Page 17 of My Forbidden Boss

She sets the tray on the table while I sit down and cross my legs to hide my swelling cock. I indicate the chair when she hovers. “Sit, Adeline.”

She tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. Her cheeks are still nicely flushed, all pink and pale flawless skin. She nibbles her lips the way I want to. “I want to thank you for taking me out to dinner last night. And for the spaghetti. And for this.” My credit card is in her proffered hand. “It’s not a company card. It’s your card. I can’t keep it.”

I don’t want it back. I want her to spend my money in payment for my less than moral thoughts.

I correct myself. They’re not ‘less than moral’. They’re completely inappropriate. Deviant. Possessive.

Obsessive.

I should be condemned for them but I can’t stop.

I find I don’t want to.

“Andrea usually handles the company cards. I’ll get her to issue you one when she’s back, but use that in the meantime,” I say.

None of that is true. Only trusted employees get a company card and there’s a stringent process after legal checks have been completed. One day she’ll find that out. But not today. I’ll handle that when the time comes, but right now I want to see her eat. I want to care for her the way no one else does.

She’s uncomfortable so I get down to the jobs I want her to do, namely start organizing the upcoming property development conference in Florida I’ll be attending — Powerhouse Florida. Andrea normally attends the annual event but this year my imagination is filled with Adeline at my side instead. I don’t want to leave her behind for the week of the conference. When she’s finished eating, I let her go back to her desk. She gets on with her tasks and I stare at her most of the morning through my office window.

She’s the perfect distraction.

I watch every move she makes. She does the job as best she can with the least amount of direction, working methodically. She holds a grim determination about her, so at odds with her young face. Adeline is not like Stephanie. Where my daughter is all youthful smiles and carefree thoughts, Adeline is serious and somber. She’s old beyond her years and I wonder what life has done to her to make her be that way.

I google Bob’s Burgers and find that it’s a fast food burger restaurant rip off in Moss Creek. Her hometown. I was right. I hate she worked there. The staff are probably young and overworked to burn out.

My mind drifts to the property development up for grabs, my biggest competitor Max Bourke and I follow through with my decision to call Tristan.

He picks up on the second ring. “Hey man. What’s up?”

“I need you to see what’s being said about Max Bourke around the traps.” I’ve known Tristan too long to waste time on small talk. We went through our business degrees together and he’s the only person I trust one hundred percent. He went into banking while I went on to do a building apprenticeship. Made his first million by the time he hit twenty five and hasn’t looked back. I borrowed from him to start Blue Sky, paid him back within five years and now hand him the best business clients in the state if they’re looking for a loan and financial advice.

We’ve spent countless hours watching ball, drinking beer and lamenting the lost loves in our lives. What we don’t know about each other isn’t worth knowing.

One day, I’ll tell him about Adeline. If anyone will understand, it’ll be him. Especially once he sees her.

Adeline is a bombshell and she has no idea.

“Any reason?” Tristan is immediately on alert. He hates Max Bourke as much as I do.

“Yeah, the Moss Creek property development. I’m interested in it for Blue Sky. I want to see what stake he has in it. And why,” I say.

“You got it. Up for the game on Sunday?” he says.

I look at Adeline and the game on Sunday looks less appealing. I want to leave it open just in case I ask her to work. Some important thing that only the two of us can do. Just so I can see her across the weekend. It’s not right, but I’ll be that asshole when it comes to her. “I’ll let you know. Something’s in the works.”

“Is that something a ‘female’? You never miss a Vikings game.” Tristan is too perceptive for his own good.

“Why do you think it’s a female? It could be work,” I say and wince when I hear the tone in my voice.

Tristan chuckles. “You need someone to keep you in order. I hope this one’s a good one.”

“Speak for yourself,” I say. After Tristan’s latest disaster, he’s sworn off women. A year later and he still is. I hate to see him twisted up like this. Anne really did a number on him, but I can’t say I don’t understand where he’s coming from. After a while, it’s easier to keep away from women, make some better decisions and save on the heartache.

I should listen to my own advice.

My office door slams back on its hinges and Samantha storms through all wild red hair, figure-hugging dress and fake tears. She stands in the middle of my office, calculated triumph on her face. I hoped never to see Samantha again. Looks like it’s not my day.

“I have to go,” I tell Tristan, end the call and make my way around my desk.

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