Page 62 of Tempted By the Bosshole

Tonight, I’ll take her to a swanky Valentine’s Day dinner before we go home, where I’m determined to worship her until dawn—but only after we put one of my gifts to good use.

Stopping my Mercedes in the Force Financial parking lot, I grab the plastic bag with her “gift” and head inside. Since it’s nearly six-thirty, most people have left. It’s unfortunate that Savannah Force needed Isabella for a last-minute project today of all days.

I’m itching to get my wife alone.

After an interminable ride in the elevator, I emerge onto the executive floor to find the expansive office space empty and dark, except for the light spilling from Chad Force’s half-closed door.

Josh Hennessey, one of Chad’s right-hand guys, emerges and sighs with relief when he sees me. “Did you come to lend another pair of hands to this fucking emergency?”

“I came to pick up my wife for dinner…but if there’s an emergency, I’ll roll up my sleeves and?—”

“Great. Follow me.”

Damn, this isn’t the Valentine’s Day evening I hoped, but I fall in behind Josh as he darts across the darkened floor. “What are we doing?”

“Brewing a pot of coffee. It’s going to be a long night.” He flips on the light in the break room. “Believe me, Marcus and I are dealing with a very unhappy wife. Word of advice? Don’t piss off a pregnant woman.”

“Kate is usually a team player, but I get it. Valentine’s Day and all.”

He nods, then frowns at the bag in my hand. “What’s that?”

Nothing I want to share with a coworker until my wife and I are ready. “Stuff I picked up at the drugstore for Isabella.”

“Ah.” He nods as he starts the coffee. “Find as many mugs as you can, then round up some cream and sugar, will you? Kate is ordering pizza for everyone and?—”

“What’s the emergency? And why didn’t anyone call me?”

“I’ll let Chad fill you in. Everything erupted in Asia shortly after you left the office and…” He sighs. “It’s a shit show.”

Not what I wanted to hear. “Shit.”

“Would you stay and watch the coffee? I need to hit the head.”

“Sure. I’m just going to say hi to Isabella and?—”

“Wait. They’re on a call. Negotiating. It’s tense.”

“Chad usually handles those issues.”

“He is, but it’s taking someone with a much sweeter disposition to get the job done.”

That’s definitely not Chad—or his wife, Savannah. She’s ruthlessness in stilettos. Same with Kate Hennessey-Hunt. Marcus is a bull in a china shop. That really only leaves Isabella to sugarcoat the negotiations, whatever they’re about. “Gotcha.”

“They’ll let us know when to come back.”

“So you’ve been relegated to Boy Friday and coffee fetcher, huh?” I grin.

“Fuck you.” He laughs before he dashes out of the break room.

Since it’s all hands on deck, I quickly gather and wash up a dozen coffee cups. Finally, Josh returns and lifts the steaming carafe, along with a few mugs, before gesturing me to gather the rest of the stuff. “Let’s go.”

“What does Chad need my help with?”

“I don’t know. The boss man and his bride run the show…”

And everyone knows it. Lucky for us, they do a great job. They’re both shrewd, honest, and generous. I know the Hennessey-Hunt family has benefited from working closely with the Forces. So have I. Since coming on board, Isabella has been admitted into the inner circle, and she’s thriving, too, professionally and personally.

“Hang on.” Josh shoves me back as we approach Chad’s door. “Let me see how quiet we have to be.”

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