Page 27 of My Forbidden Boss

“Does your friend have any family she can call on?” I ask.

Adeline’s lips tighten. She swirls her glass with her fingers. “Maybe living there is better than the family they have.”

I have a sinking feeling her friend is in a no-win situation. “There’s normally a plan to relocate the people who live there.”

Her mouth twists. “Not in this case.”

I frown. Usually, that’s not something I worry about. My concerns are to win the tender for Blue Sky. Who or what the government arranges for its people isn’t a part of my thinking.

“They should have received notification.” By the time tenders are distributed, the tenants should be well-organized.

“I…they…did. In the form of a date to get out of their homes or be thrown out.” I taste the bitterness of her words.

“Did they seek the help of their local council?” I ask.

“They did everything. No one is listening. Why would they? These are the people everyone wants to forget. The people to be ashamed of. They want to get rid of them and forget about them. It’s the way it’s always been in that town,” she says.

There’s pain in her voice. She feels for her friend. Of course she does. Adeline isn’t a flippant woman experienced beyond her years. I see the evidence of how deeply her emotions are from the strain on her face. The words she uses. She’s seen how her friend lives. I’m sure it isn’t pretty.

My cell vibrates. I take the call because it’s Andrea, but my attention never breaks from Adeline. “Mr Chandler. I’m so sorry I haven’t been in.” From the tone of her voice, it seems as though Andrea has been out of the office for weeks.

“That’s fine, Andrea. You said it might be a few days. How is your sister?”

“She’s doing better, but still needs my help. I should be back by next week,” she says.

“That’s fine. I’ll see you on Monday,” I say. To be honest, a week without Andrea in my office will give me time with Adeline. The woman sees everything. When she’s back, I’ll have to be extra careful because I don’t plan to stop kissing Adeline just because I’m at work.

“How is Adeline working out?” Andrea asks. Her tone gives me pause. It’s tight and filled with disapproval.

“She’s a quick learner,” I say. “I’m happy with what she’s doing.”

There’s a slight pause. “When I’m back, I’ll get someone more suited.”

“There’s no need,” I say, reiterating my words. “I’ll see you next week, and if you need more time let me know,” I say and end the call.

Adeline fidgets. She’s done nothing to warrant Andrea’s dislike. “I’ll chat with Andrea when she’s back in the office.”

Adeline’s face is knowing, but she doesn’t know that I’ll fire Andrea if she takes a dislike to Adeline no matter how long the woman has been my PA. It’s like that.

“We should get back,” she says.

It’s a two hour drive back to the city and the sky is already getting dark. I secretly like that I’ll have her to myself for the drive home. She peppers me with hesitant questions about the property development. I tell her what I can and how Blue Sky will handle the tender if we win.

This development is a big deal for Blue Sky, made bigger because it affects Adeline. I make a decision to speak to the land manager and see how the relocation of the tenants has been handled.

I pull the car to a stop outside the address she gives me and question it, checking google maps on the car’s navigation system. The brick is dull and brown. The messy graffiti tells of boredom and hate and the dealer on the corner is trying to stay warm.. The train line is so close to the building, the vibrations alone are enough to compromise the foundation. This is as bad as the building in Moss Creek. “Is this the right building?”

“The rent in New York is expensive,” she says and unclips her seat belt.

I have to remember she hasn’t had years to work, save and make investments. She’s only a couple of years out of high school. If Steph lived somewhere similar, I’d drag her out and move her back with me.

I hide the urge to do the same to Adeline, but she opens the door and the cool air from the street slices through the heated air inside my car. “I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”

“Come here,” I order because no way is she leaving before I can taste her lips again.

She leans in and I drag out the kiss. I slide my tongue between her lips where it has no business being and moan in satisfaction when she sighs and kisses me back. I decide I love the sounds she makes when I kiss her. She’s clumsy, as though she’s never really kissed before. I like that too.

My dick hardens wondering if she’s a virgin.

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