Page 28 of Flirting with my Billionaire Boss

“She’s going crazy today.” She pats her belly and then pokes at it. “It’s so weird to have another person living inside you.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.” Callie’s the bravest woman I’ve ever met. I can’t believe she had the courage to walk away from her ex. From what I now understand, he did a lot to provide for her financially.

The past few months have flown by. We had some expensive things from the house go missing again, and I’m not sure who to trust. Callie says she hasn’t taken anything, and I’m starting to wonder if maybe Martha would do something like that. Martha said it could have just been misplaced while cleaning, but we’ve looked around and haven’t found them. I’m careful about who I let around the property, but we have had some maintenance guys around, too, fixing various broken things.

Martha steps into the room. “Dinner will be ready at six.”

“Thank you, Martha. We’re just wrapping up some things, and then we’ll be in there to eat.”

Callie tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and then types some more as she stares intently at the screen and wrinkles up her nose, something she always does that when she’s concentrating. It’s the most adorable thing. She doesn’t even notice me watching her because she’s so absorbed in the work.

Callie is thriving as my assistant, always going above and beyond, picking up quickly on how the business works and helping me land properties I couldn’t have gotten on my own.

I bring her to dinners with investors, and she’s got everyone at the table laughing. And by the end of the dinners, they’re shaking hands over a business deal. It’s happened many times, and business is booming now, thanks to Callie’s natural gift for working with people.

She’s one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met—talented with a sharp wit and an even-sharper mind.

“Aren’t you glad Martha’s back to cooking again?” She looks over at me, and I can tell she’s holding back a laugh.

“It wasn’t so bad when you were cooking.”

“Yeah, right. You like burnt fish sticks and overcooked, dried-out chicken?”

“Okay, I was trying to be polite, but yeah. It wasn’t the best. It doesn’t mean you aren’t amazing at a bunch of other things though,” I say, hoping I haven’t gotten myself into trouble.

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“You’re great with people, and you’re funny and smart.”

She blushes. “Thank you. You’re all those things too.”

“I can’t believe your ex didn’t come fighting for you after you left.”

“He really didn’t try very hard. He sent me a few texts, but when I finally told him I wasn’t coming back, he didn’t seem that disappointed. It was like he didn’t even want to try to win me back.”

“Were you having problems before you left?” I ask.

“We argued all the time. He was always taking me on these trips, and the entire time we just fought or he was off doing his own thing. I heard him talking to another woman when I was leaving the airport.”

“You mean he’d been cheating?”

“That’s exactly what I mean. I don’t know how long it had been going on, but it only confirmed that running away was the right thing to do.”

“Well, I’m glad you did, or I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to meet you,” I say. I reach out and take her hand. “I’m glad you’re in my life. And your baby too.”

Her eyes soften. “I’m glad I ended up here too.”

We go back to our work, settling into a comfortable silence, the only sounds the occasional scroll of the mouse or click of a key. Martha comes into the room after a while.

“Dinner is ready.”

Skipper runs into the room barking. “I think he needs to go out.”

“I can let him out,” Martha says.

“No, you’re in the middle of dinner. I don’t mind doing it.” I step toward him, and he turns in the opposite direction and dashes down the hall. “Where are you going, you silly dog? That’s not the way to the backyard.” I follow him toward the bedrooms. “Skipper!” I call. “Here, boy.” Where did he go? His barks carry from one of the bedrooms. Turning the corner, I find him in Callie’s room. “What are you doing in here? Let’s get you outside before you pee on the floor again. Or something worse.” I reach down to get him, but he darts away. “What is up with you?”

There’s a purse unzipped in the corner of the room, and Skipper buries his head in it. “What are you doing over there?” Did Callie leave treats in her purse?

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