Page 1 of Bossed By the Orc

Chapter One

Penelope

Tugging at my uniform, I sighed. The fit of the dress I was given was too tight, as always. Being plus-sized, it was always difficult finding the right fit. My larger breasts and hips meant that I had to make my own alterations that accentuated my curves rather than looking like I was squished or wearing a sack.

I especially hated telling someone my size—and in this case, it was a gorgeous, svelte fae who’d probably never had an issue with her button-ups gaping open, or having to learn to sew so she could fix the frayed seams of cheap jeans because of her thighs rubbing together. Chub rub was a real thing and I’d bitten the bullet and invested in a second-hand sewing machine so I could make alterations and salvage clothes that were falling apart, all because they fit me better than something new would.

I hadn’t had the time to make any adjustments to my current uniform, though. It was a simple gray dress and I knew that with a few tweaks, it would be perfect. I’d fix the uniforms I’d been given as soon as I could, but the move had taken up too much of my time.

Stiffening my spine and putting on an air of confidence that I didn’t feel an ounce of, I pushed the cart forward. All of the cleaning supplies were neatly stacked and easily reachable, exactly where I wanted them. Taking this new cleaning job was a leap of faith.

Moving across the country wasn’t something that I would do under normal circumstances. My family was my safe space, but we needed the money and this job paid more than anything I could earn in the tiny town I came from.

Grebath was the biggest city around. The one everyone dreamed of coming to. I turned to look out the sheer glass walls and was filled with the same awe I’d felt the first time I’d seen the view yesterday, when my supervisor had taken me on a walk-through of where I’d be cleaning.

I moved to the city a week ago and I’d seen a couple of the tourist sights on my own, but nothing so far could beat the skyscape from this building. The sky might be dark, the stars hidden, but the lights of the city shone with a frenetic energy that made me feel so very tiny.

I glanced at my watch as I continued pushing my cart forward. It was late by anyone else’s standards, but I was still early. I’d taken to the night shift faster than I thought I would. It paid more and I’d be able to avoid most of the people in the building. It was disconcerting enough to be surrounded by people every time I stepped out of the shoe-box apartment I shared with my roommate and her boyfriend. I didn’t need to feel overwhelmed at work as well.

Stepping into the streets that first time and seeing the sheer number of beings that filled them made me crush myself against a building to stay out of the way. No one even glanced at me. They were all focused on their phones or were too busy thinking their city-thoughts to notice one tiny human pressed against the wall.

I was a little better at merging into the madness now, but not by much. I still didn’t know the intricate dance of bodies and I apologized every time someone bumped into me—which was often. Too often, if I was being honest.

Yet another reason that I was uncomfortable in my own skin. I didn’t enjoy being touched. Especially by so many strangers. I’ve been an introvert my entire life and I would always prefer curling up with a good book in a bubble bath to going out and meeting new people.

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I focused on the task at hand. I’d been assigned the top five floors in the gigantic building and I was going to make sure people could eat off of their desks by the time I was done. Squaring my shoulders, I rolled up my sleeves and pulled on my rubber gloves.

I started on the lowest floor, disinfecting and mopping my way up throughout the cubicles and offices. As I made my way higher, I noticed that the cubicles were decreasing and the offices were getting bigger.

I passed by a group on the fourth floor, jolting with surprise for a second before I righted myself. They were all leaning over papers, talking with each other, a tall minotaur typing frantically at the end of the conference table they were occupying.

I shook my head at them, going unnoticed.

The city was such an odd place. If this was in my hometown, they would be spread out at someone’s kitchen table instead of still at the office. The entire place seemed to be comprised of workaholics. They didn’t even look up when I wheeled the cart by the door.

A pang of loss twinged in my chest while I watched them. That was the kind of job I’d originally wanted. I’d started my degree in finance and had only been able to complete one semester before I’d needed to drop out. I’d needed a job more than a college education at that point and while I didn’t regret it, there were moments when I wondered what my life would be like if things had turned out a little differently.

Shaking off my melancholy, I made my way up the elevator to the top level. The doors slid open and I stepped out, my eyes wide as I looked around.

There were only two offices on this floor, their large frosted glass doors closed. I’d been given strict instructions to not enter the office on the left. I’d been told that it was the big boss’ office and he didn’t like anyone intruding on his space. There was a desk in the middle area and I figured I would start there, stopping the cart so I could begin disinfecting, my gloved hands moving efficiently across the glossy surface.

The tingle that raced down my spine made me raise my head and look around, confused. It was as though someone was watching me, but it was already after midnight. No one should be up on the top level at this hour. Not seeing anyone, I tried to brush off the feeling, but it stayed as I reached over the table, cold air from the phenomenal ventilation system hitting the backs of my thighs as my dress rode up.

The snick of a door unlocking and then the gentle whoosh of it being pushed open made me peek over my shoulder. The tusks were the first thing that drew my gaze. The formidable lengths bracketed thick lips that were turned down in a frown. The thick black beard that covered his jaw was neatly trimmed and I wondered—for one insane moment—what it would feel like grazing the skin of my thighs.

The moss-colored smooth skin of his face was next, making me wish I could touch it. He had high cheekbones and a rounded nose. His yellow eyes drew me in for a long moment, narrowed on me with an expression I couldn’t begin to interpret—but annoyance would be my first guess.

Next came the doorway-wreckers that were his shoulders, stretching out the bespoke, luxurious-looking suit he was wearing, the material stretching taut as he crossed his bulging arms over his muscular chest. A suit that fit so well had to be tailor-made for his massive proportions.

I could feel my panties getting wet as I surveyed this male’s thick thighs in his pants, and a bulge that I didn’t want to identify too closely, or stare at for too long. My eyes roved down his long, long legs, capping off at the shiniest pair of shoes I’d ever seen. My mind was boggled by the sheer amount of shoe shine that would be required to achieve that level of luster.

“I don’t remember approving any staff to enter this floor,” he said with a drawl. When my eyes snapped back up to meet his, I noticed that his own gaze was on my ass. It was on full display, after all, as I leaned over the desk, shocked into stillness. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be up here. That was when I realized the office he’d exited from. The one that was off limits.

Oh shit. This sexy orc is my boss?

Chapter Two

Dristan

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