Page 30 of Claimed By the Boss

A scoff comes from one of the twins, but I ignore him, my focus on the man in front of me.

“Is that what you think your brother is worth?” Longing for the blanket on the settee upstairs, I fold my other leg beneath me. “Fifty thousand?”

He uncaps his pen and holds it poised over the check at the top. “What do you think he’s worth?”

I consider how much I want to stay with Nolan. “Eighty.”

Disgust twists Aaiden’s features. “Fine. Raphael has the documents for you to sign. We’ll have a car take you home.”

A man with golden-brown hair places a briefcase on the table at my elbow.

Ignoring him, I lift my cup and breathe in the fragrant steam. “Eighty years.”

Aaiden’s head lifts. “Excuse me?”

“Nolan is worth eighty years, so that’s what I want. Eighty years by his side, devoting my life to his happiness.” A smile spreads over my face before reality sets in. “But you don’t have the authority to give me that. Nolan’s future is his to decide.”

Aaiden’s brow furrows, as if unsure he heard me right.

“Now, I need to return to our suite.” I push back my chair and stand. “Nolan will worry if he comes home and thinks I’ve run away.”

Raphael shifts to block me at the same time Aaiden stands.

“Sit down.” The Command rolls right over me, Nolan’s Mark offering protection from other Alphas for as long as it remains on my nape.

But with a cautious look at Raphael, I resume my seat, fully aware that if these men want me to stay, I stay.

Raphael places a slim folder from his briefcase in front of me.

Opening it, he reveals my employee file from Velvet Oasis. A flick of his finger slides the top sheet across the table, exposing my brother’s arrest records and my mother’s charges for drunken disorderliness.

My stomach twists, but I’m not shocked that they investigated me. Which means all the talk about people missing me earlier was pure lip service. They know I’m alone in life and desperate.

A quick look reveals my high school diploma, university withdrawal form, residency history, and a bank statement displaying a negative balance. Nothing about Gino, though.

I peer up at Raphael. “Should I feel threatened?”

“You’ve fallen on hard times, Leo. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’ve found a sugar daddy. Once the honeymoon glow wears off, you’ll be back on the streets with nothing to show for it.” He drops an NDA and another contract on top of my personal documents. “Take the bribe before we rescind the offer.”

“That would be a convincing speech if I were here for the money.” I close the folder. “No thank you.”

Aaiden taps his pen against his checkbook. “Just tell us what you want.”

“A cheeseburger,” I say honestly.

He stares at me, nonplussed. “What?”

While I appreciate all the avocados, lean proteins, and fruits, I’m getting tired of eating for my potential pregnancy. “A good cheeseburger. No whole grain bun and ground turkey bullshit. I want greasy beef and cheese dripping down my wrists.”

I drool at the thought. With consistent access to food waking up my stomach, cravings have been roaring to life. “Don’t skimp on the French fries, either. Oh, and a slice of chocolate cake with vanilla cream filling. Fried chicken, too. And pepperoni pizza?—”

A hand covers my mouth, and Nolan’s familiar scent envelops me. “That’s enough, my greedy boy.”

My eyes close, and I breathe him in, my anxiety calming with his arrival.

“I must have missed the family meeting invite.” Nolan pulls out my chair, picks me up to take my place, and settles me on his lap. “Luckily, my personal alarm alerted me to turn around. Sorry, I’m late.”

When he presses a cup from Smooth Grooves into my hand, it’s orange instead of the usual pink. “What flavor is this?”

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