Page 13 of Boss's Baby: A Fake Fiance Romance

“I assume you’re all familiar with Taylor Logging?”

The words hit my ears strangely, like they were something from another language.

Taylor Logging. As in, the “Josh Taylor” Taylor Logging. My stomach went ice cold, and it took all the restraint I had to not let my eyes bug out of my head with surprise.

“One of the largest natural resource industries in the country,” said Sarah. “And they want a dedicated marketing department—they want us.”

“As of next year, we’ll be working exclusively with Taylor Logging. And if any of you are worried about this, let me put your minds at ease. There will be no big move, no downsizing, no shake-ups in management. You’ll be working for us still, the only difference being that we’ll be working for the Taylor family.”

Which meant I’d be working for the Taylor family.

Josh Taylor was about to become my new boss. Bethany and I regarded each other with the same shocked expression—we were clearly on the same page.

I did my best to pay attention to the rest of the meeting as the two of them went over the finer points of the buyout. But there was only one detail I cared about—in a matter of weeks, I’d be working for none other than Josh Taylor.

When the meeting was done, Bethany and I went back in the break room, each of us chomping at the bit to flip out.

“You’re kidding me!” said Bethany. “Kidding me! They’re selling us?”

I shook my head. “The whole reason I’m here is because we’re an independent outfit. What the hell’s going to happen once we’re basically owned by a Fortune 500 company?”

“They say it’s going to be the same,” she said. “But no way. Whatever creativity this place could muster’s about to get corporate-ified like crazy.”

As much as I wanted to pretend I was only concerned about that part, my mind kept going back to the Josh factor.

“I can tell what’s on your mind.” Bethany’s expression was knowing and sympathetic all at once.

“It’s so stupid,” I said, frustrated with myself. “I know I shouldn’t be bothered by it. But what the hell is this going to be like? I’m going to be working for some guy I screwed a month ago?”

“It won’t be that bad. I mean, maybe it’ll even be kind of funny.”

My fingertips began to hurt, and I glanced down to see that I was gripping the edge of the counter. I let go, trying to calm my ass down.

“No, this is going to be bad. Not a doubt in my mind that Josh will be the same kind of guy he was in high school, acting like he’s a god damn little prince. He’s going to be the same entitled, rich little brat he’s always been.”

Bethany opened her mouth to speak, but before she could get out a word, I sensed the presence of someone else in the room. I glanced up and nearly dropped my coffee when I saw who it was.

Josh. Josh Taylor himself, standing right at the entrance to the break room. Unlike at the bar, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored dark suit, his hair slicked back and his overall appearance so polished and professional that it was hard to believe it was the same man.

“Rich little brat,” he said. “Reporting for duty.”

And, of course, he had that same cocky smile on his face.

I was about to be seeing a hell of a lot more of it.

Chapter 6

JOSH

OK, I had to admit the expression on her face was priceless. She looked like I might fire her on the spot. Not that I had that power, of course. At least, not until next year.

Of course, not that I’d ever do anything like that. I’d done my homework over the last few weeks, and Cassidy was looking to be one of my best new assets. And it wasn’t like I hadn’t heard worse words spoken about me over the years—plenty of them deserved.

The other woman in the room glanced back and forth between the two of us nervously. It didn’t take a detective to realize she knew more about me than my business reputation.

“Bethany Willis,” she said, extending her hand toward me. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Taylor.”

I took her hand and shook it. “Likewise, Bethany. And please, Josh is fine.”

She slipped her hand from mine and took one last furtive look at me and Cassidy, who was still stunned. “Anyway, I should, um, get back to it. Very nice to meet you.”

She was gone so fast there should’ve been one of those cartoon smoke outlines where she stood.

A long beat of silence passed between us, and I could see that Cassidy was trying to wrap her head around what was happening. Poor thing looked scared out of her mind.

Finally, she broke the silence. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”

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