Page 242 of Savage Bosses

Memories.

The excellent food and feelings lulled me into a reverie, except for the occasional muttering where either Brooke or I would give Chantel a pink post note.

The last few drops of the soup flavoring the yock soon disappeared. My belly was warm.

“Back to the subject of boss man. You're good at your job, and you're cute. He seems like the type who likes powerful women.”

“Are models powerful?” I asked. “That's all I've seen him date.”

Brooke tsked. “Empires rose and fell over courtesans.”

“Fair.” I acquiesced. “Either way, that's not me.”

“Please,” Brooke snorted. “You're an introvert, not a leper. You act like an extrovert enough to blend in, and when you make an effort, you're just as glamorous as them.”

“That right there.” Chantel pointed at Brooke in an agreeing “you see" gesture.

“He's my boss.” That should have been an automatic dismissal. Itwasas far as I was concerned.

“Yeah, but you plan to quit in a year anyway.” Brooke took my plastic container and put the lid on it. “I’ll be expecting your business plan by the end of the year, by the way.”

I cringed.

“Tell her, Councilor.” Chantel leafed through the binder.

“You're not planning to stay, and you’re exhibiting the classic defense mechanisms of wanting someone you believe is out of your reach. Grab him and take him.” Brooke laughed.

“Let's observe the spirit without following advice that will lead to assault changes.” Chantel continued browsing the binder, but there was a smile on her face.

This time I laughed.

It was better than admitting that they were onto something. Seeing Ryu in that brown zipper polo and dark blue jeans this morning did things to me. Briefly, I thought of Dragon’s beautiful hard body. They both had a chest that was achieved through working out by the shape of it, but Ryu’s appeared more casual as though I could lay my head on it and fall asleep after I had my way with him.

Ryu was Asian, and Dragon kept his face covered. Technically, his ethnicity was in question. It was plausible, but I doubted it. Dragon had ocean blue eyes. I noticed them at the ball. Unfortunately, I was not able to study them closely since I spent most of my time being his cosplay wife, writhing in pleasure on my back or on my stomach, screaming in ecstasy. There hadn't been enough time to do an investigation beyond the basics. I just knew we had a vibe.

That sounds so silly when I think about it now. No wonder he ghosted me.

There was no mistaking Ryu’s honey tea eyes, and I would have known if Ryu were a Martini or even a book lover. We could sense one another as though we are psychically linked by the books we loved. If he managed to pass as a civilian, I know I would have noticedsomeclue. Book lovers always let our banner fly freesomewhere.

Then there was the biggest point of fact, Ryu acted the same toward me. Dragon jumped on me the first chance he got. The feeling was mutual. Ryu micromanaged. He hadn’t flirted or done anything that suggested he even noticed that I was a woman. I would believe Teddy had a thing for me before I would Ryu—and I knewthatwasn’t happening. My overactive romance brain tried to make lusting after my boss even more dramatic.

That's unnecessary, brain. Boss sex is theatrical enough.

“Did we break you?” Brooke asked.

I shook my head. “Nope. I'm still in the same crazy universe where you two think me sexing Ryu Tsuki up is a good idea.”

Brooke waggled her eyebrows.

Chantel shut the binder. She stretched her hands upward before reaching for another. “I'm evoking the ‘try it for your own good’ agreement.”

“Well played,” Brooke said. “What say you, Jaelle?”

I studied them. They were serious. My best friends wanted me to seduce my boss and were willing to push me into it. I'd owe them a spa day if they were right. They wouldn't use the agreement lightly.

The last time was me for Brooke. She suffered terribly from postpartum depression and needed help from more than us. We went to group therapy for a few sessions to get her comfortable before she was ready to go alone. She got better, and we all grew emotionally.

“Fine, if he is interested and it's not creepy, I will ask him out. You don't need to evoke our agreement. Let's save it for something more disastrous.”

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