Page 51 of Baby For My Bossy Fake Fiancé

It wasn’t hard to piece two and two together since I’d also been following up on the case from John. She reported every update to him.

“You seemed less interested in helping out the other day. Why the sudden interest, sir?”

The sarcasm in her last words didn’t go unnoticed.

“To correlate your academic records to real life,” I watched the space between her forehead crease. “You see, it’s a test I put each of my assistants through. The one that gives up gets fired, and the one that doesn’t stay. Other factors determine how long.”

It took a while, but I could see realization cross her eyes. Then a familiar emotion settled on her face.

Hurt.

I knew it too well. My interest suddenly piqued.

There was silence for a moment. And I could feel a forlorn cloud descend. “I was once like her.” Her slight smile held her hurt. “Scared and without anyone to help me get out of the shit hole I was in. I was… helpless, hopeless.”

Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes at her glossy ones.

“It isn’t a pleasant feeling, you know,” she paused. Somehow I could see her struggling to breathe. And my fingers itched to console her. “Having no family and doing life alone. Struggling to survive all on your own.”

She wrung her fingers, forlornly on the desk. “I never had a family growing up. They died when I was fifteen. So I know what it feels like to be Mae. I know what it feels like living her life. And I know she doesn’t need the extra burdens.”

“I wanted to help her. That was my major driving force,” she licked her lips slightly. “So I wouldn’t have failed your test. I could never have.”

A strange sense of pride surged through me before it was quickly replaced with sympathy. I watched her chest assume a steady pace. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

She looked shocked but nodded slowly.

I straightened myself in my chair. “You know we all have our demons. That one thing that comes back to haunt us even when we think we’re past it.”

“We all have that one thing that makes our life imperfect,” I held her gaze. I didn’t know why I was telling her this.

“But just like you did, we all need to find the strength to turn it into our biggest motivation. We all need to be strong, just like you.”

I watched a tear trickle down her cheek. Then another one followed.

Shit. It wasn’t meant to make her cry. I thought I was saying the right thing.

She sniffled slightly. Then, she wiped them off with the back of her palm. Her glossy eyes pierced through me, melting my rigid resolve.

Having her look at me like that, I felt vulnerable. Felt open.

I had vowed to never let anything like this happen again. How could…

I barely had time to complete the question when I felt her warm hand rest on mine. She managed a genuine smile. “Thank you.” Then she gave my hand a light squeeze.

Impulsively, I moved to wipe the streak of tears on her soft cheeks.

She looked surprised at my gesture, but I wasn’t. Nothing about this moment surprised me anymore. Perhaps it was inevitable.

Without thinking, I pushed the chair backward. Rising to my feet with her hand still in mine. I moved across the table to her.

With a gaze affixed on her face. I towered over her. Watching her drag deep breaths.

In one swift movement, I pulled her out of the chair. She gasped lightly. Before clinging to me as I guided her ass to the desk.

Then parted her legs with my knees.

Leaning forward, I brushed a strand of hair from her face. I cupped her face and brought my lips to hers. Her mouth was warm, inviting me to explore.

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