Page 1 of Claimed By the Boss

ChapterOne

Nora Pierce couldn’tbelieve what had just happened. She knew she wasn’t the most liked in theoffice, but for them to push her was bordering on assault. Their taunts neverbothered her. This was going too far. Not only had Clarice tripped her, butshe’d been carrying hot coffee, which not only spilled on herself, but …Gabriel Williams.

Clarice had pushed herinto the boss himself—the billionaire who was not known for his patience anddemanded nothing but complete and total hard work from everyone he employed. Hedidn’t like slackers. Anyone not giving their best was dismissed. No one wouldeven dare test him on how far he would go. It was terrifying. There were somany horror stories.

“Are youallright?” Gabriel asked.

She had fallen right ontop of him. The coffee, thankfully, had spilled on her shirt and skirt. It wasburning, but she was more mortified about falling on him.

“I am so sorry,” she said.Her cheeks started to heat, and she couldn’t believe what had happened. Therewent her job in Mailing. She was going to get fired, and all her hopes anddreams would be shattered.

Gabriel owned manysuccessful businesses, and it was well-known that you could go in at the groundfloor and work your way right up to the top. She had many dreams, mainly to beindependent and never have to live on the streets again. At twenty-five yearsold, she had struggled.

Nora had lost her parentsat eighteen, then an aunt and uncle took everything from her and tossed her outon the streets without enough money to eat. It didn’t matter.

The first eighteen yearsof her life were a breeze. Her mom and dad were the loves of each other’slives, and they had loved her, given her a good home and a wonderful life. Shewas even headed to college at one point.

Until a car accident hadlanded them all in the hospital.

Her aunt and uncle had takenadvantage of her being in a coma and signed everything over to themselves, includingher college fund, stripping her of everything.

Pushing those bad memoriesout of her mind, getting this job had been a dream come true. The only reasonit happened was on the day of her interview, an incident occurred, and ratherthan sit back and do nothing, Nora helped. A disgruntled employee had decidedto mix up the mail. It didn’t sound like a huge problem but at the time,someone would have thought a bomb was about to go off. The bomb would be theboss.

She helped to fix it.Without any training she was able to figure out their system and fix it. Thiswas why she was hired. No one needed to stop and offer her training. She wasable to do everything without help.

Now, she was going to befired.

She tried to scramble offhimand in her haste,she accidently thrust her kneeinto his crotch, to which he grunted and she saw the pain on his face.

Crap.Shit. Crap.

Thisday could not get any worse.

“I’m so sorry. Are youokay?”

In answer, he lifted histhumb.

She winced.

“I am so sorry.”

She got to her feet, andthen Gabriel was already up, taking her hand and offering his help. Glancingdown at her pristine white shirt, she gritted her teeth. The coffee stain wouldbe impossible to get out.Shit.

“Are youallright?” Gabriel asked.

Nora looked up and nibbledher lip. “I think I should be asking you that question. Are you okay?” sheasked. “I didn’t burn you, did I?” She would offer to dry-clean his suit, butit was made by an Italian designer. She would probably have to sell her soul tothe Devil to pay for that.

“No, you didn’t. You’reburnt, though. Come on.” He put a hand on her back.

“What?”

“Follow me. You’re burnt.I’ll take care of it.”

She didn’t know exactlywhat to do. Gabriel was known for being a pain in the ass, a brute, and totallynot understanding. This was not the man presenting himself to her today.

There was no point inarguing with him. He was the boss. He knew what he was doing. Nora followed,only for him to stop and turn back to Clarice and her two friends.

“All three of you arefired. Get the hell out of my building before I call the cops and have youthrown out.”

---