Page 15 of Stranded for Christmas with my Boss

“Last time I checked, you’remine,” Jensen states as he fixes me with a firm glare. His expression wavers for a moment, his brow furrowing like he’s…confused? I can’t read the emotion, but he doesn’t give me more than a few seconds to ponder on it before continuing. “My assistant. Helping me withmywork.”

At first, the way he saysminemakes my mouth go dry, my heart pounding wildly. But I don’t like being bossed around like this while we’re still clothed, so any desire that I feel evaporates.

“I understand, but you told me—”

“I told you to send me a summary by the end of the day,” Jensen cuts me off again, making Austin’s eyes widen a degree.

“She can just do it now,” Austin tells Jensen, but he may as well be talking to a wall.

“Your position isn’t to inconvenience me,” Jensen warns me. “You should remember that going forward.”

He’s seriously threatening me in front of the CTO? Anger crackles through me like wildfire, making a few choice words perch on the tip of my tongue. I could say screw it and quit first. Go out in flames with some unkind words.

But he hasn’t fired me yet. Remembering that paycheck, I can’t quit. Too many people will suffer if I do.

“I will.” I manage to keep my voice and my hand steady as I offer his stupid cappuccino to him. “I’ll have that summary to you in thirty minutes.”

Jensen stares at the coffee for a moment, his shoulders slightly deflating as he takes it from me. He doesn’t look at me again.

Before he can decide to chastise me some more, I turn on my heel and make a beeline to an elevator that just opened. My forefinger jabs the “close door” button over and over until the doors finally slide shut, letting me have just a few moments of peace.

Alone.

With burning eyes, I sip on my hot cocoa, ignoring the lurch in my stomach and the lump in my throat. Jensenembarrassedme. He has always chastised me in private before and has made it a point to make sure no one was around.

Why the switch up now? Did the summary really set him off that much?

“Jerk,” I mutter under my breath.

However, as soon as the doors slide open, I dive right into work because I have too much riding on this job. Too much is at stake if I cross him and fail.

That includes my ego, because I can’t help but yearn for even a dash of praise. A semblance of pride.

It’s pathetic, but if that’s part of what keeps me moving forward, so be it.

I’d rather crawl on my knees and get to where I need to be instead of giving up and getting nowhere. That’s what happens when someone is backed into a corner they can’t escape from.

Chapter eight

Jensen

“He’s late.”

Alyssa checks the time on her phone with a slight grimace. She shifts in her seat next to me as we occupy a round table in the back corner of Drip City, one of the coffee shops in this city that is so uppity that it’s nearly nauseating.

Who the hell wants to pay almost ten dollars for a simple cup of coffee?

I like nice things and good quality, but this coffee tastes borderline burned. And the fitness influencer we’re meeting is late! All I want is for things to be how they’re supposed to and for people to do as they agreed to do.

Is that too much to ask?

“There he is,” Alyssa whispers as her eyes cross the stark white, golden-trimmed interior to watch a blonde-haired man stride inside. “Remember, our best pitch for him to use, is that it’s hard to find time to go out and date as a fitness influencer. Our app allows him the ease of finding perfect matches right on his phone.”

I nod as I listen to her. Admittedly, she’s been stepping up the last few days, going above and beyond to get tasks done and matching the pace of everyone else who has been at the company far longer. She’s been making my days much easier.

Yet, I haven’t been that easy on her.

It’s safer to treat her like any other employee. Hell, I am even a degree harsher with her than anyone else to try and curb the attraction I feel toward her. Part of me feels a little guilty because she’s been busting her ass to get caught up, but I have to focus on the end goal.

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