The Billionaire’s Tenacious Boss (The Maxfield Brothers Series Book 1) (3 page)

S
he had tired eyes
. Stephen had no doubt that underneath all that make-up, he'd find dark circles. But as she stared stoically across the desk, he knew that she'd deny it. She was presenting a mask to the world. The mask that clearly stated that she was putting everything into the company. But that couldn't be true. Surely, there was another side to her? And Stephen was oddly determined to find out what that other side was.

"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked softly as he sidled up to her desk. She blinked, clearly lost in thought, and turned those beautiful eyes towards him.

"What?"

"The lucky guy who kept you up all night?" Although he was teasing her, he suddenly felt a touch of jealousy. It hadn't occurred to him until that minute that there might be another guy in her life. Of course, there would be another guy. She was smoking hot, successful, and one of the most confident women he had ever met. How could there not be another guy?

"Typical," she said as she rolled her eyes. "You think a male is the only thing that can keep a woman up at night?"

He lifted his eyebrows in surprise. What was she implying? "Was it a woman that kept you up?"

"Please go away," she murmured. "You're making things worse."

Relief swept through him. No man. And definitely no woman. That was a good start. "Well, if it wasn't anything fun, what did keep you up?"

Her eyes hardened. "That fact that you swoop in after years of absence to block my plans to save your family's company," she hissed. “Remember that teeny little thing?”

Well. He certainly wasn't expecting that. He could immediately see the regret in her eyes as her head dropped. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "Lack of sleep makes me cranky. I didn’t mean to snap at you."

"I've only been here a day," he reminded her softly. "And I'm not blocking anything. I simply want to make sure that we explore all of our options." He swept his hand through his hair. She obviously didn't think he was qualified to voice an opinion and maybe she was right. But he wasn't about to let Gabe down. "Maybe we could work on trying to find a compromise rather than going behind each other's backs and talking to board members."

"I'm not going behind your back," she bristled.

He snorted. "Of course you’re not." If she was in the position to make CEO, and this was the only thing holding her back, Stephen had no doubt that she was all over it.

"I'm not," she snapped. "Believe it or not, I want what is best for this company. And if I needed to push something through, I don't need to do it with secret meetings behind closed doors. That's not my style."

More than anything, he wanted to ask her exactly what her style was, but he had a feeling that she wouldn't appreciate it much. Instead, he pulled a chair up to her desk and sat down. And just to piss her off a little bit, he leaned back in the chair and propped his feet up on her desk. "Great. So let's talk about these plans of yours. You do realize that cutting off two arms doesn't make a third grow."

She got up and leaned over. As she shoved his feet off her desk, he got a quick peek down her shirt. He struggled to keep his face calm, but she saw his eyes wander and quickly straightened. She directed a hard look at him. "Get. Out."

This wasn't exactly going the way he had planned. Grimacing, he stood and put his hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry. That was inappropriate. Look, I really do want to make this work. Can we start over?"

"Am I supposed to believe that it's possible for you to even try to act professionally?" she demanded.

A little bit of guilt hinged on him. She wasn't wrong. "I can act professionally. I'm at a loss at what to do here. I'm not even sure why I'm here," he admitted.

"That makes two of us."

That set his teeth on edge. "No. Of course, you wouldn't know. The only thing you know is what Duncan lets you know. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe we can't work together," he said harshly.

She didn't stop him as he turned on his heel and stormed out. He immediately went to Gabe's office. Without bothering to knock, he flung open the door and stormed in. "Why am I here?"

Gabe stared at him. He was holding the phone up to his ear. "Daniel, I understand that you want us to make a decision soon, but we're talking about a huge makeover here. We want to ensure we've looked at all the angles before we sell two-thirds of the company. And if you're not comfortable with that, you're welcome to sell your shares and move on."

After a few more moments, he hung up the phone. "I see you still don't quite understand how to knock," he said.

"Gabe, what the hell are you doing? If board members start selling shares, Angie could get the upper hand. Is that really what you want?"

"I want the best for Duncan Enterprises, and I won't let board members rush me into a premature decision." He calmly stood and straightened his tie. "Why are you so angry?"

"She's impossible," he hissed.

"Yes, well perhaps that stubbornness is why she's getting the CEO position instead of me."

There was no anger in Gabe's voice, and that alone deflated Stephen's rage. After all was said and done, Stephen intended to leave, but this was Gabe's baby. He would stay whether he ran it or not. "Why am I here?" he repeated, more gently this time.

"I already told you. You're here to help me find another way to save the company."

"You don't need me for that. And you don't need Nathan."

Gabe shrugged. "Like it or not, you're still a part of this company. Now if things had stayed the same, I wouldn't care if you and Nathan never showed your faces around here. But cutting off two-thirds of this company is a helluva lot like cutting two brothers out of a family. And for some strange reason I thought maybe you'd want a say in that. But if I'm wrong, feel free to go back to whatever miserable life you were pretending to lead."

"My company is just fine," Stephen argued. He'd never heard Gabe speak so harshly before. What was going on?

"We outbid you for seventy-five percent of the projects that come in. I doubt your company is doing ‘just fine’." Gabe checked his watch. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to go too."

"Why isn't Duncan here?" Stephen asked.

Gabe shrugged. "Maybe he figures we'll kill each other, and save him the job."

Stephen slipped past his brother as he held the door open. With an uneasy feeling, he watched Gabe stride down the hall. When had they become strangers? Gabe and Nathan had been the best men at his wedding, and now he didn't even feel comfortable giving him more than a handshake. Of course, his marriage hadn't lasted either.

But maybe, just maybe, he could do one thing. Maybe he could repair his relationship with Gabe. Feeling more determined, he retraced his steps back to Angie's office. She was on her way out. "What now?" she grumbled.

"When you're finished with your meetings tonight, we're going to sit down and go over the reports," he said easily. "And you're going to explain to me why you feel this is the only viable option."

"That's going to take hours," she said, as she stared at him.

"Make whatever arrangements you need to," he said stiffly. Her jaw dropped, he turned and walked away without another word. If everyone wanted him to act as if he was part of this business, then that's how he would act. He was more like Duncan than he liked to admit.

T
he last employee
had left hours ago, and Angie thought regretfully about how she’d skipped lunch. One thing had led to another, and her thoughts kept roaming back to her family and then back to work, and she’d never gotten a chance to go down to the deli on the corner. The oatmeal she’d had for breakfast hadn’t lasted long. Her stomach growled loudly, and she flushed.

“Sorry. I skipped lunch.”

Stephen sat back and sighed. “It’s fine. We’re not getting anywhere anyway,” he said, and threw himself back in his chair. In that brief moment she realized the cool, confident man had slipped away, replaced by a vulnerability she hadn’t noticed before. She felt as though she were seeing beneath his customary poised façade for the first time, and now what she saw was a disappointed boy. He wasn’t getting what he wanted, and she half expected him to start pouting.

“I tried to tell you that this makes sense,” she said quietly.

“But it doesn’t make sense. This sharp decline in profit doesn’t make sense. You can blame the economy until you’re blue in the face, but Duncan Enterprises had a solid backing. It would have taken a hit, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near this bad. There’s nothing I can see that explains it.” He sighed and rubbed his face. Then looking up, he said, “But you’re hungry and so am I. Let’s take a break. Dinner?”

“That would be awesome,” she said, relieved, as her stomach growled again. “I was starting to think I was going to have to gnaw on this desk.”

Stephen smiled. “That might be difficult to explain on an expense report. Chinese? There used to be a place right around the corner that had some amazing shrimp with lobster sauce, and I’ve never found anything close to it.”

“
Made in China
? That place is so good.” She was already salivating at the thought of some Crab Rangoon. Her phone rang, and Stephen tossed her a curious look.

“You’ve been avoiding your phone all night.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t want to be distracted,” she lied. The truth was that it was the third time that Duncan had called, and she didn’t want to talk to him while Stephen was right there. No doubt, Duncan wanted a progress report, and Angie didn’t have one to give him yet.

She also didn’t want to admit that she was curious to see what Stephen would come up with.

“My treat,” Stephen said as he stood and stretched.

“Dutch,” she said automatically. He gave her another quizzical look, and she faltered. She’d always made the decision to pay for herself on dates, but she’d just had to remind herself that this wasn’t a date. Which meant there was even more reason not to let Stephen pay for her. Still, he didn’t say anything as he held open the door.

Twenty minutes later, they had their food in bags and were riding the elevator back up to the office. She had a sudden flashback to when they first met in the elevator, when she thought he was a construction worker. She hadn’t been lying when she said she had a thing for guys in hardhats. All he had to do was wrap one hand around her and lift her so that she could wrap her legs around his waist and… “So I heard your youngest brother is here,” she said quickly as she tried to distract herself. What the hell was wrong with her?

“Was he in the office?”

“Gabe mentioned it,” she said hastily. Immediately, she colored. What was wrong with her? She was lying left and right. Why was it so important for her to keep her phone conversations with Duncan a secret?

“He should have been in the office,” Stephen grumbled. “But Nathan has always been more of a free spirit. I don’t think he’s ever going to grow up.”

They stepped into the office together, and Angie smiled. “My youngest sister is like that. She’s a talented writer, and she had a promising career as a reporter, but she’s completely tossed it aside to get in bed with a restaurant. She’s going through divorce number three, and she’s only twenty-four. She has no idea what she wants in life, and rather than focusing on that, she keeps flitting from one thing to another and, even worse, from one man to another.”

“Wow. Three husbands. Nathan’s actually had a long-time girlfriend, and I’m not sure he’s ever going to marry her. I don’t have a problem with that because I think the girl is bad news, but Nathan won’t commit. He’s incredibly passionate and talented, but he’s so unfocused. I’m not really sure why Gabe called him back, but if I have to be here, then so does he.”

Angie popped a wonton in her mouth and nearly moaned with pleasure as the crab and cream cheese exploded with flavor. For a moment, there was nothing in the world except the delicious fried pastry in her mouth. When she swallowed, she saw Stephen looking at her with a dark intensity. “What?”

He leaned over suddenly and brushed his finger along her chin. Her heartbeat sped up until she realized that he was brushing crumbs off her face. Embarrassed, she immediately grabbed a napkin. “Sorry. I’m so hungry.”

“For a moment I thought you were having an orgasm,” he said quietly. The tension in the room thickened when she realized that he wasn’t joking.

“I love food,” she said as she tried to lighten the mood. And with a quick change of subject, she said, “If you care so little about the company, then why are you here?”

“Who said I care so little about the company?”

She gestured broadly. “You just said if you had to be here, then so did Nathan. That implies punishment,” she added.

There was a moment of silence, and Angie realized she wasn’t making the mood any lighter. Instead, as he looked her over, she felt naked and exposed. “It’s not the company,” he said finally. “It’s no secret that the Maxfields aren’t a close family anymore. Duncan isn’t exactly a warm and loving father; and Gabe, Nathan, and I aren’t nearly as close as we used to be. If it wasn’t for the company, we would probably never have any reason to speak to one another. I think my mother knew that. Before her death, she made us all promise to keep our shares. If this company falls apart, so do we.”

“It’s not falling apart,” she argued, as she popped another wonton in her mouth. “I’m trying to save your company too.”

“And that’s the difference between you and me. You’re willing to cut some things off in order to save the whole, and I see that as failure. Angie, this company started as a building company. If you sell that, you’re selling the heart and soul of the company.”

He looked almost heartbroken as he talked about it. Suddenly, she wanted to tell him the truth. She wanted to tell him that it was Duncan’s agenda, not hers. She wanted to promise him that she’d help him save the construction sector of the firm.

But right now, more than anything, she wanted to kiss him.

Everything about his body language told her that he wanted it as well. He lounged in the chair as if he were completely comfortable around her. His whole body faced her so that all she had to do was get up, take one-step, and she could straddle him. His eyes were raking over her body. And his mouth, God, that mouth. She had to know what he would taste like.

“If you keep looking at me like that,” he murmured, “we won’t be getting anymore work done tonight.”

What was the worse that would happen if, just this once, she indulged in something she wanted for a change? CEO. Focus, Angie. Keep your eyes on the prize, she reminded herself. With a hint of regret, she stood from her chair. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was…”

Suddenly, he was up and out of his chair. She barely had time to react before he’d grabbed her and hauled her up to the table. Her body didn’t even hesitate as he leaned over her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. And when his lips pressed down on hers, she could think of nothing else but him.

Hot. Desperate. With a moan, she leaned back and pulled him down on top of her. She’d never felt so abandoned in her life as her hands raced over his body. He deepened the kiss, and his own hand roamed. Pins were yanked out of her hair as he cradled her head, and one hand was moved down her side, over her hip, and slowly pushing her skirt up.

“Wait,” she gasped as she pushed him away, reality hitting home. His hand froze, and he lifted his head.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “What?” he said hoarsely.

She wanted him. It was unbelievable how much she wanted him. If his hand moved up any further, he would find out how much she wanted him. “I can’t think when you’re this close,” she said.

“You don’t have to think,” he muttered. “I’m more than happy to do all the work.”

With a wry laugh, she pushed at him again, and this time, he released her and stood. She pushed herself up and quickly ran her hands through her hair. “This would not be a good idea. Technically you’re my boss, not to mention that your father signs my paychecks, and with this weird arrangement…”

“Stop.”

She faltered and looked up at him.

“Angie, this isn’t about Duncan Enterprises. I wanted you even before I knew who you were. This is nothing more than an attraction between a man and a woman. Now if you don’t want me, say the word, and I won’t pursue this. My feelings might be hurt, but I’m a grown man. I can handle it.”

Slowly she exhaled. “And if I don’t…say…the word?” she asked with a little trepidation.

“Then maybe we should see this through and see where it leads?”

“See what through?” she said with a hoarse laugh. “Stephen, I’ve barely known you for forty-eight hours. I won’t deny that I’m attracted to you. But that’s not enough for me to put my job on the line. I’m sorry.”

“Your job won’t be on the line,” he hissed. “Do you think we would fire you because you slept with me? What kind of person do you think I am?”

“I think that in five minutes, the rumors would be flying around that I’m only where I am because I’m sleeping with the bosses. Do you think I don’t know that people think I’m Duncan’s mistress? I won’t have them saying that I’m yours as well.”

“Are you?”

He wasn’t seriously about to ask her that, was he? She stared at him for a moment. “Am I what?” she asked in a dangerous tone.

For a moment, she saw the accusation in his eyes. Then he relaxed. “He likes them young. You can’t blame me for wondering.”

“And you thought you’d pin me under you to see if I would be easy for all the Maxfield boys? Go to hell!” Part of her wanted to stomp out, but she was too hungry to leave her food behind. Instead, she shoved the containers closed and began packing them up.

He watched her with an amused expression. “I like your priorities.”

“Shut up,” she snapped.

“Angie, don’t go. If you’re worried that people will think you’re sleeping with the boss, I’ll fire you. Problem solved.”

“Is this whole thing a joke to you?” she demanded as she whirled around. “This is the first time I’m close to getting what I want. I’m not putting my life aside for anyone else. This is me. This is all I’ve ever wanted. And I’ve worked too damned hard for it to throw it away!”

She waved her hands around, and he grabbed them and forced her still. “It’s not a joke,” he said quietly. “I have some reservations about this as well, but I intend to see this through.”

“And what do you think this is?” she whispered suddenly.

He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I don’t know. And that’s what I would like to find out.”

There was no anger left in her. Instead, she felt like surrendering. For one moment, she longed to stop fighting. “Your father can’t find out.”

“What does he have to do with this?” he asked, his eyes narrowing. Immediately she saw the suspicion was back. While she had secrets from Stephen that she needed to keep, an affair with Duncan was not one of them.

“You know your father better than anyone. Do you really think he’ll sit idly by while his eldest seduces the Senior VP of the company?”

“Knowing him, he’d probably think I had an agenda,” he said, his mouth curving in a smile.

Her heart skipped a beat. The same thought had occurred to her. “Do you?”

“Do you?”

For a moment, they didn’t say anything. Finally, he released her, and she took a step back. Her knees were trembling. “Have a good night, Angie,” he whispered seductively.

Turning his back, he slipped slowly out of the room. It wasn’t until she heard the elevator doors open that she finally sank into her chair. She wasn’t exactly sure what had happened, but she was certain of two things:

Stephen Maxfield was dangerous.

She wanted him more than ever.

In the haze of her thoughts, she realized her phone was ringing again. She glanced at the Caller ID. And for the first time ever, she hit the ignore button on Duncan Maxfield.