Page 3 of My Forbidden Boss

»You’ll get it back on track, right? You just have to put in the work.«

»I don’t know, I’m not sure.« There was a moment of silence between us, the bar continued to fill as the night went on. »After the thing with the team...«

»What’s going on with the team?« I asked. Elliot was a professional football player for the New York Giants, and even back in high school, sports had been everything to him.

»I don’t want to talk about my miserable life when we can talk about yours.« My smartphone vibrated again, I pulled it out of my pocket and placed it on the table. »Don’t you have an assistant to take care of that stuff?« Elliot asked, nodding towards my phone. I held back a sigh, and he immediately understood. »Another one? Maybe they’d run away less if you weren’t such an unbearable boss.« Elliot’s grin widened.

»I’m not that bad,« I replied, taking a sip. The Scotch tasted truly magnificent. I prided myself on ensuring that the bars in my hotels were only stocked with the very best. Perhaps Elliot was right, perfection was the bare minimum for me, even with my employees.

»Oh, yes, you can be a cold-hearted bastard, and you know it. You’ve always been that way, just remember Julie Summers, who you left in tears after your farewell party.«

»I didn’t expect her to throw a party for me.«

»But she expected you to at least look at her once that evening.« That evening. That kiss. But not with Julie Summers, but with Bri. Elliot’s little sister. Damn, it had completely blown me away, and I hadn’t expected it. Bri had always exerted a certain attraction on me, but that kiss was anything but planned. And it hadn’t been planned that I could only think of her for weeks afterwards. That more than once, I was on the verge of calling her in Louisiana to tell her what I had really felt during that kiss. More than ever before.

But so many years had passed, Bri had moved on with her life and probably forgotten me, perhaps found a nice partner and a good job. I had avoided asking Elliot about her because I knew, no matter what he told me, I wouldn’t like it.

But now, being back in town and in touch with him, a meeting might inevitably occur. A lot can happen in eleven years; we were no longer the immature teenagers we once were. Probably this attraction she had for me had faded anyway. Or maybe I didn’t meet her expectations, who knew if I had changed in a direction that she liked?

»All that is so long ago, Elliot,« I said.

»If you had been at the class reunion a year ago, you could have made it up to Julie for sure.«

»Let’s talk about other things. What are you doing this weekend? Does Lara like musicals? I could get Broadway tickets for you two.«

»You’d do that?«

»Of course.« As Elliot started to dream about whether he could win back Lara’s heart this way, I leaned back, crumpled the napkin with Joyce’s room number on it, and tried to focus entirely on my old friend. Because that was the only thing keeping me from dwelling further on Bri, her sassy mouth, and her stormy-gray eyes.

3

Brianna

The entire department rushed past me towards the conference rooms like a wildebeest herd chased by a lion. I typed the final lines of my email, unfazed by the madness everyone had been partaking in for weeks.

Ever since we received news a month ago that our old boss Mr. Simmons, whom I assisted, would be retiring and selling off a significant portion of his hotels, everyone was on edge. The frenzy was not only because it was an absolute mystery who would succeed Mr. Simmons, but also because everyone feared for their jobs, even though Mr. Simmons assured them they had nothing to worry about. I believed him. He was an honest, good boss who had never let me down or mistreated me. On the contrary, his hotels and his employees were close to his heart, and I was confident he would not have sold to anyone who did not appreciate that.

»Come on, aren’t you interested in meeting Simmons’s successor?« My friend and colleague Isabelle propped herself on my desk, sitting on half of my documents. I shot her a disapproving look, but she knew I could never really be angry with her.

»I’ll be there in a moment, just need to...« My finger hovered over the keyboard, but Isabelle hit the switch on my screen, and suddenly it went black. I sighed, yet my friend had already grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

»No way, you can work later, probably you’ll be here late into the night anyway.« She gave me a little slap on the butt, and I let out a surprised yelp. »It would do you good to think about a man instead of just your work.«

»Please, as if I never go out.« I rolled my eyes and we walked side by side down the hallway towards the conference rooms. Our office was equipped with state-of-the-art technology and located on the top floor of a beautiful building. The former factory housed a handful of other companies, featuring open brick walls, lots of wood, and black steel. I loved working here; the camaraderie among the staff was great, and the entrance hall cafe served divine blueberry cheesecake. If my brother knew I indulged in it several times a week, he would lecture me about how my eating habits were affecting my body. All because he had developed an unhealthy obsession with football and nutrition during college. I rolled my eyes just thinking about it; enjoying some sugar every now and then didn’t mean I lived unhealthily. I walked the five blocks to the office each morning, generally avoided taking taxis or the subway, didn’t smoke, only occasionally drank a glass of wine in the evening, and loved fruit. I was just curvy, but I always had been. There were heaps of men who admired my rear end. I was very content, and that was what mattered. So my brother could nag all he wanted.

»When was the last time you went on a date?« Isabelle picked up the conversation again.

»Last week. That miserable Tinder date, remember?« Isabelle giggled, and even now, just thinking about it twisted my face in disgust. »You mean the guy who asked if you’d be willing to move in with him and his mom?« »That’s the one. That was my final attempt with that dreadful app. I’ll just let things happen naturally now.« »That’s generally a healthy attitude, but the hot guys aren’t just going to show up at your workplace to sweep you off your feet, darling.« Perhaps she was right, but I had truly had enough of awful dates. »I’m twenty-six, no need to worry. You sound like my mom.« »Oh, I adore your mom! She makes the best stuffed eggplant I’ve ever tasted!« Isabelle tossed her long blond hair back. She was a sight to behold and I could see why she never seemed to have any issues with men. »You should try my dad’s lasagna.« »When’s the next dinner party? I’d love to join! But only if your annoying brother is busy elsewhere.« This time it was me who laughed. »I’ll take care of it.«

We arrived at the largest of our conference rooms, where all the employees were gathering. There was hardly a spot left, the company had grown considerably. I spotted my boss Mr. Simmons standing at the front and squeezed with Isabelle to the far back. Unfortunately, even in my high heels, I was not as tall as Isabelle and could see little beyond the backs of heads. As an executive assistant, I could have moved up front next to my boss, but I preferred to avoid the spotlight when possible. I preferred to stand out for my work rather than my appearance, even though I, like pretty much every woman, had a soft spot for shoes and nice clothes.

»I am delighted to welcome you all and finally reveal the great secret that has been the topic of most of your hallway and kitchenette conversations,« began Mr. Simmons. Some laughs rippled through the crowd and I stretched a little to get a better view. Isabelle shifted to the side so I could peer through the gap between two heads. »You may know his name, you may recognize his face from the country’s magazines. I am extremely pleased to introduce a successor who will continue the business in my spirit. And I won’t have to worry a bit as I lounge on the beach with my beautiful wife.« I had to smile as well; I really liked Mr. Simmons and his sense of humor. He was like a father figure to many of the employees, and not only would I miss him greatly. »Let us welcome...« he said, and a murmur filled the room as the door opened. I stretched on my tiptoes, but could only make out dark hair and a fairly large frame. Then broad shoulders, the fabric of a tailored dark blue suit stretched over a well-trained bicep as the man raised his arm and extended his hand to Mr. Simmons.

And suddenly, my world wavered. »Mr. Wesley Crush. Ladies and gentlemen, applause for your new boss.«

He turned and nodded to the crowd, a faint smile on his handsome lips, brief and professional. My breath hitched involuntarily and my heart pounded in my chest. This couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible. He scanned the faces, but before he recognized me, I hid cowardly behind the colleagues in front of me. »Oh wow, that’s him?« Isabelle whispered. »I take it all back, I’d happily let him sweep me off my feet anytime.« I dared a cautious peek over the shoulder in front of me. He had become even more breathtaking. Instantly, I was reminded of the handsome boy who had been a mystery to everyone around him and made you long to uncover his secrets. And now? He had turned into an absolutely hot man, tall, broad, with an angular jaw under a three-day stubble and the aura of an enigma. His blue eyes seemed unnatural in contrast to his black hair, long on top and short on the sides. Perfect to run your fingers through. My gaze wandered to his lips. Lips, I had already kissed. Oh God. I felt hot and began to sweat as Mr. Simmons continued his praise and introduced Wesley to the others. I heard something about »owned his first hotel at twenty, so successful that he took over others by twenty-three ... and so on«, but what I really wanted to know was, what was he doing here? Was fate really this cruel to me? Putting the only man I could never forget, and above all could never have, right in front of me, as my boss?

But we were adults, a whole eleven damn years had passed since he left, and even then, we didn’t have much to do with each other, except for some glances when he was with my brother. Why did I now imagine that this one kiss was occupying his thoughts just like mine? Nonsense. Eventually, the first people began to leave the conference room, I hadn’t even noticed that the introduction was already over. »Come on, let’s introduce ourselves personally,« Isabelle said, grabbing my arm. »No!« I exclaimed too loudly and her gaze snapped to me. She furrowed her eyebrows. »I mean, no, wait, I don’t want to push myself forward,« I replied more conciliatorily. The panic of having to speak with him now had not really subsided yet. »Are you okay?« Isabelle touched the back of her hand to my forehead. »You’re sweating. Did you catch something?« »Yes, yes, that must be it,« I said quickly. That was indeed the perfect excuse. Even if it only bought me time because sooner or later, I had to face him. Or quit my job. Maybe that was an alternative? I needed to consider this calmly. »Maybe you could apologize for me to Mr. Simmons, I’ll just go straight home to bed.« Isabelle still didn’t seem convinced. »Are you serious? You always want to make a good impression on everyone, don’t you want to introduce yourself? I mean, you’ll be working closely with Mr. Hot Crush every day. And how sexy is his name alone?« I let out a sigh. Did she really have to remind me? But before I could evade further, Mr. Simmons called my name.

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