Page 36 of Broken Boss

“Yeah. I’m good.” There’s a false brightness to her words, her smile. Frank corrals in close to her, giving off a worried air as he bumps against her knees. “Sorry, I just…I don’t like talking about my family. I just got caught up there.”

“It’s fine. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

She shakes her head as we begin walking again. “No, I volunteered that information. You didn’t ask. I’d just, um, like you said—I’d like to keep work and my private life separate from now on. If that’s okay.”

I nod blindly, caught off guard by her sudden vulnerability and softness. Autum huddles into her coat again for the rest of the walk back, her brows furrowed and Frank sneaking uneasy looks over his shoulder at her.

Something is off, but I just can’t place it. She’s telling the truth, but leaving something out.

It’s not your place to wonder, that voice in my head warns. It’s not your business to know.

As we reach the apartment building, the street now busier with people coming home or heading out for the night, I suddenly wish that it was my business.

Or at least that I was a participant in Autumn’s life. Instead of just a boss. A bystander catching glimpses of this woman I can’t look away from, this woman I long to know more about.

She gives me a tight smile, thanking me, but the intimate moment we shared earlier is long gone.

I wait until she’s inside the foyer. Frank’s tail wags low as he looks up at her again, obviously in tune with her feelings.

Too bad dogs can’t talk.

Chapter 13

Autumn

I hate to admit it, but with the Wilcox case off my plate, I can focus on other, more important clients. The ones I’m not ashamed to have my name attached to.

Friday is relatively slow, as it’s impossible to get documents from outside sources by the end of the day. Saskia is prepping our end-of-year reports for the finance department, which shouldn’t be a heavy lift due to how long (or short) I’ve been with the firm.

Sitting back from a stack of paperwork, I take a second to catch my breath. Two more hours and then I can head home. A flutter of excitement tickles my chest at the thought of being in Chris’s car again, discussing the Waters case and little pieces of our lives on the short drive home.

I shouldn’t be anticipating being alone with him. I shouldn’t want that.

The plan is still on—make partner. Destroy him.

I can do that by gaining his trust. Everything is moving faster than I thought it would, and it feels like I’m tumbling down a rabbit hole. But when he does finally trust me with all his secrets, I can show the world what kind of man he really is.

And who is that?

The voice questioning me is sour, defensive. A montage flashes through my mind—Chris focused on Marie Waters’s case, Chris holding me after the flower incident, Chris walking through Central Park with Frank and me, telling me about his family.

He’s so different from the cold, ruthless lawyer I always thought he was.

A light knock on the door startles me out of that memory.

“Sorry.” Saskia winces. “I was just going to run across the street for an afternoon coffee. Do you want anything?”

Tapping my pen on the desk, I consider the offer. I could use a little boost…but no way am I about to ask for just a black coffee from a gourmet café.

“You know what? If you don’t mind, I’ll come with you. Some fresh air would be nice.”

Ten minutes later, we’re out on the street, both of us intent on watching the traffic before we make a run for it. Across the street and two blocks down is Sugar & Spice, a café that’s always packed in the morning but is usually quiet about now.

Saskia sighs and pulls back, giving up momentarily. She’s put in hard work this past month—I’ll have to try and do something about that. Even though I just started here, I should have some say in who gets raises and promotions. If possible, I’d like to keep her on my team when I move up, too.

The blaring sound of a radio going by pulls my attention. My eyes scan the other side of the street automatically, drift over a familiar figure, then slide back.

My heart stops.

---