Page 45 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

The sun’s rays filter through the boardroom windows, casting a warm glow on the mahogany table. I sit at the head, trying to focus on the financial reports in front of me, but my mind keeps wandering to Maria. Her laugh echoes in my ears, and I can almost feel her fingers running through my hair as we lay in bed back in Montauk.

“Mr. Colton.”

I blink and look up to see one of the board members staring at me expectantly.

The man frowns. “Can you give us an update on the deal for the new downtown building?”

“Uh, yes.” My fingers are like butter as I fumble with the papers in front of me. I can feel my face growing hot as I struggle to remember the details. “We, uh, we’re still in negotiations with the seller. We should have a final decision by next week.”

This isn’t like me. My mind never wanders during meetings, and I’m always so prepared.

Never before has any woman had this kind of power over my thoughts. And it’s not just the physical attraction. There’s something about Maria that calls to me on a deeper level, something that terrifies and excites me all at once.

As the meeting comes to a close, my shame and frustration grow. The other board members file out, muttering amongst themselves, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve always prided myself on my ability to maintain control in every aspect of my life. But Maria… she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She smashes that control to pieces.

I run my fingers through my hair, trying to regain some semblance of composure. I need to get a grip on myself. I can’t let my feelings for a woman jeopardize my career — or any other part of my life.

I step into the hallway, still feeling the weight of my embarrassment. As I try to gather my thoughts, I notice Corey, leaning against the wall.

“Hey.” His eyes narrow in concern. “You okay, man? You seemed a little off in there.”

“Fine,” I answer curtly, attempting to brush off his concerns. “Just had a lot on my mind.”

“Maria?” Corey asks knowingly, and I can’t help but tense at the mention of her name.

“Drop it, Corey,” I warn. We’ve talked about her enough as it is.

He sighs, shaking his head. “Why don’t you just admit that you’re into her?”

“Because I’m not,” I lie, my voice betraying my frustration.

Corey seems disappointed, like he expected better of me. “I’m just tired of seeing you lie to yourself. I thought you were smarter than that.”

“Thanks for your input,” I snap, my mood souring further. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other things to deal with.”

He watches me for a moment before walking away, leaving me to stew in my own thoughts. In all honesty, I’d give anything to be free to admit my feelings for Maria, but doing so would only complicate our already delicate situation.

Feeling restless and agitated, I make my way to my private gym in the building. I need to work off this excess energy before I blow and do something regrettable.

After putting in my passcode to unlock the door, I change into some gym clothes and grab a set of boxing gloves. My fists make solid contact with the bag, each hit echoing throughout the room as I let my anger consume me.

Why can’t I get Maria out of my head? It’s infuriating how much control she has over my thoughts, and I hate feeling this vulnerable.

As I continue to pound the punching bag, my phone buzzes in my pocket. Reluctantly, I step away from the bag, taking off my gloves and pulling out my cell. My heart skips a beat when I see Maria’s name on the screen.

“Damn it,” I mutter under my breath, conflicted about whether to answer or ignore the call. But as much as I want to avoid facing her, I know I can’t dodge her forever.

Plus she’s no doubt calling about work. She is still my assistant, after all.

With a resigned sigh, I swipe to answer the call, bracing myself for whatever comes next.

“What is it?” I ask, fully aware of how much of a jerk I sound.

“There’s some urgent paperwork that needs your signature in the office,” she says, her tone professional but tense. “I sent you an email earlier, but I didn’t hear back from you.”

I curse under my breath, frustrated with myself for forgetting something so important. Normally, I’m on top of everything, making sure nothing slips through the cracks. But ever since Montauk, I’ve been a mess.

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