Page 49 of The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss

“Of course!” She patted her completely flat stomach. “Just trying not to gain ten pounds while I’m here.”

It wasn’t my place to push, but I made a mental note to watch her when she came back to the office and make sure she was taking in calories.

Marissa pulled out her pout again as I threw the garbage away and picked up my suit coat. “You’re leaving already?”

“The change of plans for the retreat has caused a minor catastrophe in everyone’s mind. I have a couple of hours of work to do before I can go to bed.” Marissa knew how I felt about getting enough sleep.

“I bet.” She laughed. “Okay, well, let me know what you decide on the baskets and send me pictures of them.” She held out her arms for a hug.

No touching.

But this was Marissa, and hugging was her thing with me. I inwardly winced as I broke my own rule and went to her side.

She wrapped her arms around me, and all I could think about was how it would feel to have Jessica hug me like this. It would be a very different experience and one I wanted to have. Marissa tugged me down, and it felt like she was trying to pull me on top of her, but that could have been me just being offbalance.

“Good luck tomorrow.” I patted her back.

“I’m nervous.” She squeezed me tighter.

Now I truly felt I’d been trapped. “You’re in good hands.” I straightened, and she kept holding on. So I reached around and pried her fingers apart. She finally let go and scowled up at me.

“They’ll take care of you.” I reassured her.

Before she could trap me in some other way, I gave her a nod and departed.

In the hall, I found my heart racing and my breathing labored, but it was completely different than it had been the night before with Jessica.

Same physical reaction, but the underlying causes were in contrast.

Marissa stressed me out, where Jessica put me at ease. A realization that was becoming more and more apparent to me.

Chapter 15

-Jessica-

“He kicked you out of the office?” Brooke asked with a dangerous edge to her voice.

“Sort of.” I should have explained the situation better. “He said he needed me to be on point for the rest of the week.”

“That’s different,” Ashley, my old roommate said. She had her red hair up in a messy bun and smelled faintly of burning metal.

The three of us were sitting in a fondu restaurant, enjoying the VIP experience thanks to William’s unlimited funds and his even more unlimited love for his fiancé.

“How?” Brooke scowled. My Texan friend didn’t much like people being bossed around.

Ashley, a glass blower and one of my best friends, waved her hand in a circle and spoke to me. “You’ve been working long hours all year. He knows that you’ll burn yourself out.”

Defensive ire ran up my spine, and I stabbed a piece of bread, then dipped it in the melted cheese. “When have I burned myself out?” I glared, daring either one of them to say anything. “Never, that’s when. I haven’t missed a single deadline.” The now cheese-drenched bread met its untimely fate as I ate it.

“You’re always caught up because you work so much,” Ashley said.

“Now wait.” Brooke studied her own speared piece of breadbefore looking at me. “Are you mad about him kicking you out?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. I hadn’t been able to reconcile my feelings about it.

On one hand, yes, I was mad. He’d ordered me out. He’d controlled me.

Because he needs me to be ready to cover for him.

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