Page 15 of Her Billionaire Bossholes

I smirk and look at them. "You heard the woman. Now, shall we?"

The board members exchange glances, clearly taken aback by Charlie's unexpected presence. Mr. Anderson opens his mouth to protest, but Ms. Collins cuts him off with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Let her stay," she says, her voice dripping with arrogance. "If Mr. Jackson feels safer with his own personal bodyguard, who are we to argue?"

My lips curl into a satisfied smile as I watch the power dynamics shift in the room. Charlie's unwavering gaze meets mine, and there's a flicker of amusement in her eyes. She knows exactly what she's doing—asserting her presence and reminding everyone that I am not someone to be trifled with.

With a swift dismissal of their objections, we delve into the heart of the meeting. The air crackles with tension as BioCore's achievements in regenerative medicine are laid bare before the pharmaceutical company representatives.

As the conversation delves deeper into the potential partnership between BioCore and the pharmaceutical company, I find myself frequently glancing over at Charlie. Her sharp focus never wavers, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of danger or intrusion. There's an air of mystery around her that only adds to her allure—a woman of strength and capability, someone who can handle herself in any situation.

"You can't be serious..." one of the pharmaceutical reps scoffs and shakes his head. "I mean, bidding with your final price... this is too much."

I share a look with Ms. Collins before informing him very matter-of-factly, "That's softballing it, sir."

His eyes bulge out of their sockets. "This is absurd!"

"This is the price of partnership," Mr. Anderson shoots back.

I lean forward, my gaze piercing through the room, asserting my dominance. "Gentlemen, let's not waste any more time with negotiations. BioCore is at the forefront of regenerative medicine, and we hold all the cards. Take it or leave it."

Silence hangs heavy in the air as the pharmaceutical representatives exchange glances, clearly caught off guard by our boldness. Ms. Collins maintains a composed expression, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She knows that we have them exactly where we want them.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, one of the representatives clears his throat and speaks up. "Fine," he says begrudgingly. "We'll leave."

The four representatives grab their folders and file out of the room. Hanging my head back, I blow out a breath of disappointment. Charlie stares back at me, brow quirked.

"Better luck next time, Mr. Harris," Mr. Anderson says as he rises from his seat.

The door closes.

"And then there were two," I murmur, gazing up into her eyes.

"Come on, Mr. Harris." She pats my shoulder. "Let's get back to the facility."

14

CALEB

Igroan out of pure frustration and kick the covers off the bed.This is fucking ridiculous.Three hours of tossing and turning without even a hint of feeling tired.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

With a determined sigh, I decide to get up from bed and pull on a pair of sweats to walk around the facility. As I step out into the dimly lit hallway, I let my feet guide me, leading me aimlessly through the different sections and corridors. Each step brings a sense of relief, as if the physical movement is helping to ease the internal turbulence.

Coincidentally, my path takes me past Charlie's room. The soft glow peeking from under her door catches my attention, making me pause for a moment. I find myself wondering what she might be doing at this hour, and as I hesitate in the hallway I hear gentle grunts echoing out of her room.

"Ugh, ngh," she huffs a few times and by then I can't resist it.

Creeping forward, I peer through the slightly open crack of the door to see her laying on the floor on her back. Her fingers are laced behind her head as she crunches her body. Working out at this hour of the night?

That's not what it sounded like, a little voice whispers in my head.

Raising my hand, I knock without thinking. My heart pounds in my chest as I realize what I've just done.

The knocking startles Charlie, causing her to jolt in surprise and lose her balance mid-crunch. She quickly sits up, eyes widening as she spots me standing by her doorway. Her face flushes with embarrassment, and I can't help but find it endearing.

"Caleb! I- I mean, Mr. Carter. What are you doing here?" she asks, tucking a strand of sweaty hair behind her ear.

---