Page 1 of The Jealous Boss

Prologue

Three Years Prior

Drew

The carouselof beauties slides across my screen. They all bore me. Every last one.I’d blame a flaw in the code, but the code is flawless.I should know—I wrote it.

Luckily, I’m testing an update, not looking for love. If I remarry, I won’t use an app—not even mine. I refuse toshopfor a wife.Love doesn’t work that way.

An ironic position for the cofounder of a dating app, I know. But my brother sells the dream. I just write the code.

Still, Twingedoesprovide more than pointless hookups. It’s helped countless singles find love. Or so our testimonials claim—for all I know, Jared wrote them. I wouldn’t put it past him, although subscription numbers don’t lie.

“Drew?” Heather, my new assistant, enters my office. “I’ve got Elijah’s soccer coach on the line. No one’s picked him up.”

“It’s Sarah’s week.” I close the app.

Heather shrugs. “She isn’t answering.”

“What about Anna?”

Anna is our son’s nanny. She moves between houses just like Elijah, and while I’ve always hated the timehespends with my ex, recently…

Well, the thought ofherbeing there has started to bother me just as much.Not that I’ve ever admitted it, or even started to work out exactlywhy.

“Also no answer.” She frowns. “I’d expect this of Sarah, but…”

She doesn’t need to say more. Not only is my nanny responsible, shelovesmy son. Anna would never forget to pick him up.

“Tell the coach I’ll be right there.”

Heather nods and leaves the room.

But I remain at my desk, pulling up the tracking software I installed on Anna’s phone. I felt conflicted at the time, but I was entrusting a teenager with my most precious asset. It was just good sense. Now I’m glad I did.

Not that the software tells me much. It claims Anna is at Sarah’s.

I call Anna’s cell, but it goes to voicemail. Next, I try Sarah’s landline. No answer. Fuck. Pushing down my panic, I stride into the outer office.

“Change of plans,” I snap. “Pick up Elijah from soccer. Take him for ice cream. If you don’t hear from me within the hour, go back to my place and wait.”

“Of course, boss.”

I make a mental note to make this up to Heather. Then I take the stairs to the parking garage, too on edge to wait for the elevator.

On the drive across town, I run every red light. I can’t help it. There must be a logical explanation. But it’s just sounlikeAnna…

When I arrive, there’s no sign of Sarah, but her husband’s car is in the driveway—right behind my nanny’s. No one answers my knock, but I find the spare key where I expect it.

The kitchen is empty, but I spot Anna’s phone on the counter. The sound of voices leads me to the laundry room, where Anna’s terrified gaze meets mine.

That bastard George has her cornered. She’s wearing nothing but a towel, and he has her trapped. Oblivious to my presence, he leers at her, stroking his dick through his pants.

“You foreign girls are supposed to be less uptight. Isn’t that why you prance around the house teasing me?” He takes a step closer to her, unzipping his fly. “Well, I’m tired of your teasing, missy—”

Blood pounding, I drag George away from Anna. Enraged at the sight of his half-hard dick, I slam him against the washer. Then I break his face.

My fists thud into his beefy jowls, again and again. But it’s not enough.Nothing, no amount of punishment, will satisfy this rage.

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