Page 38 of Claimed By the Boss

On silent feet, I pad out of the bedroom and down the hall. I remember seeing an office on our way through the house. That’s where he’ll most likely be, which means there’s a desktop to break in.

As I near the stairs, my steps slow at the sound of Nolan’s deep rumble. “I told you not to come here, Jade.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you came to meet me as planned.”

I recognize Phoenix’s voice, whose real name must be Jade. He was nice to me, but now the familiarity in his tone makes my stomach twist with unease.

“You know why I couldn’t make our appointment.”

Dropping to the floor, I creep to the top of the railing and peer through the rungs.

Below, Nolan and the stripper formerly known as Phoenix stand close together in the foyer, their bodies relaxed in a way that reveals how comfortable they are with each other.

When working as a server, I never saw Nolan even give this Jade a passing glance, so why do they look like they’re more than boss and employee?

Jade flips his long hair over his shoulder. “How long before you know if you knocked him up?”

Bile rises in my throat. Why does Jade know I might be pregnant? Why would Nolan talk to him about our situation? Then I remember how my suppressants went missing from my locker. Did Jade have something to do with that? No, he tried to help me. Didn’t he?

“The doctor will be here in two days.” Nolan grips Jade’s arm and propels him toward the door. “You need to leave.”

“Why?” Jade wiggles free. “Afraid Leo will catch us?”

Nolan’s hands clench. “Yes.”

“Then you should have left him at the family house.” Jade straightens his form-fitting jacket, which I now notice is far nicer than what he wears to the club. “How long do you plan to keep this a secret from him? He’s going to find out about us, eventually.”

Nolan leans past him to yank the door open. “Get out.”

“Fine, but I expect you to come see me in the morning.” Jade wags a finger at him as he strolls out onto the porch. “No more neglecting me while you play house with Leo.”

“Goodnight, Jade.”

“Goodnight, Nolan.” The pretty stripper blows him a kiss. “Love you.”

Nolan hesitates in the process of closing the door. “Love you, too.”

I slap my hand over my mouth to muffle my gasp and scramble back to the bedroom. My body trembles as I shrug out of Nolan’s shirt and kick it under the bed to hide it before diving back beneath the covers.

Tears trickle down my cheeks as an empty ache opens in my chest, threatening to consume me.

Nolan always said I belonged to him, but he never said he belonged to me, and now I know why.

Someone else already owns his heart.

16

Agentle brush of fingers through my hair draws me from a fitful sleep. My lashes flutter up to find Nolan dressed in a suit and crouched on the floor by my head.

His brow creases with concern. “Hey, I didn’t want to disturb you, but I need to go out on some business.”

I rub my puffy eyes. “Why not just leave a note like usual?”

“You were tossing and turning all night.” He sweeps back my bangs. “I didn’t want you to wake up alone in a new place.”

Too late for that. Pain knifes through my chest, and I catch his hand. “Can’t you stay?”

Regret fills his eyes. “If only I could, sweet boy. But I already put this meeting off once.”

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