Page 56 of My Forbidden Boss

Black clouds and razor blades fill my head. It takes the edge off Max’s calls, asking me what information I have for him and threatening me when I feed him scraps. I give him the bare minimum.

Andrea has taken over the Moss Creek tender and worked closely with David getting it to the final stage before submission. She’s guarded it with a ferociousness of a starved guard dog and I happily stay away from those rabid teeth. She’ll tear a pound of my flesh and eat it while I watch. Now it’s off to where the local government will look it over. My mother and two hundred people’s futures tossed to the whims of government officials.

I’m waiting for next week, when they’ll go to Powerhouse Florida and I’ll be able to breathe for a few days. I can get what I need to satisfy Max and force him to secure housing for Mom. Then I’ll leave Blue Sky and never come back. I’ll never have to face David again. Never have to bolster myself against his attempts to change my mind.

He doesn’t give me presents, or flowers, or chocolates or jewelry. He gives me nothing but kind words. Lingering looks. Care and attention, all of which I refuse to accept.

All of which I yearn to have because those are the true treasures of life.

He’s playing the hard game.

I keep my head down. Make myself scarce when he’s in the office. Don’t give him what my being begs me to do.

Stay strong. Think of Mom. He’ll hate me less when this mess is over.

Those words are my mantra and I say them relentlessly throughout the day and when he comes to talk to Andrea about their trip to Powerhouse Florida, I’m at the end of my rope.

Three more days. That’s all I have to hold out for. They’ll be gone by Monday. I’ll have the office to myself. I can get something to satisfy Max and be on the train back to Mom by morning tea.

Andrea’s phone rings and I bury my face in the computer screen while she answers. Ignoring David is my best course of action because I’m wearing down after his best efforts. I can’t take much more before I offer myself to him, put myself exactly where I want to be. In his bed, limbs tangled, giving myself over and over to him and telling the universe to fuck off because I’m going to be selfish and take everything I want.

Her conversation is short and sharp, and she’s not happy. Her sister needs her. The pregnancy is not going well and there’s an emergency. I hear Andrea stammer an apology to David, hear the controlled anger in her voice because she wanted to go on that trip. She wanted unfettered access to David for the three days of the conference and she’s pissed off she won’t get it.

She picks up her bag, gathers her things and stomps out of the office, all anger and worry, before David turns to me. I crane my neck and look up into my doom.

“I need one of my assistants at the conference, and now that Andrea can’t make it, it’s going to be you, Adeline. Pack your bags and be ready to leave by Sunday morning. I’ll pick you up at ten and we’ll go directly to the airport.”

He places his hands on the desk and towers above me. I drink in the scent of masculine spice that results in a full body shiver and it’s so unfair, because how can I resist him when he does things like that? “I’ll have you all to myself, love. I’m done with hiding. I’m not playing around anymore. I want you. All of you and I’m settling for nothing less.”

Chapter 21

Adeline

My feet take me back to the red-dress second hand shop. My sense of dread has direction, taking me the few blocks from my condo to stand in hissing steam from an open grate from the subway below early Saturday morning.

My sleep consisted of tosses and turns and David’s phantom hands on my body. I called it a night when dawn lightened the sky and gave me permission to give up on sleep. It’s early enough for the shop to be barely open and yet I’ve been awake for hours, the gaping hole in my stomach swallowing me without remorse.

It’s throwing good sense at me, urging me to turn heel and run back to Mom. Pack our bags and take our chances when my head tells me there’s none to be found because I have no choice. I must push forward, ignore the bad ideas and the sharp corner I’m backed into or die because survival demands it.

The occasion of my demise requires me to dress. My exhausted wardrobe won’t extend to the Florida heat. The chimes tinkle as I step into the stuffy scent of worn clothing and mothballs and my nose twitches. Desperation has a smell.

“Hello.” The lady who sold me the red-dress smiles at me. “You’re back.”

I force my lips to curve, notch my chin and firm my shoulders. “I hope you can help me again.”

Her smile broadens. She reminds me of the grandmother I never knew, all sunny smiles and homey-care. Hell, my Mom would be like this if she wasn’t disabled and could afford a shopping trip. “I sure can. What do you need?”

“I have to go on a trip. For business. Florida.” I give her the details and her eyes light up.

“Florida! Lucky girl. It’ll be nice to get out of this winter weather,” she says.

I’d like to get out of more than the weather, but I don’t elaborate as she flutters around the shop, pulling clothing from over-stuffed racks and putting the items over her arm, a whirlwind of excitement. I’d happily stand aside and let her take the trip. That was a possibility.

“Was the gala successful?” she asks, and picks up sandals and a sunhat. “Catch anyone’s eye?”

She remembers me and the red dress she found for me. My cheeks heat and I duck my head. “It was a big night.”

I don’t miss the sparkle in her eyes as she looks me up and down, and I think I’m now her personal project. It’s confirmed when she says. “You’ll need some more after five dresses. These business events aren’t restricted to business hours. Do you have a bathing suit?”

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