Page 73 of Savage Bosses

I waved to Veronica on my way to my desk. She waved back, continuing her rapid conversation on the phone.

I was usually the first to arrive but with the departments all at full steam in preparation for the gulf project, I didn’t expect to have the office to myself much longer. It didn’t matter. The stars had finally aligned in my favor. I had a great job, Dax hadn’t contacted me beyond a couple infuriating conversations — before I blocked him — and the best news of all, my boss didn’t remember me from the sirloin he ate last week.

Of course, it bugged me that he had forgotten the night we shared but if I had to choose between him regaining his memory and me going to jail, I chose staying out of prison. Self-preservation didn’t stop me from being riddled with guilt everyday though.

I settled into my chair and checked my voicemail. Senator Johnson’s receptionist, a woman whom I tentatively booked a meeting with had left a message canceling the meeting.

“Oh, No. No. No.”

I dialed the Senator’s office and got the receptionist on the second ring. “It’s Zoe Prince,” I said. “We spoke on Friday.”

“Hi Miss Prince. Sorry about the meeting but the senator has a conflict.”

“I’m happy to reschedule for an earlier date or time,” I said. This was the biggest deal of the year. All the other partners were pulling their weight rallying representatives in both the House and the Senate. There was no way I’d screw this up.

“I’m sorry but Senator Johnson is completely booked. If something comes up, I’ll let you know.” In other words, don’t hold my breath. I knew when someone was blowing smoke up my skirt. “Thanks.” I hung up.

My happy morning quickly turned into a downpour, with gray skies and possible hale.

I opened Anik’s calendar and saw that while I’d booked the meeting, I didn’t add details about who it was with. I hurried across the floor to Veronica’s desk and impatiently waited for her to finish her phone call.

“Hey,” Veronica said, the moment she was free. “What’s wrong?”

Everything was wrong! “I royally screwed up.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

I took a deep breath, before relaying both conversations I’d had with Johnson’s receptionist, and knew it was indeed bad when Veronica’s already pale skin lost color. “There must be another Senator I can reach out to.”

“Johnson may be one man but he wields a lot of power,” Veronica said. “Three or four members swing in his favor when he votes. It’s why Anik likes to meet with him.”

“How can I fix this?”

Veronica’s fingers flew across her keyboard. “Three years ago we had a PR issue at one of our sites and had to work with representatives. That was before Johonson’s time. Go through Mr. Hijra’s calendar and see who he met with, but cross reference the names with Sydorenko, Larousse, and Silvani’s calendars so the partners aren’t tag teaming the same Senators.”

I was halfway across the room before she finished speaking.

Fifteen minutes later, I had done what Veronica suggested and landed on one name that none of the other personal assistants had bothered to contact— Evan Sanchez.

I glanced up to see my boss entering the office. His face was furious as he passed me with not so much as a good morning. The air was icy and my pulse raced in my veins. What could I have possibly done over the weekend to cause his ire? I replayed our last conversation but drew a blank. I took a calming breath.

You’re overthinking, Zoe. To be sure I was not misreading his demeanor, I opened the BBD chat as my phone rang.

It was my boss and he didn't let me get a word in before his harsh voice rang in my ear. “My office, now.”

Instead of rushing into his office as I should have, I quickly posted in the chat, hoping the other users would say something to ease my growing angst.

@Desk_Pet: If I don’t see y’all tomorrow…

@Noisy_Bee: You know we need the deets @Desk_Pet.

@Born-Confused: Oh snap. Did your boss find out you wrung his dick dry then knocked him out.

@Noisy_Bee : I’ve heard of hitting it and quitting it and smash and grab, but I’d never heard of a cum thief before, lol.

I groaned. @Desk_Pet: Y’all are not helping.

@Born-Confused: Is he pressing charges?

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