Page 12 of Boss's Baby: A Fake Fiance Romance

“Why would either be bad? Feeling silly about either of them, that is.” She stepped next to me and started her own fresh cup.

“Because this guy was such a prick to me in high school. And I went ahead and rewarded him with sex for it.” I put a whispering emphasis on sex, not wanting anyone to hear what I was talking about.

“But you said he’d changed, right? That he was acting like a totally different person?”

“Yeah, but who the hell knows if that’s actually how he is? Or if it was a total act? I mean, he went through girls like popcorn in high school—what if he ran the same act on me?”

“Even if he did, does it matter?” She took her cup from the machine and went for the milk. “I mean, you said yourself you hadn’t exactly had much in the way of dude activity in the last year. What does it hurt to have a little fun? Not like you’re marrying the guy or something.”

“God, marrying Josh Taylor. Can’t imagine what that’d be like.”

“You mean marrying a New York billionaire? I can think of worse fates.”

Bethany checked her watch, her eyes going wide as she read the time. “Shit—meeting with the bosses in ten. Almost forgot.”

I sipped my coffee and tried to force my mind back on work matters. “You know what this is about? I asked around, and no one seems to have any idea what they’re so keen on talking about. And the bosses are usually pretty open with us about this kind of stuff.”

“I only know that whatever it is, it’s big. I was talking to Marnie, who’s been here for fifteen years, and she said the last time there was such a lid on things, it was when MacLand became partner.”

My stomach tensed. I was a calendar girl through and through—if it was going to happen, I wanted to know about it and have it planned the eff out. I had a bad habit of getting tense when things were uncertain, so the secrecy wasn’t jiving with me one bit.

“Anyway,” she said. “We should get moving.”

“Yeah, good call.”

I took one last sip of my coffee before the two of us headed out. We moved through the office, my mind going back and forth between the meeting ahead and the whole Josh situation. So dumb that it was even still a “situation.” We screwed, hadn’t seen each other since, and that was that. Bethany was right—what difference did it make how much of a douche he was in high school? Hadn’t he apologized for it?

As soon as I settled on one explanation, my mind would go right to the next. Why hadn’t he given me his number or anything like that, something that showed he thought I was more than a quick bit of fun? One-night-stands weren’t really my thing, especially with men from my past. But what would’ve happened if he had?

What would we do, start dating? Even the word “dating” was enough to make me feel uneasy. There was a reason I preferred to avoid it whenever possible—too much confusion, too much uncertainty. How the hell was I supposed to start my own firm like I’d always wanted if I had some “he loves me, he loves me not” crap to worry about? I’d pass, thank you very much.

Thankfully, stepping into the office and being greeted with the sight of Robert MacLand and Sarah Glass along with the rest of the company’s top brass was enough to get my head straight. Bethany and I settled into our seats and said our hellos. Enough thinking about Josh—I had more important matters to worry about.

Robert started once the doors were shut. “Alright, that looks like everyone. Let’s get going.”

Robert MacLand, a total silver fox and one of the brightest minds in the business, regarded the attendees with a grave expression. Sarah Glass, fortysomething, bespectacled, and all business, did the same.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering why you’re here,” Robert said. “So we’re going to get right to it.”

Sarah nodded. “Since founding this firm all the way back in 2002, I—and Robert, when he joined me—have always prided ourselves on being an independent firm, small and nimble, with the freedom to choose which clients would be the best fit for us. But recently, we received an offer that is, well, too good to pass up.”

“What kind of offer?” I asked, not liking where this was going.

There was some murmuring among the group, all of them likely with the same question on their minds. Robert raised his palms, signaling for silence. Once he’d gotten it, he went on.

“Sarah and I recently finished with the contract for a buyout.”

No more murmuring—now there was a full-on commotion.

A buyout? Was he serious? They were going to sell the company?

“To whom?” asked Bethany.

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