Page 7 of Claiming My Cocky Boss

“Something like that,” I muttered, pressing the phone to my ear. “Carla, what’s up?”

Her voice came through crisp and professional. “Hey, Liam, I just wanted to check in. It’s been a few days. The team’s wondering when you’ll be back to the office. Everything okay?”

I glanced at Mia, who was casually watching me, her eyes sharp. My heart skipped a beat as I tried to keep my voice steady. “Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m... uh, just wrapping up a few things here.”

“Right,” Carla said, her tone skeptical. “I also got a call from the hospital today—something about verifying your insurance?”

A jolt of panic shot through me.Damn it. “Yeah, had a little... accident. Just a sprain. No big deal.”

Mia’s gaze hadn’t shifted. I could feel her curiosity cutting through the air like a knife.

Carla wasn’t buying it. “Liam, you sure? They mentioned a broken ankle.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “It’s nothing serious. Look, I’ll be back when I can. Just handle things until then, alright?”

“Okay, but?—”

“Gotta go, Carla. Thanks.” I ended the call before she could press further and let out a breath of relief.

Mia raised an eyebrow. “Everything alright?”

"Yeah, just... work stuff," I said, my fingers nervously tapping on the edge of the bedside tray. "Nothing exciting."

She studied me for a second longer, clearly not convinced, but didn’t push. Instead, she leaned back in the chair, her arms crossed, her gaze thoughtful. “You know, you’re kind of amystery, Archer. First, you’re an independent investigator, and now your assistant’s calling hospitals on your behalf.”

I swallowed hard, trying to play it cool. “I guess I keep people on their toes.”

Mia smirked. “Is that what you tell yourself?”

I laughed, but it came out a little forced. “Something like that.”

The conversation shifted back to lighter topics, but the tension from the call lingered. I threw out a few more jokes, trying to steer us back to comfortable ground. Mia seemed to relax, and we bantered back and forth for a while, her laughter breaking through the awkwardness. But every now and then, I’d catch her looking at me like she was trying to figure me out.

Eventually, she leaned forward, her arms resting on her knees. “So, you’re laid up in the hospital for a while. I gather you live alone?”

I shrugged, trying to keep it light. “Yes. But it’s not so bad. I’m used to being on my own a lot. Comes with the job.”

Mia smiled softly. “Yeah, I get that. I mean, I’ve got Daisy, so I’m not technically alone, but sometimes I wonder if having a dog for a best friend makes me look like a bit of a hermit.”

“Daisy?” I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new piece of information. “Your roommate?”

She chuckled. “Something like that. She’s my golden retriever. My loyal partner in crime. I take her everywhere I can. She’s pretty much the only one who’s around all the time, so I guess that makes her the best listener, too.”

“I don’t know,” I said, smirking. “From what I’ve heard, dogs are great at listening and even better at keeping secrets. Sounds like a solid deal.”

Mia grinned, the light in her eyes softening as she talked about her dog. “Yeah, she’s a great companion. Honestly, she’sprobably better company than most people I’ve met. At least she doesn’t talk back when I’ve had a bad day.”

“Sounds like a dream,” I joked. “I might have to meet this Daisy sometime.”

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of playfulness in her voice. “Careful what you wish for. Once she likes you, she’s not going to leave you alone.”

“I’ll take my chances,” I said, feeling the tension between us ease a bit more.

As our conversation wound down, I handed her my phone. “Please, check to make sure I have your contact information.”

She took it. “Yes, it’s there, and I have yours. Promise you won’t call me at 2 a.m. asking for help with a stakeout.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “No promises.”

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