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The Intern's Gambit: An Enemies-to-Lovers Billionaire Romance
I called him Satan in a suit behind his back.
He called me mediocre to my face.
For six months, my internship under Nikolas Stane has been corporate hell. He’s a billionaire CEO with a ruthless reputation, and I’m the intern he seems determined to break, tearing into my work, shredding my confidence, and watching me with unreadable dark eyes.
I hate him. I fear him.
But I refuse to bend.
When a twist of fate rips me out of New York and drops me into a world of chateaux, power games, and polished secrets, I think I’ve finally escaped him, until our paths collide again, far from the safety of office rules.
Now every move feels like part of a game I never agreed to play, and the most dangerous question of all is the one I swore I’d never ask:
What if the man I called Satan in a suit is the only one who’s ever really seen me?
A clean, low‑spice, slow‑burn enemies‑to‑lovers boss/intern romance with intense chemistry and a guaranteed happily ever after.
He called me mediocre to my face.
For six months, my internship under Nikolas Stane has been corporate hell. He’s a billionaire CEO with a ruthless reputation, and I’m the intern he seems determined to break, tearing into my work, shredding my confidence, and watching me with unreadable dark eyes.
I hate him. I fear him.
But I refuse to bend.
When a twist of fate rips me out of New York and drops me into a world of chateaux, power games, and polished secrets, I think I’ve finally escaped him, until our paths collide again, far from the safety of office rules.
Now every move feels like part of a game I never agreed to play, and the most dangerous question of all is the one I swore I’d never ask:
What if the man I called Satan in a suit is the only one who’s ever really seen me?
A clean, low‑spice, slow‑burn enemies‑to‑lovers boss/intern romance with intense chemistry and a guaranteed happily ever after.
281 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2025
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
R.M. Eekman
1 book6 followersRenée is a Dutch romance author in her twenties, currently living in Spain. Having called five different countries home, she writes character-driven closed-door romances about complicated people and the wonderfully messy reality of falling in love, entirely on her own terms, as a passion project.
Her debut novel, The Intern's Gambit, is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance with sharp banter, psychological depth, and a love story that feels genuinely hard-won.
Her debut novel, The Intern's Gambit, is an enemies-to-lovers workplace romance with sharp banter, psychological depth, and a love story that feels genuinely hard-won.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 27, 2026
This is brilliant gripping, funny and romantic story. Alexia is brilliant at her job, even though her current boss criticises everything she submits. Being an intern she can't wait for her tenure to end, so much so she's counting down the days. Nikolas sees her potential, he sees beyond the oversized clothes, the blending in so as not to stand out. He also sees her as a strong woman who hides herself. So is he harsh with his comments. Yes. Does he push her to be more out of the box on her reports. Yes. Because he knows how capable she is. When Alexia is offered a job at his main competitor, will she jump at it. Taking the summer to decide her options. Time with family in France is a perfect escape. Until he's now standing in front of her asking to dance. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. But can Alexia ever forget how he treated her. Will a new environment and no work place drama help see him in a different way. Sit back and enjoy this brilliantly written story that will have you laughing and hoping for a hea.
January 5, 2026
My first 5 star read of 2026 and I couldn’t tell you how happy I am that THIS WAS THE BOOK!
It took me 6 hours to read, I couldn’t put the book down I just kept reading and reading, never wanting it to end!!
I was kicking my feet and giggling at the cuteness!
The character progression for Alexia was incredible, I loved seeing her grow in confidence and becoming the Lion!
I was immersed into a summer in France whilst also working in a defence contractors firm. This was the perfect enemies to lovers work place romance and it was just incredible.
It took me 6 hours to read, I couldn’t put the book down I just kept reading and reading, never wanting it to end!!
I was kicking my feet and giggling at the cuteness!
The character progression for Alexia was incredible, I loved seeing her grow in confidence and becoming the Lion!
I was immersed into a summer in France whilst also working in a defence contractors firm. This was the perfect enemies to lovers work place romance and it was just incredible.
February 5, 2026
A love story - not only between Alexia and Nikolas
I normally doesn’t read regular romance, but this book really took me by surprise. Such a beautiful story between Alexia and Nikolas, but what captivated me most was Alexia’s own journey to be her best self. I hope there will be more books like these from the author, because I am ready when she is!
I normally doesn’t read regular romance, but this book really took me by surprise. Such a beautiful story between Alexia and Nikolas, but what captivated me most was Alexia’s own journey to be her best self. I hope there will be more books like these from the author, because I am ready when she is!
January 26, 2026
This was a lovely palette cleanser. A quick, easy and fun read. I enjoyed the authors writing style. I’ve read some of the reviews and while I agree that some parts were repetitive, I don’t think it took away from the value of the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
January 7, 2026
amazing
I didn’t expect this book to hit me the way it did. It’s intense, emotional and way better than any typical romance. The tension built slowly, the characters felt real, and complicated. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. Alexia’s growth felt earned. The dynamic between her and Nickolas kept me hooked the entire time. Definitely not a light read, but emotionally driven with a strong, slow burn. This one stays with you.
I didn’t expect this book to hit me the way it did. It’s intense, emotional and way better than any typical romance. The tension built slowly, the characters felt real, and complicated. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. Alexia’s growth felt earned. The dynamic between her and Nickolas kept me hooked the entire time. Definitely not a light read, but emotionally driven with a strong, slow burn. This one stays with you.
March 7, 2026
I loved the dynamic between the FMC and the MMC, loved how their story developed from enemies to lovers, and loved the banter and competitive edge they both had 🥰 The character growth of the FMC is delicious throughout the book, and Nikolas...? Just absolutely dreamy 😍 The story is fast paced and gripping, with something happening in every chapter, so I found myself eager to see what's going to happen next ☺️ Overall, it was a really fun and engaging read that I quite enjoyed 📚❤️
February 25, 2026
3.75 stars Love love love, dit was zo veel meer dan een office romance. I expected an mild enemies to lovers office romance but got way more. Wat n vent die Nikolas.
December 15, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book within 2 days! The Intern’s Gambit takes the grumpy boss trope and actually makes it fresh. Alexia is such a relatable character. She's brilliant but totally hiding it because she's scared, and watching her finally stand up for herself was so satisfying.
The chemistry with Nikolas is honestly off the charts. He starts off as a total nightmare, but you slowly realize he’s pushing her because he sees how good she actually is. The transition from the stressful New York office to the French countryside was perfect and gave them the space to actually connect.
If you like enemies-to-lovers with actual substance and a heroine who grows a backbone, you need to read this. I couldn't put it down.
The chemistry with Nikolas is honestly off the charts. He starts off as a total nightmare, but you slowly realize he’s pushing her because he sees how good she actually is. The transition from the stressful New York office to the French countryside was perfect and gave them the space to actually connect.
If you like enemies-to-lovers with actual substance and a heroine who grows a backbone, you need to read this. I couldn't put it down.
January 24, 2026
!!!!!!Spoilers ahead!!!!!
Rating: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Tropes:
Enemies-to-lovers
He falls first
Billionaire mmc
Age gap (not specified)
Workplace romance
What I liked:
I was not expecting the twist, when Nikolas (our mmc) had to go back to New York to put out fires, I was dreading a typical third act breakup. I assumed the corporate espionage would be linked to Alexia (our fmc) and Nikolas would go back to his dick-ish ways. I was pleasantly surprised when not only did this not happen, but I didn’t foresee who the culprit was.
I liked that the reason Nikolas relentlessly (and aggressively) pushed Alexia was for her to do better, rather than the stereotypical ’it’s just who I am’ rationale. These characters weren’t your typical romantic partners, there was no true wooing of each other, just quiet acceptance that they were equal to one another.
The scene where Nikolas won Alexia’s papa over with a short, honest conversation was hilarious. I loved Nikolas’ smug ‘your dad likes me’ victory and Alexia’s ‘I’ll kill you both and smile while I’m doing it’ reaction.
I absolutely loved Alexia’s sister, Lila, she was fun and bubbly, but pushed her sister to want more for herself. Lila’s interference and jovial jabs at her sister’s blossoming love life provided much needed levity to the seriousness of the book.
What I disliked:
There were many conversations that felt very repetitive, it sometimes made it hard to believe there was deeper meaning to their relationship than mutual respect and attraction.
I was not expecting a sudden shift from corporate America to French high society, I wish there had been more of Alexia’s family info sprinkled in before she was suddenly attending French balls.
Alexia went from despising Nikolas to declaring undying love so quickly! I think it was around 2-3ish weeks? If this was an insta-love story, I could have gotten behind it but Nikolas was a dick (out of love) and Alexia hated his guts, so the time-line didn’t feel right to me.
There was so much delicious tension for the first 40% of the book, I was living for it! But all of a sudden, Alexia was agreeing to date Nikolas and the next 50%-60% didn’t grab my attention the way the first half did.
I wish there was more detail with the spice. It wasn’t a closed door or a fade to black situation, you knew they were having sex, but it was described quite broadly. I did feel that maybe for a romance book with little in the way of romantic gestures, explicit desire could have been beneficial. (I appreciate this is an entirely personal preference and many people prefer little or no spice.)
Overall, I think this was a great debut novel from a self-published author. There were some errors in the book, but if Eekman edited this herself (and I believe English is not her first language? Don’t quote me on this!) Then she should be mighty proud!
The author provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Tropes:
Enemies-to-lovers
He falls first
Billionaire mmc
Age gap (not specified)
Workplace romance
What I liked:
I was not expecting the twist, when Nikolas (our mmc) had to go back to New York to put out fires, I was dreading a typical third act breakup. I assumed the corporate espionage would be linked to Alexia (our fmc) and Nikolas would go back to his dick-ish ways. I was pleasantly surprised when not only did this not happen, but I didn’t foresee who the culprit was.
I liked that the reason Nikolas relentlessly (and aggressively) pushed Alexia was for her to do better, rather than the stereotypical ’it’s just who I am’ rationale. These characters weren’t your typical romantic partners, there was no true wooing of each other, just quiet acceptance that they were equal to one another.
The scene where Nikolas won Alexia’s papa over with a short, honest conversation was hilarious. I loved Nikolas’ smug ‘your dad likes me’ victory and Alexia’s ‘I’ll kill you both and smile while I’m doing it’ reaction.
I absolutely loved Alexia’s sister, Lila, she was fun and bubbly, but pushed her sister to want more for herself. Lila’s interference and jovial jabs at her sister’s blossoming love life provided much needed levity to the seriousness of the book.
What I disliked:
There were many conversations that felt very repetitive, it sometimes made it hard to believe there was deeper meaning to their relationship than mutual respect and attraction.
I was not expecting a sudden shift from corporate America to French high society, I wish there had been more of Alexia’s family info sprinkled in before she was suddenly attending French balls.
Alexia went from despising Nikolas to declaring undying love so quickly! I think it was around 2-3ish weeks? If this was an insta-love story, I could have gotten behind it but Nikolas was a dick (out of love) and Alexia hated his guts, so the time-line didn’t feel right to me.
There was so much delicious tension for the first 40% of the book, I was living for it! But all of a sudden, Alexia was agreeing to date Nikolas and the next 50%-60% didn’t grab my attention the way the first half did.
I wish there was more detail with the spice. It wasn’t a closed door or a fade to black situation, you knew they were having sex, but it was described quite broadly. I did feel that maybe for a romance book with little in the way of romantic gestures, explicit desire could have been beneficial. (I appreciate this is an entirely personal preference and many people prefer little or no spice.)
Overall, I think this was a great debut novel from a self-published author. There were some errors in the book, but if Eekman edited this herself (and I believe English is not her first language? Don’t quote me on this!) Then she should be mighty proud!
The author provided a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2026
This book fits perfectly within the popular enemies to lovers and billionaire romance genre. The story revolves around ambition, power dynamics, and undeniable attraction, with the evolving relationship between the main characters at its core. The writing style is smooth and accessible, making it an easy and engaging read, especially if you enjoy romantic tension set in a corporate world.
One of the strongest elements is the chemistry between the characters. The dialogue feels sharp and playful at times, allowing the hostile beginning to gradually and convincingly shift into romance. The emotional buildup is well paced without becoming overly heavy.
One of the strongest elements is the chemistry between the characters. The dialogue feels sharp and playful at times, allowing the hostile beginning to gradually and convincingly shift into romance. The emotional buildup is well paced without becoming overly heavy.
February 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | 🌶️
The Intern’s Gambit by R.M. Eekman is a really solid contemporary romance that hits that sweet spot between tension, chemistry, and readability. It’s a quick, engaging read that keeps things moving without sacrificing character or emotional buildup.
The dynamic gave me Fifty Shades of Grey vibes—but cleaner and more grounded. There’s intrigue, a touch of power imbalance, and plenty of simmering tension, all handled in a way that feels approachable rather than overwhelming. The romance builds steadily, and the connection between the characters feels intentional and well-paced.
With one chili pepper, the spice stays mild and tasteful, making this a great pick if you’re looking for a break from heavy smut but still want romance that feels compelling and adult. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through while still enjoying the emotional payoff.
If you want a quick, easy read that delivers romance and tension without going full smutty, The Intern’s Gambit is definitely worth giving a shot.
The Intern’s Gambit by R.M. Eekman is a really solid contemporary romance that hits that sweet spot between tension, chemistry, and readability. It’s a quick, engaging read that keeps things moving without sacrificing character or emotional buildup.
The dynamic gave me Fifty Shades of Grey vibes—but cleaner and more grounded. There’s intrigue, a touch of power imbalance, and plenty of simmering tension, all handled in a way that feels approachable rather than overwhelming. The romance builds steadily, and the connection between the characters feels intentional and well-paced.
With one chili pepper, the spice stays mild and tasteful, making this a great pick if you’re looking for a break from heavy smut but still want romance that feels compelling and adult. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through while still enjoying the emotional payoff.
If you want a quick, easy read that delivers romance and tension without going full smutty, The Intern’s Gambit is definitely worth giving a shot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2026
Hmm, the description on Booksprout made me expect a different kind of book. It suggested an intense, spicy office romance. I found it more of a story of growth and change, as Alexia herself reveals later in the story.
As an intern in Nikolas Stane's office, Alexia has a difficult time. She's the only intern constantly being criticized, never does a good job, is pushed to her limits, and more than once finds herself crying in a bathroom stall. After six months, the miserable internship is finally over, and she goes to her family in France to recover and figure out her future. Then, suddenly, Nikolas appears there, with a completely different attitude than before. The two grow closer and they both change, personally and professionally, into a close, loving couple who together tackle the inevitable bumps in their path.
Clearly developed characters, occasionally funny, and a good title for the book and the chapters. It started promisingly, then read a bit like an old-fashioned novel, and I am sorry to say, ultimately I found it to be boring, tedious, and repetitive. The writing style didnt captivate me; it didn't draw me into the story, and I also found the many corporate descriptions uninteresting.
I don't know if I've read a final draft, but I thought it contained flaws and illogicalities and could use some editing.
While its not for me, I can imagine it might appeal to others due to the character development and the different approach to romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As an intern in Nikolas Stane's office, Alexia has a difficult time. She's the only intern constantly being criticized, never does a good job, is pushed to her limits, and more than once finds herself crying in a bathroom stall. After six months, the miserable internship is finally over, and she goes to her family in France to recover and figure out her future. Then, suddenly, Nikolas appears there, with a completely different attitude than before. The two grow closer and they both change, personally and professionally, into a close, loving couple who together tackle the inevitable bumps in their path.
Clearly developed characters, occasionally funny, and a good title for the book and the chapters. It started promisingly, then read a bit like an old-fashioned novel, and I am sorry to say, ultimately I found it to be boring, tedious, and repetitive. The writing style didnt captivate me; it didn't draw me into the story, and I also found the many corporate descriptions uninteresting.
I don't know if I've read a final draft, but I thought it contained flaws and illogicalities and could use some editing.
While its not for me, I can imagine it might appeal to others due to the character development and the different approach to romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2026
This one had a really strong premise, but it just didn’t fully land for me.
The dynamic between the Alexia Leeuwen and Nikolas Stane had potential. You’ve got the powerful, ruthless CEO and the intern who refuses to back down, which should have been packed with tension. And while there were moments where that push and pull showed up, a lot of it felt repetitive rather than building into something deeper.
The pacing was my biggest issue. It moved pretty slowly, and instead of that slow burn feeling intentional and gripping, it just felt dragged out. I kept waiting for things to escalate or shift in a meaningful way, especially once they went to France, but it never quite hit the level I wanted it to.
Character-wise, they were okay. Not bad, but not especially memorable either. I didn’t feel as connected to them as I wanted to, and because of that, the emotional payoff didn’t hit as hard.
This is definitely a very low to no spice read, so if you’re looking for something clean with a bit of a power dynamic, this might work better for you.
The dynamic between the Alexia Leeuwen and Nikolas Stane had potential. You’ve got the powerful, ruthless CEO and the intern who refuses to back down, which should have been packed with tension. And while there were moments where that push and pull showed up, a lot of it felt repetitive rather than building into something deeper.
The pacing was my biggest issue. It moved pretty slowly, and instead of that slow burn feeling intentional and gripping, it just felt dragged out. I kept waiting for things to escalate or shift in a meaningful way, especially once they went to France, but it never quite hit the level I wanted it to.
Character-wise, they were okay. Not bad, but not especially memorable either. I didn’t feel as connected to them as I wanted to, and because of that, the emotional payoff didn’t hit as hard.
This is definitely a very low to no spice read, so if you’re looking for something clean with a bit of a power dynamic, this might work better for you.
March 16, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
I really enjoyed this read! It was a cute and interesting enemies to lovers office romance. It gave everything one can expect with a workplace romance with a little touch of something extra. Alexia grows a lot throughout the story and becomes a confident and amazing individual that is no longer trying to hide the woman she is. I loved her relationship with Nikolas and the emphasis of a partnership and treating each other as equals. I only took off a half star because at times the book became repetitive especially with certain phrases and description. Overall, this was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read! I would recommend this to all of the romance book lovers out there especially if you are looking for something with a little less spice.
I really enjoyed this read! It was a cute and interesting enemies to lovers office romance. It gave everything one can expect with a workplace romance with a little touch of something extra. Alexia grows a lot throughout the story and becomes a confident and amazing individual that is no longer trying to hide the woman she is. I loved her relationship with Nikolas and the emphasis of a partnership and treating each other as equals. I only took off a half star because at times the book became repetitive especially with certain phrases and description. Overall, this was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read! I would recommend this to all of the romance book lovers out there especially if you are looking for something with a little less spice.
March 7, 2026
I picked this book up for the enemies-to-lovers workplace tension and ended up finishing it in one sitting. 💕The story grips you from the start with sharp banter, real career stakes, and a slow-burn romance that feels earned rather than rushed. Alexia’s growth is empowering and believable, while Nikolas is far more than a typical CEO. He is driven, complex, and genuinely challenged by her presence. Set in the high-stakes world of defense contracting, the novel balances emotional depth, strong chemistry, and a plot that keeps moving. As someone who reads romance all the time, this still stood out and stayed with me long after I finished.✨
January 4, 2026
First time reading anything from this author and overall I didn't like it. It was low on the intimacy which was interesting for a romance and more about business. Despite the description no office romance everything was after. The do get their HEA but I thought it was repetitive in too many pats to be enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 2, 2026
Definitely a surprise read - the characters bring a fresh feel to typical romantic character arcs, and scenarios. In fact, I was often caught offguard with the choicest characters would make, as they followed their hearts often over their heads. Such a nice change!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 21, 2026
Such a fun read, loved the dynamic between Alexia and Nikolas. Really enjoyed that it was a closed door romance. though it was just a workplace romance but got way more. I adored Lila!
March 1, 2026
brigdgerton meets corporate romance
March 10, 2026
Dnf around 50%
I just couldn’t get into the story and it got me into a huge reading slump.
I just couldn’t get into the story and it got me into a huge reading slump.
March 3, 2026
Loved this book from start to finish! Such a fun read, I read it in one go. It was so much more then a workplace romance and I am here for it!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews