropes and plot, so I’m happy to have been able to read it.
After some bad press, Elliot feels the only way to help his image is a marriage. One to his best friend and assistant, Claire.
Claire and Elliot have such a sweet and unique relationship and loved watching them navigate and explored their new dynamic.

These two really are cute together, they have been friends since high school, secretly in love with other all these years later, but have scared to express it. So my heart went out to them.

Elliot isn’t the best at working out social cues and situations, Claire is so kind and understanding, she just knows exactly what Elliot needs and is there for him and always supporting him. He has always loved her, and planned so much of his life around making sure she was happy and safe, but never showed her what feelings he really had. But one marriage and one night changed everything for these two.

This was a great, fun, very quick read. They had me chuckling a few times too! It was such a cute story and relationship, I totally could have read even more about them! I’m happy they were able to find their HEA.

4.25⭐️


**Thank you to BookSprout and the author for the copy of this book. This review and its opinions are my own.

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Elliot sm. This wasn't my fav novella but it was still fun.

I just can't get over all the wasted years between them. I love a good pining moment, but sometimes, the miscommunication makes me so 🤠🫤😐🫥.

[riley ☠︎︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars✨
Claire and Elliot are the cutest dorks! Obsessed with how he did everything FOR HER!! When tf is it my turn?

[Fiatgal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just okay. I don't feel much chemistry between them.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this bargain bride

Elliot and Claire have been best friends since high school. Elliot seems to be a cold man, never smiles, hates people but with Claire he’s human. When he gets blasted in the papers for being cruel and robotic he asks Claire to marry him to help save his reputation. Claire has loved him forever and agrees but can these two truly stay together when they can’t speak about their feelings. This is a sexy hot steamy read and I loved it.

[TTP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read, both have been pining after each other since they met in high school.
Kind of frustrating how bad their communication was, but for a short and easy read, it’s okey.

They both have only ever had eyes for each other and both are in their late twenties and dual virgins.

No owd/omd, cheating or third act break up.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book appears to have been proofread as there weren’t nearly the errors as previous books which were distracting.
That’s fantastic.
The story itself was cute. Best friends for years, secretly in love with each other. Always a win with this trope.

[Pertha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read this in order to get out of my reading slump
Spoiler alert ⚠️ 📢
I didn't ✨️
And I am still in throbbing aching reading slump
But the positive things that despite for their differences they made their relationship work


Love u all ❤️
Pertha all the way in ♥️ 🙌

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written, short novella. It's a friends to lovers romance, with some steamy scenes after a slow burn start. I really enjoyed reading it, perfect to fill some time between larger books - 3.5 stars.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute enough but I am not a fan when they both adore each other and neither is brave enough to admit it

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bride Bargain by Cassie Mint (Arc Review)
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5 stars
__
"Want to hear something tragic? These drunken Noodles are completely wasted on me. They're the best noodles in the city, our go to Thai order, and normally I can't stop slurping and moaning as we eat them.
One time I groaned so loudly over these noodles that Elliot through a cushion at my head and called me a noodle pervert."
__
The demonic fuzzy blanket comment also had me cackling but the noodle pervert quote might just be my favorite scene in the book.
Wonderfully funny, and I would definitely read again.

Disclaimer:
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout in exchange for an honest review

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love idiots to lovers.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Montgomery watches as Elliot is towering over her the same way he did beside those high school lockers. Even with his shoulders all slumped in defeat, Elliot Ramsay is a hottie—he always has been, ever since he was the cutest guy in math class. And that, it seems, is the problem. “She shouldn’t have done that.” “Elliot?” She waits for him to meet her gaze, drifting along her shoulder before finally boring into hers. “She shouldn’t have touched you like that, especially once you told her to stop. You’re not the bad guy here.”

Doubt flickers across his face, and she freaking hates that. Compared to most celebrities, Elliot is a little awkward—and yes, he struggles with small talk. Not every social cue lands right with him. Take it from the woman who’s worked for him for the last six years, and who’s nursed a secret crush on him for far longer than that. He’s a sexy, awkward cinnamon roll in a tailored suit. “I’ve seen the comments. They’re saying I hate women.” She scoffs. “Well, that’s ridiculous. You hate everyone equally.” The ghost of a smile flickers behind Elliot’s palm before he brushes it away and drops his hand.

“Everyone but you, Claire.” She smiles at her boss and best friend, playing it cool and calm, giving away zero sign that his words affect her as strongly as they do. Claire will relive this moment and scream into a pillow. But this morning, she keeps it together—until Elliot tugs on his rolled sleeve and says, “So I’ve been thinking: we should get married.” “This is insane. You are insane. What a thing to spring on me on a Monday morning.” Elliot leans against the front of his desk, arms crossed over his chest. He shakes his head slowly, watching her pace like he’s fascinated by her animal behavior.

“Would you have said yes if I proposed on a Tuesday?” “You didn’t propose. People don’t get married for PR reasons, Elliot.” He’s so freaking calm. “Yes, they do.” “Not emotionally healthy people!” Elliot smirks and shrugs, as if to say: Well, who’d you think you’re dealing with? And oh my god, I’m going to murder this man. He doesn’t get that she’s been pining for him like some tragic fool since that first day in high school math class; that she used to daydream about marrying him more times than she could count.

“You’re already my favorite person, and the length of our friendship suggests that you don’t mind me either.” “This way my public image will improve, people will see that I don’t hate women, and the world will start looking elsewhere for scandal. Plus fewer old ladies will try to grope me in public.” “And you’ll get half my assets, so you’ll never have to worry about money ever again, even if something happens to me. It’s a win-win situation, Claire.” He is so sure this is the ideal solution. From the idea of marrying him for PR and getting his money if something happened to him after they married.

As if, she just wants the money, not the man. This is my only change of clothes.” “Well, if you stop pacing—” “I can’t.” If she stops pacing, her heart will beat right out of her chest. If she stops this frantic movement, she’ll have to look her best friend-turned-boss in the eye, and then he’ll see exactly why she can’t marry him as some twisted PR move. Spoiler alert: it’s not because she’s above such things. It’s because it’s Elliot offering this. Elliot with his steady blue eyes and that deep voice that makes her shiver; tilts his head now, watching her closely like she’s another tech problem he needs to solve.

It’s a very familiar look. My legs burn from power-walking up and down his office. Mental note: do more cardio. Preferably while running far, far away from this bullshit. “I wouldn’t expect anything,” Elliot says, fiddling with one shirt cuff. Sudden discomfort rolls off him in waves. “Physically, I mean. I know you wouldn’t want that, Claire.” Ha! A manic laugh blooms in her chest, and she wants to cackle like a hysterical old witch. Because… She wouldn’t want that? Is that what he thinks? Listen: She would trade her left pinkie finger for the chance to lick this man’s throat.

She’d transfer her meager life savings if it meant she could bottle his spicy-clean scent and spray it on her pillow every night, then roll around naked in those sheets. But has Elliot noticed her pathetic pining? He has not. Elliot’s right: he’s gentle when he moves her away. Even on the grainy video it’s clear, but the internet mobs have agreed: the love of her life is trash. He should be hanged, drawn, and quartered; his tech should be boycotted; he should be made to pay for daring to assert his personal space. Screw that. “I’ll do it,” She says, out of breath for no good reason.

She stopped pacing nearly an hour ago, and yet her heart has not slowed at all. Is she dying? “F- it. Let’s get married.” In nearly thirty years of life, he never considered what his wedding might be like. Partly because his brain has always been full of other things—theories and experiments and tech—and partly because there’s only one woman he’d ever want to marry. Claire Montgomery: the angel of his high school math class, his best and only true friend, and now his ruthlessly efficient PA. Her. The thought of marrying anyone else is repellent.

He never thought Claire thought of him in that way. But it seems like she has him. See how they bring out all those true feelings for one another.

[Jo Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute tale of clueless friends to lovers
4 stars

I’m always up for a little Cassie Mint insta love and have read most of the Marrying The Boss, multi-author series of which this is the fourth book. Each books stands alone and they��re only connected by the theme. In this story we get Claire, loyal assistant to her best friend and boss, Elliot. Now, in order to fix another scandal involving Elliot, Claire inexplicably agrees to marry him. But it’s being in love with her new husband that turns out is the biggest problem of all.

We meet Claire when she’s high-tailing it to the office for her job as assistant to the sexy, awkward and completely clueless, Elliot. Claire’s been in love with him since high school but Elliot has no idea. Claire and Elliot are best friends but I would have liked to see them hang out more before they agreed to the whole marriage thing. I don’t really feel I got to know Claire all that well but I did enjoy her calling out Elliot’s plan to marry her to save his reputation. It’s like when someone in a musical wonders how everyone knows the words to the songs!

Elliot was a similar mystery to me but for a completely different reason. He’s a little awkward - but not usually when it comes to Claire. But he didn’t realise she was in love with him and got all kinds of not awkward when things got heated. I suppose what I’m saying is I found him, well, awkward - which I suppose is the whole point!

It’s a short story (75 page) so it’s never going to give me the character development or backstory that a longer book might bring - but I did feel I wanted to know more about Claire and Elliot as friends before they became a couple. It would have helped me feel their dynamic, I think. But they do have plenty of chemistry - especially sexually - which is always a nice bonus!

It’s not my favourite book of Cassie Mint’s but, as always, she got me interested in the story and kept me wanting to keep reading. It’s a fun, short and sexy tale and one that I’d happily recommend for insta-love romance lovers (even though technically, it’s not insta-love since our couple have known each other since school!) or fans of Cassie Mint. 4 stars.

[Aspen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh Cassie, is that another blonde fmc I see? You know there are other colors, right? Like a whole slew of them, even punk colors but that's not the real problem with the book.

No, the real problem is... well there are a few but the main one is that for two people who have known each other and been best friends since high school - really don't know each other at all. The other is that for a man who doesn't like having someone in his personal space, let alone touching another human had no problems with eating her out. I don't just mean the act alone, I also mean the clear expertise in which he did it.

Another thing is that Claire went from spending a week avoiding him at their place and barely looking at him to saying yes to movie night and then letting the whole kissing and eating her peach like the rest of the week hadn't happened... It was just too fast a transition if you think about it. And then... AND THEN because he hands her divorce papers because of their fight after he gave her pleasure she just gets on her hands and knees to give him head. I don't know whose mind I want to be in more because of these characters are... special. Then they have sex on his desk, him still fully clothed of course, while she's stripped bare.

Actually the concept as a whole was a little stupid. I mean he needed to get married to fix his image, the same image he doesn't really give a shit about because he doesn't care about what others think (is incapable of caring it seems) over a video of him gently pushing an older woman back for groping him. These are the thoughts of this genius level man... yup.

I know, I know, did I even like the book? I did enjoy Elliot's character for the most part. I liked his quarks and the way he thinks. I did also enjoy their back and forth sometimes. I honestly wished for there to be more to the book and a slower pace, a bit of angst and pining on both sides, you know? I also wanted to see Elliot lose his cool, assuming he was even capable of that.. although the scene where he breaks the pencil seems to indicate he can. All in all, I did like the book despite everything I mentioned.

[Whit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book!

It’s a story about the sweet and awkward neurodivergent Elliot and his best friend/PA Claire, who is his rock and helps him navigate in a world full of small talkers and groping older ladies.

Misunderstandings keeps on getting him in trouble with the media, because he just wants to be left alone to do what he does best — work!

Claire is a sweet and funny girl, who is the only one who knows Elliot and how to understand and decode his behaviour.

She is so in love with him, so when he proposes that they get married to make the media see him as more human and keep other ladies away, she gets confused and heartbroken, because even though she has dreamt about this day forever, it was never like this.

He’s I been in love with her since high school as well, but he doesn’t know how to show it, and he’s afraid of losing her, because she’s the only one in his life, who knows and understand him.

This story hits close to home for me, because I’m a neurodivergent woman, who married with my high school sweetheart (my now CEO husband) of 20 years.
He’s been my guide in how to live in a world, that wasn’t completely made for someone like me, and having someone who can read me, and who understands better, than I do myself is a blessing.

I can read this story again and again, because even though it’s a quick read, there’s so much packed into this book. ❤️

Dual virgins! 🥳.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Hey Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for a good neurodivergent character, be it the H or the h (Hero or the heroine).

Hes her boss and shes his personal assistant. Theyve been friends since high school and he asks her to work for him as he got his company started since he wants her near him always.

I could be wrong, but he seemed autistic? He couldn't seem to read emotional cues or have decent conversations, but he is a wiz at computational/technical stuff. Hes pining for her, shes pining for him and they never talk to each other about it.

He gets in a situation that goes viral when a handsy ahjumma (older korean lady basically) persists in touching him and then finally, he breaks and kinda shoves her away and social media makes him a pariah. He uses this situation to have force her to marry him to save face, get the ahjummas off of him and to look better in the public eye.

after a quick marriage ceremony, they go to his penthouse and he says something about how he kisses her because its tradition and she thinks hes just doing the kissing thing because its tradition and its expected instead of him liking/loving her.

I honestly thought that the angst and the pining was great *shrug*. yes, there is miscommunication, but it just added to the drama and i loved it haha!

dual v's too which is not very typical

i liked it. Would I reread?......probably not unless I was struggling super hard to pick something to read out of the 23, 958 books I have on my TBR (to be read)

[Snow]

DNF @ 15%.

i love pining and requited love that seems unrequited for some time for the sake of angst.

what i don't love? when two characters have been secretly in love with each other for 14+ years, and yet they're both willing to just never fucking talk about how they feel. so they just remain friends, instead of doing anything about their feelings. like... i don't buy that. seems weak from both characters. i can understand when it's a couple years, but 1½ decades? no.

also, it's clear how little the author has thought through the practical elements of this plot.
the heroine has been best friends with the hero since their teens, and she has been his right hand woman in business since the start of his career.
and yet she has "meager life savings", and is only his assistant?
uhm no. she would be the COO of the company or something.
and sure, maybe she enjoys being his assistant, fair enough. but you're telling me the hero, the CEO, is her best friend and is in love with her, and yet doesn't give her a generous salary and a yearly bonus?
this type of incongruity bothers me. idk whether it's explained at a later point in the book... but either the author simply didn't think it through, or the hero has been underpaying the heroine for like 10 years.
either way, im DNF'ing.