COVER & EXCERPT REVEAL
PERFECT ASSUMPTION (Midas Series #2) by Tracey Jerald
Release Date: April 19, 2021
Cover Design: Tugboat Design
Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography
Model: Zach Bradford
Genre: Billionaire contemporary romance
Trope: Office romance, enemies-to-lovers
SYNOPSIS
For the last ten years, I’ve guarded the gate to my heart.
I’ve lived under a shroud of despair after I was emotionally devastated. I isolated myself to avoid seeing my name in the media since I was thrown to the wolves.
But that was then, and this is now.
As the legal assistant for an entertainment law firm, I’m the gatekeeper into the heart of the deal. Even as I handle celebrities all day long, I try to avoid becoming the focus of the media’s attention. Because I know full well once I become their target, I can never run far enough to avoid their attention.
Ever.
I’ve struggled with fears of opening myself up to the kind of vulnerability necessary to fall in love. I had a strong conviction love was meant for someone else until one day something slipped.
Who knew dropping that cup of coffee all over my grumpy boss may have been the best thing to happen to both of us?
On the surface, Ward Burke has it all.
A handsome lawyer, I know he doesn’t need to work if the scandal sheets declaring him a billionaire are anything to go by. But he’s never noticed me before now.
Or has he?
We start to realize we’ve been making some pretty big assumptions about each other.
He’s game to taking our relationship to a different level, but I’m terrified it’s going to set off a sequence of events I’m not prepared to handle.
And quite possibly prove I’m not quite done paying for what happened in the past.
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EXCERPT
He recalls his latest negative tabloid sensation—the one that days ago had Ward in a tither.
Our eyes lock over our joined hands. “My beautiful friend, both stories are false. But to the media-hungry world, they’re in print.”
“Therefore they must be true,” I conclude sadly. “I’ll never understand how you do it every day.”
“Do what?”
“Go out there with such a devil-may-care attitude.”
Becks’s lips quirk before he turns to fully face me. “Probably because I listen to only about thirty percent of what they have to say about me.”
“Becks…”
“And when I land on the front page, I pay Carrie an epic amount of money to handle it for me. Unless it’s in good fun.” He winks before concluding, “Then I let it ride. Kind of like calling David ‘Dave.’”
I grin. “You’re a menace of a good man, Becks.”
He contemplates that before nodding. “I like the way that sounds.”
“You would.”
“Well, now that I’ve made sure you’re smiling, is there someone for me to talk with?” His smile turns sheepish.
I prop my hand on my chin. “What did you get into this time? Or should I say who?”
“It’s a where, beauty. I was at Redemption. I might have deliberately slammed into some reporters on my way out last night.” He lifts his shoulders in a careless shrug that just shows off his custom-made suit. “They may have been holding recording devices.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“That I am.” When his true smile is aimed at me, I understand why half of the population of the globe would love to be in the position I am right now. Beckett Miller is just adorable.
“I’ve heard Redemption’s amazing.” I change the topic before Becks gets lost on listing his redeeming qualities.
“I keep offering…” he starts before a rude cough sounds behind us.
And there he is. Dark eyes. Thick hair mussed like he’s had a rough night of his own. But at least he made it in before noon, I think a bit uncharitably.
“Did you need something, Becks?” Ward addresses Becks directly after running his eyes up and down me so quickly as if he’s confirming I’m properly dressed in my school uniform. Not that I want Ward turning those dark, slumberous eyes my way, but being polite to the person who’s responsible for your schedule is considered good form. Especially when I could make it so booked he doesn’t have time to use the restroom.
Becks narrows his eyes to blast the younger man, but I give him a sharp shake of my head. I don’t need the additional attention any day, but most especially not today. “Fine.” And I know that’s for both me and Ward. “Until later, beauty,” Becks advises me as he follows Ward through the heavy wood doors.
I curve my lips at Becks, earning myself a blinding glare from Ward, who turns to open the door. Becks taps his phone and winks. Right. My cell’s off. I open my desk and pull out my phone. When I turn it on, it immediately starts vibrating in my hand. Then my countenance softens when I see the one from Becks. Dinner at Carys and David’s tonight. We’re not taking no for an answer. We’ll make certain you get back to your hideaway.
I hold the phone to my chest for just a moment, grateful that the people I work with actually know who I am and care about what today means to me. Just as the euphoria washes over me, a new text comes in from Sula.
Are you okay? I saw the news about XMedia. Call me as soon as you can.
No, I’m not, I think grimly. But I really have no choice. And I make a mental note to call Sula at some point during the day if possible. I send her a quick text back, letting her know I’ll contact her later—that we’re in crisis mode at work with no internet. Her laughing emoji does much to lift my spirits even as I groan. “What a freaking morning.”
The door behinds me flies open, and a triumphant Carys comes out. “We have phones! We have internet! Angie, can you please get Zapatta back on the line and apologize profusely before seeing if we can salvage any of this day?”
“You bet, Carys.” Shoving my cell to the side, I reboot my computer. Ignoring the quiet buzz, I use our business communication platform, get an outside line, and get Z’s representatives back on the line. After abjectly apologizing for the communications breakdown, they get the profanity-loving Grammy-winning artist back on the line.
I can’t help but grin when his first word to me is “Fuck.”
“Let me get Burke for you.”
“Yeah, let’s fuckin’ do that.”
I’m sure we’ll enjoy this conversation over dinner tonight. And knowing my friends care enough about me to put aside any small differences they may have to get me through today, I manage to get through the rest of today with a smile on my face.
Not fear in my heart.
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PERFECT PROPOSAL (Midas Series #1)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tracey Jerald knew she was meant to be a writer when she would re-write the ending of books in her head on her bike when she was a young girl growing up in southern Connecticut. It wasn’t long before she was typing alternate endings and extended epilogues “just for fun”.
After college in Florida, where she obtained a degree in Criminal Justice swearing she saw things she’ll never quite believe and never quite forget, Tracey traded the world of law and order for IT.
Her work for a world-wide internet startup transferred her to Northern Virginia where she met her husband in what many call their own happily ever after. They have one son.
When she’s not busy with her family or writing, Tracey can be found in her home in north Florida drinking coffee, reading, training for a runDisney event, or feeding her addiction to HGTV.
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