Page 140 of Savage Bosses

“I’m working. It’s what you should be doing.”

“It doesn’t look like you’re working. It looks like you’re staring at Aerica. Where were you yesterday?”

“Don’t worry about it?”

“Why are you being so secretive? Did you spend the day with a woman?”

Kyle sighed heavily and looked across his desk at me. “Aerica, please look over the files and make a decision.”

I could tell by his tone it was time for me to leave the office. His face had changed, and I knew his brother had changed his mood. I stood and gathered my notebook, the file with the applicants, and my pen. Just call me ShàCarri Richardson because I was ready to run out of there. I quickly exited his office, not bothering to look back.

Was this a dinner date, or a business dinner? He said one thing but could’ve meant another. I dressed in the black dress Kyle gifted me. It dawned on me that he may not have picked the dresses and he wouldn’t be able to recognize me in any of them.

I was ready an hour before the car service came to pick me up. The driver dropped me off at the front entrance of an Italian bistro that I had driven by but couldn’t afford. I was ushered into the restaurant by the driver. A hostess walked me over to the table where Kyle was waiting for me. He stood to greet me. He waited for me to sit before he sat back down. I placed my purse on the back of my chair.

“You’re here.” He delivered a crooked smile.

“I am.”

“You’re wearing the black dress.”

“I am.” I couldn’t believe he recognized the dress. Did he really pick the dresses?

“It looks nice. You look gorgeous. You always look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you bring your appetite?”

“I did. My last meal was lunch.”

“Good. That’s good. I took the liberty of ordering a lot of dishes off the menu for us to try. I’ve never been here before. I don’t know what’s good.”

“It’s your first time here?”

“Yes. I want to clear the air. The things I said that night at the club. I don’t feel that way. I don’t think you’re a slut or anything like that. I love the way you dress. I’ve been known to be a jerk about eighty percent of the time.”

I would argue it’s ninety percent. “Did you want to talk about the FuSeWater product launch?”

“Not really. Do you? I know you have everything under control.” He reassured me.

“So, this isn’t a business meeting?”

“No. That was just a ploy to get you out of the office and alone.” Kyle took a deep breath. He looked into my eyes. “Well,” he began hesitantly, “I thought maybe we could talk about us.”

I nodded slowly and leaned back in my chair. My heart was pounding as I waited for him to continue. “What do you want to know?” I asked cautiously.

“Everything,” Kyle said. “I want to know how you feel about me.”

I bit my lip nervously before answering. “I’m not sure how to answer that,” I admitted finally.

“Just tell me the truth Aerica,” he said with his voice full of honesty. “How do you feel about me?”

I felt butterflies in my stomach as he looked over the table and met my gaze. Taking a deep breath, I finally said, “I feel like this is the version of you I like. Now, I have a question for you.”

“Ask me anything.”

“You said something set you off that Friday night at the club. What was it that set you off?”

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