Page 22 of Filthy Rich Bosses

"Sit," I command, trying to sound authoritative.

Zeus tilts his head, clearly unimpressed.

"More conviction," Tessa urges. "He needs to believe you're in charge. Make sure you’re using the voice and hand commands together."

She demonstrates the motion for sit again and I nod then take a deep breath, channeling my boardroom presence. "Zeus, sit."

This time, after a moment's hesitation, Zeus complies. A small victory, but it feels monumental.

"Good boy," I say, surprised by the warmth in my voice.

As we continue, I find myself struggling. It's harder than I expected, requiring a different kind of focus than I'm used to. But every time I consider giving up, I think of Sarah. Of how much she loved this dog. And I push on.

Chapter 10

Tessa

Istumble into the kitchen, bleary-eyed and desperate for coffee. The rich aroma hits me before I even reach the counter, but it's not the only thing that catches my attention. Cole stands there, his back to me, muscles rippling as he reaches for a mug in the cabinet.

My breath catches. He's shirtless, skin glistening with a sheen of sweat from his workout. I force my eyes away, focusing intently on the toaster. "Morning," I mumble, trying to keep my voice steady.

Cole grunts in response, not bothering to turn around. The silence stretches between us, thick and uncomfortable. I pour my coffee with shaking hands, hyperaware of his presence just inches away.

"Rough night?" he asks, his deep voice sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

I shrug, taking a sip of the scalding liquid. "Just tired."

He finally turns, and I'm hit with the full force of those intense eyes. They seem darker today, stormy. I wonder what's on his mind, but I don't dare ask.

"You look it," he says bluntly.

I bite back a retort, reminding myself that engaging with Cole doesn’t end well. Instead, I focus on buttering my toast, determined to ignore the way his presence seems to fill the entire room.

Cole moves to leave, and I can't help but steal one last glance. His sweatpants hang low on his hips, and I quickly avert my eyes, feeling heat creep up my neck.

As he passes, I catch a whiff of his scent—a mix of soap and sweat that's frustratingly appealing. I hold my breath until his footsteps fade.

Only then do I let out a long exhale, my shoulders sagging. "Get it together, Tessa," I mutter to myself, taking another fortifying sip of coffee. It's going to be a long day.

Just as I'm about to take another sip of coffee, Chase saunters into the kitchen, his dirty blonde hair catching the morning light. His eyes light up when he sees me, and I brace myself for the inevitable flirtation.

"Well, good morning, sunshine," he drawls, leaning against the counter next to me. "You're looking particularly radiant today."

I roll my eyes, but can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "It's the exhaustion. Really brings out my eyes."

Chase chuckles, moving closer. "I bet I could wake you up better than that coffee."

I snort, about to reply when Cole's voice cuts through the air like ice. "For fuck's sake, Chase. It's too early for your pathetic attempts at seduction."

My head snaps up to see Cole standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous. I bristle at his tone, but before I can say anything, he continues.

"And you, spitfire," he says, his voice dripping with condescension. "Don't encourage him. We both know you're not interested."

I grit my teeth, anger flaring in my chest. "You don't know a damn thing about what I'm interested in, Cole."

“He really doesn’t.” Chase offers a lecherous smile, “I’ve already had her.”

The tension in the room is palpable when suddenly, my phone rings, vibrating loudly against the kitchen counter. The display shows the animal rescue's number, and my stomach drops. I grab it, grateful for the distraction.

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