Page 2 of Billionaire Boss's Bold Proposal

“So, you’re saying that you already broke things off with Roger secretly?” the reporter asked.

“Yes,” Jessica lied.

I exchanged looks with my board members, who seemed surprised, too.

“What’s her deal?” Adam asked.

Adam’s voice interrupted my reminiscing. It had been three weeks since Jessica humiliated me. I kept reliving every mortifying moment - the night that she ruined everything.

Leonard laughed as he switched off the TV. “What are we even watching this trash?”

“What are they hoping to gain?” Adam asked again.

“Jamie and Jessica want to destroy my good name and tarnish my reputation. It sure looks like they’re succeeding,” I responded at last.

“Wow! You sure know how to pick your girlfriends,” Adam snickered.

“Thanks, Adam, for the support. Way to rub it in.”

“Roger, it’s been three weeks,” Leonard stated. “You’ve got to pull yourself together and stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

“I’m not feeling sorry for myself, Leo. If you have any bright ideas, let’s hear them.” I snapped.

Leonard put his hands up in surrender and sighed. “Don’t bite my head off. “I’m just making a suggestion.”

“Which is what, exactly?”

“Give the media something new to obsess about. Right now, they’re portraying you as the sad bully who was mean to Jessica. It would help if you had a fresh story,” Leonard replied.

I cocked my eyebrow, considering Leonards’s advice. I tried focusing on something. Anything other than the painful reality that Jessica had chosen Jamie over me.

Jamie and I have been rivals for as long as I can remember. He was always looking for ways to one-up me, to prove he could take what was mine. I’ve come to terms with the fact that Jamie would always want whatever I have. I realize now that included my girlfriend.

It infuriated me even more that Jessica had been swept off her feet and fallen for his act.

“I think you should take a break,” Adam said. “Go somewhere quiet and peaceful, out of the public eye, and move on from this.”

“Somewhere like Milan,” Leonard suggested. “That’s where your new race is, right?”

Adam nodded, “Yeah, you should head to Milan, Roger.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to go anywhere, but they had a point. I needed a break. Milan was the perfect escape from all the New York drama and far from Jessica and Jaime.

“All right, when do I leave?” I asked.

“Go pack your bags, and we’ll call your pilot,” Adam replied.

I looked around the bland boardroom, its multiple tables and chairs, all covered in the same dull dark brown.

Although the board had twenty members, I’d excluded all but my two most trusted advisors-Adam and Leonard-remained, along with my personal assistant Jonah. After the betrayal of Jessica, I couldn’t face the entire board.

My career and Company now hung in jeopardy-courtesy of Jessica and Jamie’s press conference where she’d leaked our product designs and launch plans.

“Don’t worry, and stop stressing. Take a break and get back on track for Milan.” Leonard said, noticing my look of misery. “We’ll handle things here.”

I nodded, gesturing to Jonah, “Would you grab my things, please.”

Jonah grabbed my laptop, suit, and briefcase and followed me out of the meeting room to my office, setting everything down on my desk.

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