Page 15 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

Cheese knife in hand and busy strategizing about the Brie, all I responded was, “Huh?”

“Are you bringing a lawyer?” he clarified.

I paused, a hunk of cheese stuck to the knife. My eyes were wide as I stared at Marcus. “Do you think that’s necessary?”

“Absolutely.”

Suddenly, the Brie didn’t seem so appetizing. I swallowed thickly, staring at the soft white cheese, my heart thumping a little bit harder. “You think they’re trying to sue me?”

“I think you need to make sure you have support,” Marcus said, then put his phone to his ear. “Phil, thanks for taking my call. I need a favor.”

Penny let out a besotted sigh. “I just love him,” she said, smiling at her husband.

Meanwhile, the image of my quickly dwindling bank account flashed across my mind. I cleared my throat. “Listen, guys, I really appreciate this, but…”

Marcus finished his call and hung up the phone. He arched a brow. “But?”

“But I’m not… I don’t think… It just seems a bit much, is all. I don’t think I need a big-shot lawyer with me for a simple meeting.”

“Phil Phillips is one of the best lawyers?—”

“His name is Phil Phillips?” Penny interrupted. “Did his parents hate him?”

Marcus’s gaze fell on his wife, and some sort of silent communication happened between them. For a moment, I felt like I was intruding on a charged, intimate moment. After a while, when Penny’s cheeks had flushed red, Marcus let his hand drift to her lower back and shifted his gaze back to me. “Phil Phillips is one of the best lawyers in the city. He’s happy to give you an hour of his time.”

“See, the thing is”—I cleared my throat—“I’m not sure I can exactly afford an hour of his time.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Marcus said, gaze dropping to the charcuterie. He picked up a little bundle of prosciutto cut so thin it was nearly transparent. “Monday’s meeting is covered. If you need his advice beyond that, we can talk about it then. I have work to do.” He ate the meat, planted a kiss on his wife’s temple, then disappeared down the hall.

Bear, torn, took a few steps to follow then reconsidered and stayed close to Penny—and the charcuterie board.

Penny smiled at the hallway. “Isn’t he just a sweetheart?”

He was gruff and grumpy and didn’t seem to like many people besides Penny, his kid, his nieces and nephews, and his mom, but sure. He was a sweetheart. I arched my brows at my friend. “Are you sure it’s okay for this Phil Phillips guy to come with me?”

“Of course!” Penny beamed at me, flicking her red hair over her shoulder. “Marcus is right, you know. You shouldn’t be going in there on your own.”

“Right,” I answered, grateful and uncomfortable all at once. Penny and I had known each other before she married into wealth, and it was still strange to see her circumstances changed so dramatically. I was grateful for her help, of course, and I loved her company. She was a great friend.

I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I was a placeholder. I slotted in conveniently to the place in her life that required easy friendship. I was someone she could call over for a simple charcuterie board, and she knew she didn’t have to dress up or try to impress me.

I hated having those thoughts. I knew Penny had a big heart. But there had been so many things in my life lately that shook my confidence and my self-esteem a little too violently. I wasn’t sure where I belonged anymore. I wasn’t sure if I’d squandered one too many chances to make something of myself.

“Have you seen Bonnie lately?” Penny asked.

I nodded. “We went shopping together last weekend. I haven’t talked to her about this, though.” I lifted the splint on my finger.

“Hmm,” said Penny.

“I’m catching up with her next week. Why?”

“I think she’s screening my calls.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Weird, right?”

It was weird, and I wondered if Bonnie was like me—unsure of exactly where she stood in the world and in our friend group.

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