Page 10 of The Boss

“This isn’t a request, it’s an order.”

His silky smooth voice did little to disguise the thread of steel beneath. Aidan was a guy used to making people jump, people who probably asked how high.

“I’m meeting someone,” she blurted, gnawing at her bottom lip the instant the words left her mouth, realizing how stupid it sounded as an excuse. As if high and mighty Aidan Voss would care if she had a date.

“Far be it from me to disrupt your love life but this is important and it can’t wait until morning.”

“Bobby’s just an old friend,” she said, refraining from slapping her head, just, as another corker popped out of her mouth without thinking.

Damn it, what was it about this guy that rattled her so much? She usually handled guys with finesse, flirting with them while keeping them at arms length, using quips and witty repartee rather than blurting the first thing that came into her head.

“I’m glad.”

He paused and for one, insane second she hoped he might be glad she wasn’t on a real date, before realising why the heck would he care. She was an employee, a lousy one at that if his unimpressed tone and his order to see her immediately was any indication.

“That means you can take a rain check and Bobby won’t be disappointed. I’ll meet you in the museum foyer in an hour.”

If this was just about her she’d tell him where he could stick his presumptuous after-hours order, but considering she had to consider Lana’s reputation she had no option but to do what he wanted.

“Fine. I’ll be there. Though the least you can do is tell me what this is about.”

“That incident with the train display today? The child’s mother has lodged an incident report and we need to discuss it.”

Incident report? Great, just freaking great. As a first day on the job, this one sucked, big time.

Clamping down on the flicker of fear that this pending meeting couldn’t be good for her job security—and in turn, Lana’s—she mustered her best contrite tone. “No problems. See you in an hour.”

“One other thing.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t be late.”

He hung up before she could respond and with a resigned sigh, she flung her cell into her bag.

If it weren’t for Lana—and Beth’s dream gallery at stake—she would walk away from this less-than-appealing situation and never look back. She wasn’t a tour guide, she was an artist, and having to follow someone else’s rules didn’t sit well with her. She was used to creative freedom, to being her own boss, not jumping to someone else’s tune.

As she passed a bright, airy shopfront filled with exquisite paintings and sculptures, she sucked in a deep breath and squared her shoulders.

She wanted that. Her very own space filled with her work, with the autonomy to do what she wanted when she wanted. Recognition for her talents, recognition of any sort if she were completely honest, something she’d craved from her dad and never got.

Casting one last longing glance at the mini-gallery, she tucked her bag tighter and picked up the pace.

She could do this.

She had a job to do and she’d better do it well.

Achieving her dream depended on it.

* * *

Aidan pacedthe empty entrance hall of the museum and wondered what the hell he was doing.

He’d had a bad day, starting with a pile of boring financial reports and ending in a complaint from an irate mother.

Though officially his day hadn’t been all bad, and it hadn’t exactly started off with those reports considering he’d bailed up the new tour guide first thing.

Ironically, he’d be ending his day the same way he’d started: glancing at his watch and shaking his head at Beth Walker’s lack of punctuality.

---