Page 32 of Her Billionaire Bossholes

I sigh, leaning away from my computer. Today's work? Shitty. Something in the algorithm is missing but I can't seem to find out what the fuck it is.

"Yeah, come in," I say, pouring myself a quick glass of scotch to try to loosen up.

The door opens and one of my lab assistants hesitates in the doorway. "They asked me to tell you that a meeting has been called in the conference room."

My brows tug together and I set the cup down. "A meeting? What for?"

"I don't know, sir, but they said it's urgent," he explains.

I sigh and swipe my phone off the desk. No messages. Weird. Okay...

"Thanks, man," I tell him, patting his shoulder as I slip through the door beside him.

What could be so important that someone has called a meeting in the middle of the workday? Not that I'm complaining--I could use a break from the frustration.

The sudden understanding that Charlie will probably be there both nauseates me and excites me. We haven't seen each other since the sparring incident, but, strangely enough, it feels like I might be missing her. Despite making an ass out of myself, I still want to be around her. The memory of her body pinned beneath mine makes my cock twitch with desire.

As I make my way down the corridor, my mind drifts to thoughts of Charlie. The memory of her fiery spirit and the way she challenged me, both mentally and physically, lingers in my thoughts. It's a dangerous game I'm playing, allowing myself to be drawn to her. But there's no denying the electrifying chemistry between us.

Lost in my reverie, I reach the double doors of the conference room. With a deep breath, I push them open, stepping into a scene that leaves me even more perplexed than before. Leo and Jackson are already seated at the polished mahogany table, their expressions mirroring my own confusion.

Leo, the brilliant yet eccentric scientist with a penchant for wild hairstyles, looks up from his notebook and raises an eyebrow at me. "Caleb! You're here too? Do you have any idea why we were summoned?"

I shake my head. "No idea. Where's Debbie? Charlie?"

Neither of the women are anywhere to be found.

"I don't know," Jackson says, fueling my confusion. Jackson leans back in his chair, his eyes scanning the room before he shrugs. "Maybe they're running a bit late. Or perhaps this meeting doesn't involve them. Hard to say."

He scratches his head absentmindedly, his eyes darting around the room, searching for any clue that might shed light on the purpose of this unexpected gathering.

Leo leans back in his chair, his fingers drumming a restless rhythm on the table. "Well, whoever called this meeting better have a damn good reason," he mutters under his breath, his frustration evident.

I take a seat at the table, my mind racing with possibilities. "If it wasn't us, and it wasn't them, do you think it was the board?"

Leo leans forward, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. "The board? It's certainly a possibility, but why would they call a meeting without informing us beforehand? It doesn't make sense."

Jackson interjects, his voice laced with curiosity. "Maybe it's something big. Something that requires immediate attention. Perhaps there's a breakthrough in one of our projects that they want to discuss."

I lean back in my chair, my mind buzzing with anticipation. The scotch I had earlier provides a warmth that fuels my desire for answers. "Or maybe it's something completely unrelated to our work," I suggest, throwing an intriguing possibility into the mix.

Jackson nods in agreement, his brow furrowed with concern. "I have a feeling this has nothing to do with our usual research projects. It's as if there's a sense of secrecy surrounding this meeting."

My mind races, searching for any clues hidden within the room. The sleek, black walls adorned with abstract art seem unusually foreboding today. The air is heavy with anticipation, electrified by the unknown purpose of this gathering.

"I don't know, but if they take any longer to get this shit started I'm going to lose my mind," Leo snaps, hanging his head back and glaring at the ceiling. "I was in the zone in my lab."

Jackson scoffs and rolls his eyes. "You always think you're in the zone."

"Fuck off, dude," he barks back. "You're never in the zone."

"That's because there is no zone."

"Not for you," he grumbles.

I glare at both of them acting like children. "Shut up, both of you. You're acting ridiculous."

They share a look before Leo mutters, "You just have a stick up your ass."

---