Page 12 of Royal Bosshole

But no, he just led me to my desk. “I’ve sent you a few documents for you to look at. And some of your coworkers will be by today, asking you questions and things like that. Things are flexible here, but just be sure to keep up with everything. Ready to start? Any questions, you can just send them my way.”

He knocked on the desk with the knuckle of his middle finger, and then he walked away and that was that. Instantly, my eyes were glued to his ass again. Was I an ass-woman? I had never thought that, not that I didn’t like asses, but I thought I was more of an abs kind of gal.

Really? This is what you’re thinking about on your first day of work? When you are about to change your life? And after the most delicious breakfast you’ve had in a long time? The firstrealbreakfast you’ve had in a long time.

I closed my eyes, still savoring the wonderful breakfast I’d had with Stevie and April. I’d actually bought it for them from the money I had from my advance. I wanted to spoil them for fucking once. We went out and had pancakes, omelets, fruit salad, and I’d been tempted to add bottomless mimosas. It was glorious. But now, I should have been focusing on work. I was about to make changes in my life; I could feel it.

And I should definitely not be thinking about James Perry’s fucking rock-hard ass.

Brushing a strand of hair out of my face, I breathed out. I could do this. I could focus on what I needed to do without getting all sex crazed. I took a few deep breaths and stared at my computer as I sat down. Clicking on my new email, I found the documents he’d sent me, and I got to work on the latest marketing program for their company.

A few hours later, I was feeling better. Honestly, I was shocked at how good I felt. Having a full meal in my stomach made me able to think. I could actually form clear thoughts, and I smiled once I realized that, getting back to work again. Was this what it was like for normal people who could afford enough food? They could just have energy all the time? Someone came by my desk, and I stood energetically, eager to assist them. They looked at me like I was crazy.

“Hi, Lily? James said I can ask you about these.” She pointed to a few documents in her hand. “We need some help getting the copyright. I’m Sarah.”

“Of course. I’m happy to help, Sarah.” I smiled, and there was real energy behind that smile.

A little flutter in my chest made me want to start dancing around. I swallowed to keep the happy tears back. I felt like I was finally getting my life back. Okay, it had just been one great meal. And yeah, sure, maybe this new chance was connected to the devil-sexy-man in the glass office with an ass that didn’t quit. And whose business was threatening to take over mine. But that was all right. I’d dealt with sexy, powerful men before, and I would deal with this one too.

I’d been running my own business for years, and even if it was just coasting by, it was still going. I could do this. I thought about my grandmother, Charlotte. She always knew what to say and when to say it. I knew she would tell me the same thing. I really missed her.

Sarah and I sat down together at one of the office tables, and she walked me through her questions.

I listened and nodded, taking everything in. It felt good to work with even more people now. It wasn’t just my business hanging on my own shoulders.

When she was finished, I pulled one of the papers toward me and read it over. “I really think we could get more visitors to the site if the wording was a little bit homier. I’ve told Mr. Perry this already. Coffeeshops are real and earthy, and people want to feel like they are going home. They want it to be a safe place, you know? They don’t want such a corporate vibe.”

Sarah’s mouth dropped open. She snuck a look behind me at James’s office.

“You told him allthat?” she asked in a loud whisper.

“Yeah.” I smirked. “Why? Too much?”

She laughed. “I know we just met, but I’m so tempted to call you ‘boss bitch’.”

I laughed so hard that people turned, and I put a hand over my mouth. At the same time, I happened to look up at James in his fancy glass office. He was watching me.

Holy Fuck.

I felt that look he was giving me all the way down to my toes. Swallowing hard, I looked away, not wanting to dissect that strange occurrence. Or the way it felt like my stomach had turned over.

“I would love it if people called me that,” I said, once I had gathered my zen again. “But yeah, I told him. He knew what he was getting when he hired me.”

Sarah put the documents together and sighed. “Perhaps you can teach me your confident ways one day. Thanks for your help.”

“No problem. Let me know if the numbers increase when the copy is changed.”

“Sure thing, boss bitch,” Sarah whispered under her breath, and started to laugh again.

On my way back to my desk, I didn’t look up at his office. Once I sat down in the safety of my cubicle, I breathed in and out slowly. What in the hell was that look about?

* * *

JAMES

A bubbling brook, through a lush valley in the Lenovian countryside, under a bright blue sky. That’s what Lily’s laugh had sounded like to me when I’d heard it through the glass walls of my office. That’s what made me look up, and when I saw it was her laughing, something lurched deep inside me. Something that hadn’t moved in a long, long time. I could feel my fingers curl around the papers in my hands.

Why did it feel like I was the one being manipulated and seduced? I was the one usually in control. But Lily looked so natural and without any ulterior motives as she laughed at something Sarah had said. Then, she put a hand over her cute mouth and looked my way.

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