Page 13 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

Cora shrugs and balances the stack of paperwork on one arm. “I don’t know why you would think that. We were both drinking, and we were the most incompatible people on earth. Add in being my boss, and we’re nothing but a trainwreck waiting to happen.”

My words get caught in my throat at her casual tone.

Cora is too relaxed about this entire situation. She’s acting like it was just another kiss with a stranger in the bar. One that she means to forget as quickly as possible.

Though this is for the best, I want her to admit that she enjoyed being with me.

Cora pulls open the door. “Now that we’ve talked about that night, there’s no need to discuss it again. Honestly, I’ve put it behind me.”

She leaves, the door swinging shut behind her.

Cora strides across the office, dropping the files on her desk and heading into Kaleigh’s office. A few moments later, laughter echoes from there before Cora comes back out and takes a seat at her desk.

Annoyance gnaws at me as she settles into work like nothing happened at all between the two of us.

If that’s how she wants to handle things, then so be it. It’s better this way.

I think.

Chapter five

Cora

Sophie bounces into my apartment, a box of wine tucked under one arm and a bag of fast food under the other.

Her red hair falls free around her face, and her dark brown eyes flit around the apartment as gunshots and sirens fill the night outside.

After a long week at work and an awkward discussion with Griffin about the kiss, celebrating the start of the weekend with my best friend is exactly what I need.

Sophie puts the food and wine on my yellowing countertop. “I wish you’d move out of this place. You could move in with me, you know.”

It’s not the first time she’s asked me to move in with her, and I doubt it will be the last.

While I appreciate the offer, moving in with someone else feels like a step back in my life. I like my independence after my last relationship.

Coming home and not having to answer to anyone else is a blessing in disguise.

Sure, it’s lonely sometimes, but it gives me time to think about what I want from life.

I roll my eyes and check the deadbolt on the front door. “It’s not the worst neighborhood. If you mind your business, everyone else will leave you alone.”

“Cora, you make too much money to live in a place like this.”

I wander back to the kitchen and grab a couple of glasses for the wine. “I know you‘re worried about me, but you don’t need to be. This apartment is only temporary. Once I’ve paid off all the debt, then things will be better.”

Sophie gives me a flat look before pulling ice out of the freezer. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not. Everything’s fine, Soph. I’m putting every extra penny I have toward the debt, and it’s starting to go down. I’ll be out of Victor’s mess in a year, maybe two, and then I’ll be good to go.”

Sophie dumps some ice cubes into the glasses. “I don’t think it’s your problem to deal with. You should take him to court over this. Make him pay back his own damn loans.”

“My name is on all of them too. It’s just as much my problem to pay them back as it is his.”

“And how much has he paid?” Sophie pours a healthy amount of white wine into each of our glasses.

“Nothing.” My cheeks burn at the admission. I reach for the wine and take a long sip.

Sophie sighs and opens the bag of food, pulling out burgers and fries. “Exactly. He gets to go and live life the way he wants while you’re stuck in this apartment. There’s a shooting outside, and you’re working with a man you can’t stand because Victor was an ass.”

---