Page 25 of Rolling with My Bosses

“Perfect! Can you come up with an acronym for my career plan being blown out of the water?”

Fourteen

Bear

Austin, John, and I stand side-by-side in front of Smith’s desk, presumably not only for violating the F.U.C.K. policy but violating it while we violated his daughter.

The extent of my feelings for Baby Girl hit hard when I realize I’m more concerned with upsetting her than her father.

A text came in telling us to go straight to his office this morning. So, after waiting in the lobby for a couple of hours, here we are. It’s interesting how the three of us can be standing in front of him while he sits in his oversized plush leather chair, and yet he dominates the room.

Poor Lexi. All I had been able to think earlier was what a terrible father-in-law he would make. She lived with this.

He starts spouting, “It’s not easy running an empire. People hide their agendas from me. It’s a good thing I can trust the three of you. I’ve considered how to deal with my daughter who failed to tell me she was working at my company. Again, personal agendas kept secret.”

He doesn’t know what we’ve done? Or is he saying that to see if we’ll confess?

John is stoic but Austin shifts and clamps his fists together. Smith continues, “Alexandra thinks life is about fun and games. That mentality is risky in a serious corporate environment. She knew she didn’t fit. That’s why she went with secrecy. She’s mischievous, but don’t worry, I fired her.”

I jerk backward. Austin says, “You what?”

“Family doesn’t get special treatment. Everyone has to earn their place.”

“Sir, respectfully, maybe that’s why she didn’t tell you. She didn’t want anyone to think that she was using her name.”

“If she didn’t want to capitalize on her connection, why would she apply to one of my companies? Mischievous. She’ll learn.”

What hardened this man? And how did he raise a daughter like Lexi? The dynamic in their house must have been tense, and yet she’s the most fun, light, and vibrant person I’ve ever met. Why would she sign on for more time with her father?

We may not deserve Lexi, but I can’t stand him badmouthing her. My actions happen before I process that I’m ripping the lanyard off my neck, tossing it onto his desk, and blurting, “I quit.”

I rush down the street and to the mail room where my hand reflexively reaches to my chest. There’s no lanyard. On the off chance she’s in the room and I could steal a moment with her, I bang on the door. “It’s John. I just quit. I need to get my things.”

No answer.

I lean against the wall, rub my hands over my face, and wonder what played out in Smith’s office after I left. A few minutes pass before I hear my brothers coming down the hallway.

“That was dramatic,” Austin says. John’s shaking his head.

I rake my hands through my hair. “I can’t fucking take him talking about her like that.

“We’ve got to sort things out with her,” John says, as we enter the room.

“And how do we do that if she won’t answer our calls or texts? We used our wild card tracking her down at roller derby. I’m sure her friends will protect her from us,” Austin says.

Opening my locker to clear out my shit, my hand freezes midair. The box. Her gesture throws the weight of the world onto my shoulders. “Fuck. She’s gone farther than not responding.” I step back, prompting them to look inside.

“How about we put out a B.O.L.O. to our MC brothers?” John is already on a solution.

“Genius. With everyone on the lookout for her or her car, we’ll find her.”

“We should be able to crop one of our photos.”

“Good plan. I can’t let her walk away like this.”

Fifteen

Lexi

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