Page 62 of Assistant to the Billionaire CEO

“Oh, my. He’s hiding something,” she said.

“Huh? Ace, you mean?”

“Yeah! Who knows what’s inside those boxes? I bet he’s the one who got rid of them, and then he fired the poor assistant just to keep the act up, you know making it seem that she was the one who lost them? You better keep your guard up. Or, oh my God, what if her body is in them?”

“What?Noooo, I doubt that. Stop it. I mean, as far as I know, Ace wants us to find the boxes. But honestly, I’m confused about many things. What’s worse…”

“Yeah…?”

“What’s worse is that at the same time, it feels like there’s something happening between him and me, but I don’t know what to do about it. I know we can’t be together. I mean, he’s my boss and my brother’s best friend, but I can’t get him out of my head. I can’t stop wondering what would have happened if we hadn’t been interrupted by that Flint guy.”

“Oof,” Bonnie grunted. I could hear her fidgeting on the other end of the line. “I’d hate to be in your shoes, but family is family. Damon has a point. I’d pry on my boss if my sexy superhero-like brother asked me to, too. I guess that doesn’t make it any easier for you, does it?”

“You think Damon is a sexy superhero-like brother?”

“Heck yeah. He wears that cape perfectly, plus, let’s face it, he’s panty-melting hot. I’d drop my panties for a stud like him any day. Besides, if Ace has defected to the dark side, it’s in your best interest to know. You don’t want to be with someone that hangs out with pricks, or worse, someone who is a prick.”

“Also,” I sulked, “it’s not like we can be together anyway.”

“Right. You cannot.”

My lower lip started trembling, but I didn’t want to surrender to the flood of emotions that was threatening to draw me under. “I just wish we’d really kissed, you know?”

“Oh, honey, I know,” Bonnie cooed. “But I think it would be best if you were careful around Ace. My alarm bells are ringing. Loudly. You should guard your heart, at least until you know whether he’s involved with that Ecclestone guy or not. You’ve got to try to forget about what happened in the helicopter and in the supply room, for your own sake. Maybe you should try to avoid him for a while? Just to make it easier to resist him.”

“Avoiding him will be difficult, but I guess you’re right. I’ll do what I can.”

“I’m always right.”

“Well, mostly, but not always.”

“What car does he drive?”

Damn. Proving her point, I said, “A Lamborghini. A 3.6 million-dollar Sián.” I had Googled the price, and frankly, I still wasn’t sure how anybody could drive such an exorbitant car without maneuvering it right into the first post from the nerves of driving it. Funnily enough, it was the very same car brand I’d given the bird to when I was in the cab with Jay. Something in me suspected it had beenhim. Luckily, my boss had sped past us too fast to recognize me. Fast cars also had their advantages.

“Three-flipping-point-sixmillion…for a car? Uh. Sorry. Small Barry energy. Tiny Barry energy.” I could hear the dismissive shake of her head right through the phone. “Remember the guy I dated about a year ago and I thought something was wrong?” Bonnie had no luck with men, that was for sure. She was the kindest, loveliest, most beautiful woman I knew, and she always fell for the same type of man: handsome jerks who left her with either an empty wallet or an empty heart, or both.

“Of course I remember. You mean the guy who said you were the other half of his torn-apart soul? His name was Barry, wasn’t it?” Secretly, I found the idea of two lovers finding each other across time and space incredibly romantic. It had to be wonderful to find someone who would accept you for who you were. In my case, a hopeless endeavor—too nerdy, too curious, and far too convinced that every human being had a good core. In Bonnie’s case, it never ceased to amaze me how stupid men were to have let her go.

“Exactly him,” Bonnie confirmed. “It turns out he was just pretending to be unemployed. The truth is he had a super-rich dad—something to do with oil or IT tech or both—and he had not one, but three Lambos. And his you-know-what was—”

“Stop,” I interjected. “Now if you tell me details about his...about little Barry and how certain compensating methods could also apply to Ace, I’ll have nightmares tonight and I won’t be able to sleep.”

Bonnie laughed. It was a wonderful sound that, despite all thoughts of Ace, warmed my heart. You can always call me if you need someone to talk to, day or night.”

“Thank you, Bonnie,” I said. “I’ve got to go before I get in trouble for dawdling. I love you.”

“I love you too, girlie. Stay away from that man, and his car, and his evil manly seduction powers. You can do it. I believe in you. I promise I’ll get back to you on those lost boxes as soon as I speak to my colleague. Something’s fishy! I’d get your two weeks’ notice ready if I were you.” With that, Bonnie ended the call, and I was left alone with my thoughts.

Bonnie was right, without a doubt. Along with Jay, she was now the second person thinking that Damon had a point. I couldn’t let Ace get into my head. Not until I knew what he was up to. I couldn’t let myself give in to my desires, let alone fall for him.

* * *

After lunch, I headed straight to Ace’s office. I wondered how much paperwork awaited me.

Ace’s office manager and fill-in secretary, Mrs. Mills, an elderly woman with a friendly face and frizzy gray mane, was busy in his office, digging through one of his files.

“Oh, good morning, dear,” she chirped, whipping her head around, her hands on the files in the cabinet. “I don’t think we’ve formally met yet. I’m sure Mr. Windsor has been meaning to introduce us, but I was gone most of last week and well, you know how busy he is! I’m Mary Louise Mills, and you can just call me Mrs. Mills. Everyone else does.”

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