Page 40 of My Forbidden Boss

“Oh, hi. I’m Adeline,” I stammer.

Her face clears, and she smiles. “I recognize your name. You’re dad’s new PA, aren’t you? Don’t tell me he has you working on a Sunday morning. I think that goes above and beyond the call of duty. I’ll have a word with him about it. Not everyone wants to work like he does. You’re entitled to have a weekend off, even if he never takes one.”

Dad? This young woman is David’s daughter?

We’re the same age with a massive difference. She’s easy-breezy light and I’ll never be like that. I’m the poor relation in second-hand clothes with crushed dreams.

I tense at the soft rustle of material behind me. “Steph! What are you doing here?”

I turn to see David freshly showered with wet hair and wearing body-hugging casual tan trousers and a white shirt. The smell of soap and his familiar scent washes over me. My heart does a stupid flip because he looks so damn good. My mouth waters and I force my attention to Steph, who launches herself towards David and hugs him. “Is it against the rules to surprise you?”

“Consider me surprised,” David says.

My mouth turns to ash when his arms come around her and he hugs her back.

“A daughter can’t come home and surprise her dad when she has a few days off from college?” Steph asks.

“Of course. This is your home. You’re welcome anytime,” David says.

I have to leave.

“Adeline, stay,” David says when I reach for my bag. It’s in a heap by the front door where it dropped out of my hand when he kissed me.

“Let her go, dad. Your staff deserves to have a day off,” Steph says.

“Steph, she’s…” There’s a resigned note in David’s voice. He’s going to tell Steph about me. About us, but that won’t do. Fewer pieces to pick up in the aftermath.

“Just going. I’ll have that report done first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you for going over it with me and sorry to disturb your Sunday. There’s a lot to learn about this new job. I’ll see you on Monday, Mr Chandler.” I pick up my bag, put the strap over my shoulder, and ignore my trembling hand.

“Adeline, we can…” David says.

“Dad! It’s Sunday. Let the poor woman go,” Steph scolds. “Besides, I want to spend the day with you. I haven’t seen you in weeks and thought we could have lunch at Narcissa and catch up.”

I force a smile to my lips. “That sounds lovely. Enjoy your lunch, Mr Chandler. Nice to meet you, Steph.”

I close the door behind me and fast-walk down the hallway to the elevator, clutching my bag and what’s left of my dignity. This weekend is a fantasy I need to leave behind. A once in a lifetime event where I forgot a reality that won’t go away.

The doorman opens the door for me and I shiver in the frigid air. My coat — Steph’s coat — is on the floor in David’s bedroom. I’m not going back up for it.

I hunker my shoulders and start the trek across town, ignoring the chill in my bones that has nothing to do with the snow falling. Whatever this is between us needs to be kept a secret. No one can find out David’s having an affair with a woman the same age as his daughter and his new ‘PA’ to boot. It would lead to too many questions for him.

I’m going to ruin this development for him, but I won’t ruin his reputation.

Even if it ruins me.

Chapter 15

David

Monday morning. I nod my head at a staff member, paying them no mind as I stride from the elevator to my office. I don’t hear what he says. He’s background noise. My focus is on finding Adeline. My skin itches with the need to see her. To talk to her. It’s already nine thirty, so she should be in the office.

Steph took my focus yesterday. She surprised me, turning up unannounced. Normally I love spending time with my daughter. I see her precious little now she’s at college, but Adeline left a hole when she abandoned me. I owe her the explanation she didn’t let me give her when I left messages on her cell.

And an apology.

I should never have let her go.

Should have had the balls to tell Steph who Adeline is to me, hell be damned. Steph is my daughter, but Adeline is…

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