Page 46 of Bossy Romance

I step toward her but, before I can push the conversation, the elevator doors open.

Lyra springs out. “Thanks for the mini-tour, sis. Next time, you can show me more of the place.”

I stumble out of the elevator, but Lyra’s fast. She takes off through the turn pikes and disappears out the front door like a poof of smoke.

My heart burns. Something tells me that today’s visit wasn’t so innocent or coincidental, but I don’t have any proof.

What is she up to?

“Miss Delaney, are you okay?” Henry approaches me, a concerned wrinkle between his bushy eyebrows.

“I’m fine, Henry. Thank you.”

“You look like you’re going to faint.” He slides a chair over to me so I can sit.

“I don’t need it.” The words escape on a wheeze.

Henry doesn’t listen. He waits stubbornly until I take a seat and then he runs off to get a bottle of water for me.

“Thanks.” I accept the bottle from him and untwist the cap.

Henry folds his arms over his chest. “Was that really your sister?”

“Yeah.”

“She seems… interesting.”

I let out a bark of laughter.That’s one way to describe her.

“You need anything?” Henry asks me. The way he’s looking at me, I sense that his offer of help is sincere.

He’s a good kid.

A smart one. He won scholarships all the way through to his Masters and is now working on his PHD.

As Henry continues to stare, I feel something growing between us. The connection isn’t born from smarts or even from working at the same company. It’s that unspoken understanding that comes when people of the same complexion, the same background, enter a room where they don’t fit.

I release a sharp breath. “I’m okay.”

“Sure.” He bobs his head.

“Really.” I clear my throat. “Get back to work. Even with today’s surprises, we still have a lot to do.”

He hesitates.

“Henry, if you intend on earning a permanent position, I suggest you listen to me.”

He trots away quickly.

I smile at his back.

“Miss Delaney,” a security guard approaches me, “we’re trying to keep the reporters away, but they’re refusing to take no for an answer. Should we get the police involved?”

“No, that’ll only make this bigger.” I rub my temple, hating that I didn’t bring my purse with me. I keep my headache pills in there and I could really use one.

The security guard looks expectantly at me.

I drop my hand. “Tell them we’ll post a press release in two hours. We won’t be giving any exclusive interviews so they’re just wasting their time hanging around.”

---