Page 292 of Savage Bosses

After a quick run of my tongue over my lips to wet them, I tear my eyes away from the woman, reminding myself that the only sights I’m here to behold are multimillion-dollar financials.

“Nice to meet you, and glad to have you on my team,” I say to Braedon. Then, I go through the same ‘I just took over your company. The best is yet to come speech’ I have used for years.

As I speak, I deny myself a look back at the green-skirt-clad woman. While eager to meet her, I don’t want to seem too eager. After all, she’ll most likely be a direct report for the next few months, so letting my eyes linger on her like I did earlier isn’t a smart move.

Dragging my attention back to Braedon, Jaqueline tells him, “You’ll get an email later today about your first formal meeting with Mr. Gates.”

“I’ll be on the lookout for it,” Braedon says enthusiastically.

“Come on, let’s go meet Tahani and Contessa. Looks like they're together at the front desk.”

As we near the front desk, I find myself hoping that the woman in the green skirt is Contessa. Despite feeling an immediate attraction to her, it would be ideal if she turned out not to be my twenty-six-year-old star software engineer. “Tahani, can I steal you away for a moment?” Jaqueline says to the ladies.

Both of them turn their gaze towards us, heightening the anticipation of identifying Tahani. Logic dictates that she isn't the one seated behind the receptionist's desk.

“Jaqueline! So good to see you again. Of course, you can steal me. Do you want to take me with you as you leave the company?” the wearer of the green skirt asks as she unpins herself from the mahogany wood and stands to what I estimate to be a solid five-foot-eight height.

Once she faces me, I can see her green silk shirt filled with plump breasts. Her thick brown thighs battle for attention as she quickly tugs her skirt. This woman is stacked and statuesque. Her skirt doesn’t bulge one inch as she pulls on it.

A force I can’t control pulls my attention from her body to her eyes. The sparkle in her dark brown orbs chips away at my all-business exterior and makes me want to get to know her. And then she smiles. That’s when I know I’m fucked. Absolutely, royally fucked.

Jaqueline chuckles and tells Tahani, “I would take you, but I will lie on an island for the rest of my golden years. You have many more years before you’ll be ready to retire. In the meantime, the software engineering world needs you.” Jaqueline beams at Tahani like a proud mother.

Tahani gives her a modest grin. “You’re right about that. I’m just so happy for you.”

“Thank you, dear. I’ll enjoy my golden years. In the meantime, don’t worry about anything. I have been by your side since you were an intern in college. You can trust me when I say I leave you in good hands.” She gestures to me. “I have kept you all in the dark about the new management, but Mr. Gates’s reputation precedes him when it comes to success in the tech world.”

Tahani extends a graceful hand to mine. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Gates,” she greets with a heart-winning smile.

I take her hand, and it’s soft. A bolt of energy surges through me as she gives me a firm handshake. Well, it’s as firm as she can make it with such soft hands. I let her hand go and put some space between us. “Same,” is my only reply.

Jaqueline pauses a second, giving me time to say the takeover speech I’ve regurgitated to Grace, Ava, Mason and Braedon.

Meanwhile, I’m using every fiber of my being to reject the desire to stay connected to Tahani. I let her hand go and regain my composure. I will work closely with my new star engineer, and she will help me make millions to add to my empire. Nothing more, nothing less.

Jaqueline speaks up in my stead. “Mr. Gates has taken tech companies like Iconic to the Fortune 500. He’s turned them from multi-million to multibillion-dollar companies. His leadership could mean wonderful things for your career.” Jaqueline raises her brow knowingly at Tahani, giving her a vote of confidence about the takeover.

I lose control again and allow my eyes a few seconds to roam indiscriminately over Tahani’s body, giving her a second and third look. I have a long list of things that I don’t do. I don’t do second looks in the office. I don’t get turned on by my employees. I don’t shit where I eat. Nevertheless, I am undoubtedly checking her out. My mind roams to places that will lead me to do everything I’ve never done with any subordinate…with Tahani.

Tahani sounds excited when she says, “I’m going to miss you terribly, Mrs. Lewis, but that sounds amazing, and I’m up for the challenge.”

And a challenge it’s going to be.

I step around her and proceed to introduce myself to Contessa. The timeframe for my goal accelerates in my mind. I have to get Iconic moving in the right direction to reach the profit goal and move on to the next acquisition ASAP. Staying in the presence of this temptress for any longer than necessary will be a wreck.

CHAPTER 2

Tahani

THE NEW BOSS

M

y fingers race across the keyboard as if in a marathon. Lines of code flash by in a blur. Iconic’s bustling office fades into the background as I immerse into the world of algorithms and logic. Building Zeenith is my obsession, born from years of study and passion.

Curly dark tendrils fall across my face. I brush them back impatiently, my deep-set brown eyes never leaving the screen. In adjoining offices, my teammates type away, chatter, or shuffle papers, but I shut it all out. Nothing matters now except these lines of code, strung together in elegant arrays and loops.

I barely notice the ache in my shoulders or the rumble in my stomach. All my energy is transferred into my masterpiece. The hours slip by unheeded as I add new functions, squash bugs, and optimize performance. Perfection for this program is close. I can feel it.

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