The Boss Too: Billionaire Romance (2 page)

“Sorry you had to leave your family before you got dessert.” Alex stood in his kitchen, his eyes slightly red as Jamie sat at the counter finishing the report he’d asked her to type up.

She shrugged. “I knew there was no way in hell I would get cake with my family watching my thighs. They’re on this get-Jamie-skinny mission.”

“I’d gladly watch your—” Alex suddenly cleared his throat and shook his head, as if physically trying to stop himself from saying the words. “Well, you guessed wrong on that.” Alex tossed her a plastic takeout box. “I got some to go.”

She shifted, warming at the sentence he didn’t finish. She eyed him as she slowly opened the box. Inside were several slices of chocolate cake. Had he been drinking? He seemed off. It threw her. She’d finally grown accustomed to being back to business only. She needed something to divert her attention from the handsome half-drunk hunk leaning against the counter beside her.

She stared at the layers of rich, delicious chocolate. “I owe you big time.” Jamie opened the box and took the fork Alex offered. She slipped it into a heavenly piece of cake. She paused before taking a bite. Guilt filled her. “No, I can’t. They’re right. I’ll just get fat again.”

“You can have some damn cake. I watch how hard you work out. A few extra calories won’t make you suddenly change that habit. Just eat some cake.” He motioned her to take a bite. When she didn’t, he leaned close and grabbed the fork from her hand, stealing the bite. “Wow! That is so good!” He closed his eyes as he savored the bite. He grinned as he handed the fork back to her.

Jamie dipped the fork again and slipped it into her mouth. The sweetness melted like butter inside her mouth, filling her tongue with sugary deliciousness. She almost moaned out loud.

“How’s the contract?”

She swallowed and licked her lips. “Almost finished.”

“I’ll make you some tea,” he offered. “Peppermint, right?”

“Sure,” she replied, stealing another bite. “Thank you.” She typed a few more sentences of the report while watching him take container after container of tea out of his cupboard.

A can of tea fell, clattering on the ground. Alex swore and reached to pick it up but it rolled towards Jamie’s feet.

She picked it up herself and raised an eyebrow at the label. “What’s Bitch Tea?”

Alex cleared his throat. “It’s, uh, just the name they give for this particular combination of herbs. It was given to me as a gag gift last Christmas.”

Jamie turned over the can to read the information on the back. She smirked. “It helps mood swings during PMS?”

Alex took the can out of her hands and put it back in the cupboard. “I know it’s an offensive name.” He had the decency to blush. “And misleading. Apparently, you don’t turn into a bitch during your time of the month.” He smiled at her. “Actually, you’re never a bitch.”

“You should see my sister. She turns into the Hulk the second week of every month. Stay away.”

“Funny,” he said, grinning. “I thought she was always the Hulk.” He poured the hot water into a mug and set the tea smelling of peppermint down next to Jamie.

She took a sip and smiled. “Thanks.” Getting back to work, she worked silently as she finished up the contract. Took one more bit of the cake and mentally planned to put an extra half hour on the treadmill tomorrow morning before work. Ten minutes later, she saved her work. “It’s all done.” She closed the laptop and stood. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Please stay.” Alex stared at his glass now only holding ice, the whisky he’d poured himself long gone. “It’s nice to have a conversation that’s not a business meeting for ten minutes.”

Jamie bit her lip, uncertain. She had no reason to believe he wanted anything more than non-work-related conversation while he waited for her to finish her tea. Except the last time they were in a room together when they weren’t working, they had ended up in Alex’s bedroom. And look how well that turned out.
Well, it turned out well. For that night at least. The next morning was a different story.

Alex must have read her mind because he smiled at her. “I assure you, I’m not looking for… repeat performances. We both know that’s not wise.”

Jamie smiled hesitantly and nodded, ignoring the pang of disappointment she felt. “I guess I can stay for a little while.”

He smiled and sat down beside her. “Awesome! How was your father’s birthday?”

“You were at the next table. You should know.”

“Believe it or not, I had to actually work,” Alex said. “I did my best to tune out what was happening until after the business was resolved.”

“Oh, well, you can imagine.” Jamie rolled her eyes, enjoying that she could be comfortable and honest with him, and he wouldn’t judge. “Plenty of wedding talk and my father didn’t want to do anything but get back to work, even though it was his party.” She shrugged. “It was a very long evening.”

“I’m sorry your family’s so rude,” Alex said. “I have to admit, I’m glad Stephen wasn’t there. If he had been and was acting just as rude to you as he was the last time I saw him, then I’d have done something very unprofessional in front of a lot of valuable business associates.”

Jamie smiled. “You’d have turned into the Hulk?”

“Absolutely. Multiple times.”

She giggled.

“So, why does your family treat you like shit?” Alex poured some more golden liquid into his glass. He offered her some and she shook her head.

Jamie shrugged. “They aren’t that bad. They just get stressed and I’m an easy target to take it out on. I need to lose some weight and they’re just trying to help.” They had a lousy way of doing it, but they meant well.

“I don’t think so.” Alex frowned. “If you mean the fact that you don’t starve yourself because society says you should, then—”

“That’s basically it,” Jamie said, cutting him off and wishing she didn’t have to have this conversation. “I used to be skinny like Christine growing up. Mom was just as doting on me then as she is on Christine now. Then middle school hit and I didn’t handle puberty well. Neither did any of the other kids in my class, but instead of turning mean and vicious like the other girls in my class, I started indulging in comfort food. Ever since then I’ve been the one blemish on Mom’s and Christine’s perfect life and perfect family.”

“And they have never let you forget it,” Alex muttered.

She bit her lip. He did see it from their eyes and most likely agreed with them.

“That’s so cruel!” Alex slapped the granite countertop. “How can they do that? Not even—” He clenched his jaw suddenly and Jamie knew that whatever he was about to say, he wasn’t ready to say. “Not even my middle school years were that bad,” he said lamely.

“Well, I’m sure your family isn’t as bad as mine.” Jamie forced a smile, more than willing to change the subject away from her.

“Your sister and mother aren’t in the right.”

She blinked in surprise. “Thank you for being willing to fight my battle Mr. Reid, but someone  as perfect as you are has never had to deal with this kind of treatment. You don’t understand.” She couldn’t blame him, he was perfect and, most likely, so was everyone in his family. “What are they like? Your family?” she asked. “Aside from a couple of photos in your house, there’s practically no sign that you even have one.”

Alex shrugged and glanced at his watch, his face becoming unreadable. “I’m afraid that’s a story for another time.” He stood and brought their glasses to the sink. “It’s getting late. But thanks for the company, Jamie.”

“Sure.” She stood abruptly, thrown by his sudden ‘get out’ attitude. He was the one who asked her to stay and suddenly it was late? She was about to leave, but she turned back at the last second. Frustration gave her false courage. “I know we never talked about
that
night,” she said quickly. “And I’m sure you want to forget about it. I just need—I want—to know if you actually meant what you said.” She swallowed hard, shocked she’d said the words out loud.

“About how I wanted you and how incredibly sexy you are?” He raised an eyebrow, his voice low and sexy, it sent warm sensations through her body.

“That’s, uh, not exactly—”

“Not to mention how fucking amazing you are in bed?” His calm facade melted away to show the lust he was really feeling.

Jamie went weak in the knees and had to reach out to grab the countertop to keep herself from stumbling.

Alex’s gorgeous blue eyes never left hers. “Believe me, I meant every word.” His breathing increased and he straightened to compose himself. “Jamie… I apologize for that night. The only relationship I can have with you is professional, and anything on the side would have to be with no strings. I’m not interested in anything else. I hope you know that.”

Disappointment hit Jamie like a wrecking ball. She turned away so Alex wouldn’t see the tears forming in her eyes. He might not care at all about her weight, but he wanted to use her as an office slut just like Stephen. Despite how her body was reacting to the smoldering man standing by her, she definitely had a problem with that. She swallowed hard and nodded. “I figured as much,” she said. “It makes things easier for when I tell you that I only want a strictly professional relationship from now on. After all, isn’t that why you hired me? To not be distracted?”

“Jamie—”

“Goodnight, Mr. Reid.” Jamie smiled politely at him. “Have an excellent evening.” She left before he could reply and turned away to go to her apartment. It wasn’t until she got inside and locked the door that she started to cry.

“How’s the new computer?” Alex asked her the next day, his tone having a certain hedge to it, like he didn’t want her to snap at him.

“It’s nice,” Jamie replied as she sat in his office going through the week’s schedule. She flipped the planner so it would sync up with his. They needed to keep things safe and distant, and she would prove to him that it was the best situation for both of them.

Alex sat behind his desk going over a folder in front of him. "We have a lot of things to go over before the meeting with the investors." He frowned and set a sheet of paper aside. "I need you to make sure everything’s in order so we can get the best deal. This is what’s going to get the investors sold on the project." He gestured to the files on his desk, which was supposed to be their chaperone. It was full of different sketches for a new computer software program that made improvements on current models of voice dictation programs.

There was a polite knock on the door that led to the lobby.

"Come in," Alex called out.

Gina came in, looking at the two of them cautiously. Jamie did her best to look calm, indifferent, and professional. Gina kept teasing Jamie that there was something going on between her and Alex. Over drinks the other night, she’d tried to convince Jamie that Alex wanted to sleep with her. Jamie had denied it all. It didn’t stop Gina from acting like she was going to catch them in the act. That was never going to happen.

Gina glanced at the two of them. "Mr. Reid, your three o'clock is here."

"Thank you, Ms. Campbell." He looked at Jamie, his own expression cool and indifferent. "Send those emails, Ms. Connors, and if any of these papers get damaged, heads will roll." He handed Jamie the stack of files. “Keep these in your office till the meeting with the investors.”

"Yes, Mr. Reid," Jamie said. "Would you like me to stay and take notes for the meeting now?"

"That won't be necessary." He waved his hand. "I expect you to convert everything I record into a word processor."

Jamie nodded and then smiled at Gina, who looked skeptical from the exchange between her and Alex. She breathed a sigh as she left Alex's office.

She sat back at her desk and took a couple of seconds to check her personal phone for any messages from Christine. With the wedding coming closer and closer, Christine was getting more and more high-strung and demanding. There were five text messages from her right now, and Jamie had only been in Alex's office for twenty minutes. At least, she thought it was twenty minutes. She was replying to the last one when a shadow fell across her desk.

"Excuse me, miss, is Alex Reid in?"

She slid her phone into her purse, embarrassed to feel like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t by checking her phone. She felt her mouth drop when she saw a man who looked exactly like an older version of Alex smiling at her. She recognized Alex’s brother from the photo in Alex’s living room, even though he was a lot older now. What she couldn't understand was why he was here right now.

"Y-yes," she stammered. "He's in his office right now. Are you his three o’clock?"

No wonder Alex didn’t need her in the office for his meeting. She stood and came around the desk. “I’m Jamie Connors, Mr. Reid’s personal assistant.”

He shook her hand "I'm his brother, Mark."

Jamie nodded. "I know," she said. "I-I mean, the two of you look a lot alike. That's it. Um..." She glanced at the office door and then picked up the phone, ready to dial Alex's line. She put the phone down. "I’m surprised Gina didn’t walk you in from the lobby. I can let you in through here," she said. "It shouldn't be a problem."

Mark raised an eyebrow.

“Follow me.” Jamie knocked lightly on Alex’s door before opening it. She blinked in surprise when Mark pushed past her and stepped into Alex’s office before her.

“Alex!”

Jamie followed behind him, noticing an extremely attractive woman sitting on a seat in front of Alex’s desk. Personal three o’clock? Or was Mark his three o’clock?

Alex took one look at his brother and stopped talking. He glared at Mark and his hands balled into fists, crumpling a sheaf of papers in his hands. "What’re you doing here?" He scowled at Jamie. “Why’d you let him in?”

"Can we talk in private?" Mark asked.

"No," Alex stood, "because you're leaving. I really don't care why you're here. Just go."

"Alex!" Mark set his feet shoulder-width apart and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not leaving. I’m your brother. I have the right to talk to you."

"You don't," Alex said, his voice low and dangerous. "Get the hell out of here. Or I’ll call security."

The woman still sitting across from Alex’s desk began furiously scribbling in her notebook. “Ms. Snatters?”

“Hmmm?” the woman said without looking up.

“Can you please leave this off the record?” He glared at Mark and Jamie again. “Ms. Connors, have Mark leave or not only will I have security escort him out, you’ll be going with him.”

Mark sighed and turned to Jamie. “I won’t have you lose your job over me.” He moved back into Jamie’s office.

Jamie followed, unsure of what to say and shocked at how angry Alex’s face had looked.

"Give this to him, if you can." Mark set a small, white, sealed envelope on her desk.

Jamie nodded, unable to respond. Mark left without another word, leaving Jamie staring at the envelope for a full minute before Alex opened their door and summoned Jamie in. She grabbed the envelope with a shaking hand, feeling the thick folded up papers inside it burn into her hand. She would have given anything to know the contents of the envelope but she knew she would cross a line she could never cross back if she opened it up. She wouldn’t ever do it. However, it didn’t stop her from being curious.

Alex slammed the door behind Jamie and breathed a sigh of relief. Or a breath to stall enough to keep his temper in check. Ms. Snatters was no longer in his office. "If he ever comes in here again, call security," he said. "I don't want my brother or anyone else from my family in here again, understand?"

Jamie bit her lip and then nodded. "He asked me to give you this." Jamie handed him the envelope.

Alex tossed the envelope on his desk.

"What happened between you and your family?" She covered her mouth, shocked she’d even said the words out loud.

"That's none of your concern." He stared out his large windows at the city life below. "It's ancient history."

"Mark seems… nice." She couldn’t understand Alex’s outburst. She was embarrassed for him. She had a nut-house family and she still loved them. “Maybe you should try talking to him. It might help.”

"No one can help," he snapped. "Not for moving past and certainly not for reconciliation, because that’s impossible. Make sure none of my family ever come here.” He spun around. “If you ever mention anything about my family again, you can find yourself a new place to live and a new job. Am I clear, Ms. Connors?" He glared at her, his eyes blazing with anger.

Jamie wanted to scowl back at him, but finally nodded. "Yes, Mr. Reid," she said automatically before she turned around and went back to her desk. She hid behind her computer screen, pretending to look busy but really trying to keep anyone from seeing how frustrated and rattled she was from the confrontation.