Page 4 of The Bossy Billionaire

“Good morning, Miss Rothschild,” the friendly receptionist says.

“It’s Miss Bloomer, and you know it. Where are they?” I spit out to her. I feel bad immediately. It is not my usual style, and she didn’t do anything wrong, but if I turn into my usual happy persona now, my brothers will not get my full wrath.

“Ahhh, they are in a meeting…” is all she gets out before I start hobbling down the hall.

“Wait, please, Miss Rothschild…” she says tentatively, following closely behind.

“It is Miss Bloomer, and I will open every door on this floor unless you tell me where to find them.” My words are sharp as they fly from my mouth, and again, I wince, hating myself for my tone. I am about to apologize, but she speaks.

“They are in the boardroom at the end, but, Miss Bloomer…” Even though I limp, I am still quicker than her in her tower high heels. As I approach the door, I straighten my shoulders and clear my throat. My hair hangs loosely around my neck and could use a brush. I got dressed in a hurry this morning, so I have little makeup on. I am not wearing the corporate attire that is common in this office. I’m more casual in appearance in my jeans and baggy sweater and totally out of place here in my brothers’ domain. But I take a breath and channel my anger.

I can almost feel the testosterone as I get closer to the door at the end of the hall that leads to the boardroom. I don’t bother knocking. Instead, I grit my teeth and force the door open, walking straight in.

“What part of keep your nose out of my business don’t you all understand?” I say, my voice booming as I see all four of my brothers sitting in their power suits around the table. My eyes thin as I look at Harrison, who has a small smile dancing on his lips, then I flick them to Ben, whose smile is as wide as his eyes. Eddie coughs out the water he just sipped, and Tennyson barks out a laugh.

“God, I love having a sister!” Tennyson yells as his cackle continues. He is obviously the extrovert of the family. Meanwhile, my shoulders are up to my ears as my eyes sweep around. Harrison is already standing to walk over to me, but it isn’t just them in the room. Three other men sit around the table. All big guys, wearing suits, looking like they belong on some TV show or catwalk. I swallow, starting to feel my anger wane and slight embarrassment take over.

“Everything alright?” Harrison asks, and I can tell by the way his eyes twinkle that he knows exactly why I am here.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” I say to him, scrunching my face up, trying to stay mad. But as soon as I see them all, I soften. Yes, they are overbearing, totally annoying, and completely frustrating, but I love them all.

“What did you do this time, brother?” Eddie asks, looking at us both from where he stands. My uber protective younger brother’s smile grows. They are all too damn cheeky.

“Upped her security,” he says, leaning back against the table, folding his arms across his chest.

“I don’t need security,” I say to them all, and they all frown in return.

“You need security,” Ben assures, standing authoritatively and looking concerned.

“I was fine before you came into my life, and I will be fine after. I run a bookstore, not a jail. I am not having bars on the windows, so you can just forget about it.” My hands finding my hips, I silently groan through the familiar ache strumming up my thigh.

I hear a throat clear and look down the long boardroom table at the three gorgeous men I have been deliberately ignoring.

“Gents, let us introduce you to my baby sister,” Harrison says, and I scoff. I’m not a baby anything. He gives me a side-eye before continuing. “This is Lucy. Lucy, this is Connor and Tanner from Whiteman Whiskey, and Huxley Hamilton from Blueshark Investments.” He says it like I should know these businesses. But I don’t. I look across at them. Two look sharp in their suits, their facial features somewhat similar. I assume they are related, probably brothers. My eyes then flick across to the other man, and my lips part a little. His gaze is intense, his eyes the most vibrant blue. He looks like a man who would get everything he wants, not even needing to ask for it.

“Blueshark?” I raise an eyebrow, acting bored. Huxley’s eyes glimmer in delight, and when I hear Tennyson chuckle again, I start to relax. He is so annoying.

“Blueshark Investments. I invest in businesses that have growth potential, scale them up, and make them profitable.” His voice makes my knees weak as it slides down my body like warm liquid, and I bite my tongue to ensure I stay in my angry state, which is dissipating more and more by the second.

“Sounds exciting.” My tone is sarcastic, sounding less than impressed, and I turn back to face my brothers.

“The other thing I have organized for you is a business coach,” Harrison says to me.

My brow crumples as my temper starts rising again. “A business coach?” I spit out. He is unbelievable.

“Well, you won’t listen to any of us, so I thought someone more independent…” He gestures back to Huxley, who looks just as shocked as I am, but I cut him off.

“Let me guess, you guys go way back, college buddies or something like that?” I can tell by the look on Harrison’s face that I hit the mark. The whiskey and glasses sitting in the middle of the table also give him away.

“I can help you.” Huxley’s deep voice rumbles through my body for a second time, and I send him a glare.

“I don’t need anyone’s help.” My voice comes out sharper than I intend, but they all need to butt out. I am not an invalid. I am not a victim. I manage things just fine on my own. Well, except for the looming bills that need to be paid and the barrage of media that continues to swirl, but I can handle that. It will just take some juggling.

“Just stay out of my business.” I point my finger at each of my brothers to express my emotions.

“Never. Come over for dinner tonight. Willow is sad because she misses her sister, so she is making cupcakes today,” Tennyson says, leaning back in his chair, acting like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

My eyes thin. “What flavor?” I struck gold with their wives and partners.

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