Ben & Tori’s Story Puts Ruthless Business Practices In The Limelight In This Enemies To Lovers Slow Burn! She Stands Against Corporate Greed & Indifference. He Knows That Firing Is Just Business, Nothing Personal.
Victoria Mitchell, twenty-eight, is a realist. Her quirky sister Kari prefers to look on the bright side of things, but Tori cannot afford such luxury. With the pressure of student loan payments due each month, she can’t lose her job without falling behind, which might just happen if rumors are true. Learning that Reed Global has indeed purchased Prosper Insurance Company, where she has worked as an executive assistant to COO Bruce Lane for four years, Tory knows the prospect of her finding a new job anytime soon is a pipe dream. With a business degree in banking and insurance as well as certification in various computer programs, she shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a new job. But the Christmas holidays are approaching, and nobody hires over the holidays.
Kari knows of the perfect job to help bridge the gap between jobs – one that allows a flexible schedule so that Tori can easily squeeze in interviews as they come up. Candy Dancer Incorporated is hiring and demand should be strong over the holiday season. The dancers are hired to show up in costume and give a little dance before presenting a small gift. The costumes and songs vary with the job, but most are tasteful. Some songs are fun, and some might be sensual, but nothing more racy than that. Hiring a candy dancer to make an apology or send a birthday greeting is the latest fad in town. It isn’t that Tori looks down upon the idea. It is that her focus has been on her career and she enjoys it; she isn’t even interested in relationships now. If she takes a detour and takes too long to get a new job in her field, it might just make the effort even harder in the end. It is a catch-22.
Benjamin Reed, thirty-eight, is the billionaire founder and CEO of Hartford, Connecticut-based Reed Global. He began his business twenty years ago after helping his mother turn her own business around. He discovered that cutting costs, eliminating redundancies, and focusing an otherwise good business can save a company that otherwise might fail. His company takes big risks, but he loves the game and the adrenaline rush of success. With the advice and counsel of his long time best friend Carl Patterson, who works at his side as COO, he is at the top of his game. The last decade had seen all their efforts really begin to pay off. As he continues to buyout more companies and layoff more employees, he and his company have gotten a bit of a reputation. Some might say he lacks a heart and soul.
A workaholic and ruthless businessman, Ben doesn’t have much of a personal life. He divorced years ago, once he realized that he and Nicole weren’t on the same page. He faults himself for wearing blinders. He had wanted a family, and hadn’t realized that Nic was only interested in the perks that his money could buy. He had confused that for enthusiasm for life. After their three year marriage ended, he enjoyed his freedom for a while. He had no desire to ever date again, though, and eventually the novelty wore off and he lost interest in women altogether. But when he sees the gorgeous curvy woman seated at a nearby table one day, he finds himself drawn to the brunette unlike any woman before. Oddly enough he sees her again at the local little insurance company that he just acquired. Ben needs to ensure a smooth takeover of Prosper. There were a few bumps in the road with his last purchase so he wants to be more hands on this time around. He gives her an opportunity to defend her job, and though well-spoken, it is laughably naïve. As much as Ben is drawn to Tori, he cannot help but fire her, an action sure to earn him her unrelenting ire.
Ben and Tori’s story puts ruthless business practices in the limelight. The heartless billionaire goes up against the crusading candy dancer, attracting a social media following and a flurry of media attention. Tori suggests that Prosper would be more profitable by not firing most of the workforce, claiming that team members each bring value to the company that cannot be identified by the Q&A checklist Reed Global uses to guide their retention decisions. She stands against corporate greed and indifference. Ben knows that firing is just business. He doesn’t like it, but it is nothing personal. He tries to forget Tori, who has become an obsession since he first saw her, but he cannot erase her from his mind. He makes a series of missteps as he vies for her affection – and then for her heart. He cannot seem to get out of his own way, though. Damaged from his ugly divorce and desensitized from the ramifications of taking over companies and firing most of the workforce, he lacks the ability to look for creative options. He lives a solitary life, which might explain why his communication skills are so poor.
Ben and Tori are on separate paths for a majority of their story. Ben is so hardened that he is largely incapable of humility. His missteps continue to set him back with Tori and with the public, putting his business in jeopardy. He seems very undeserving of her at times, and at other times Tori just doesn’t give him a break. She has trust issues after everything he has done. Their relationship is merely a series of run-ins and instant chemistry, but circumstances make them enemies. Their interactions are about need, revenge, and control. It isn’t surprising that things spiral downhill fast. Ben doesn’t give up hope, though, and eventually finds it within himself to power through. The couple finds a happy ending.
Ben and Tori’s story is an enemies to lovers slow burn. There is little romance. It seems almost impossible that the couple will ever come together, and eventually it begins to drag. It would have been improved by shortening it. The story is plot-driven. Ben’s character sees some growth eventually, though he stumbles. Both he and Tori are strong figures. The story is written in first person. The POV alternates between Ben and Tori. I rate this book four stars.
I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.