Page 1 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

CHAPTER 1

NATHAN

The door clicks shut behind the last of the suits, leaving me alone in my office with my chief operations officer. Corey plops down in the chair across from my desk and loosens his tie.

“Well, that went better than expected,” he says. “The board was eating out of your hand by the end. That skyscraper’s as good as approved.”

I nod, barely listening as I straighten the stacks of paper on my desk. My mind is still buzzing with building plans and design concepts.

Years of hard work have gone into this moment, and to say that I’m proud of myself would be an understatement. When I started my real estate development company, I certainly dreamed of being where I am today — in this skyscraper office overlooking New York City — but I never knew whether I’d meet the goal or not.

And now here I am. At the pinnacle.

I’m about to erect one of the tallest buildings this city has ever seen. I’m about to shape the skyline, leaving a lasting mark on this concrete jungle. The weight of responsibility settles on my shoulders, but I embrace it, fueled by passion and a relentless drive for success.

A smile pulls at my lips. Honestly, the success is almost a letdown, as I’m not sure where to go from here. It seems I’ve already reached the top.

Corey leans forward. “So, are you excited for the gala tonight or what?”

“Hmm?” I press the button on my coffeemaker. “Want a latte?”

“No, thanks.” He grabs a fidget toy from the coffee table. “Did you hear what I just said? The fundraiser gala. For your charity.” He laughs.

I glance up at Corey, my mind still preoccupied with thoughts of my towering achievement. The fundraiser gala for my charity…

How could I have forgotten? An event of such significance should have been at the forefront of my thoughts, but sometimes my single-minded focus on my real estate empire momentarily eclipses any other concerns.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Rubbing elbows with the city’s elite is about as appealing as a root canal, but my COO, just like me, knows it’s part of the job.

“Yeah, should be a great time,” I say flatly.

He chuckles. “You’re a terrible liar, Nathan. But at least there will be a full bar to get us through.”

I force a smile. The things I do for the things I love.

Through the glass wall of my office, I see my assistant Maria tidying up her desk. She tucks a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear and wipes down a picture frame.

Maria has been with me for the last year, and I’ve never had an assistant with a work ethic like hers. Day in, day out, it’s like she anticipates my needs before I even know what they are.

She’s a little different from everyone else here, but that’s kind of what I like about her. For example, the picture on her desk isn’t of a friend of family member. Nope. It’s of some anime character.

Not that I care. The girl can look at whatever she wants to all day long, so long as she does her job right.

She glances up, meeting my gaze, and warmth rushes into my cheeks. I quickly avert my eyes.

Maria is beautiful, but there’s something more to her beauty than just physical appearance. It’s the way her eyes light up when she talks about her passions, the way she always carries herself with confidence and grace. There’s a spark in her that sets her apart from the rest.

Not that I spend much time thinking about her. She is my assistant, after all. It would be improper for me to dwell on her too much.

I clear my throat, trying to regain my composure.

“We should go to the Bahamas after the deal closes,” Corey is saying.

“Sure.” My latte done, I take a sip and lean my shoulder against the wall. It’s been a while since I’ve had a vacation, and I can take a few days off.

Well… maybe two. I can take two days off.

If I bring some work with me.

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