Her Arrogant Boss (The Wright Kind of Wrong Book 1)

by S. E. Roberts

  I stand behind the door, so no one will see that we’re in here together, as he exits. Once he closes it, I lean against the heavy wood and sigh in contentment.

  I clean myself and then smile at my reflection as I fix my hair and wipe at the mascara under my eyes. It’s amazing what damage a mid-evening romp can cause. I straighten my dress and run some deodorant over my pits before pulling the door open.

  Seven

  Ian

  “Where have you been?” my sister whisper-yells when she sees me walking down the hallway. I was on cloud-fucking-nine until just now.

  “I was in the bathroom, if you must know. What the hell’s wrong with you?” I ask when I notice the anger radiating from her face. My sister can go from southern belle to Cruella de Vil in point nine seconds.

  She grabs my elbow and pulls me along the wall, away from prying eyes.

  “Destiny is here,” she hisses. “Why would you invite her when you were bringing someone else?” The accusation pisses me off.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  I run my hands through my hair, yanking at the ends.

  “Seriously, Bri? You think I’d invite her anywhere, much less an event for my nephew?” I arch an eyebrow at her.

  There was a time when she was Team Destiny, but now? Let’s just say she’s brave for coming around my sister.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. But she’s in the kitchen talking to Mom as we speak. We need to get her out of here before she causes a scene.”

  I throw my head back. I hate that I have to deal with this bitch. I broke things off with her two years ago, but she still comes back like a bad rash every now and then. After everything she put me through, the woman has some nerve.

  “Fine. I’ll deal with it. But in the meantime, will you call Edward? I’ll probably have to take her home, but Maddison needs a ride, too.”

  I start walking toward my ugly past when Bri stops me.

  “Is this one different?” I know she’s talking about Maddison, but she also knows how skeptical I am to ever start anything serious with another woman. Thanks to Destiny Hunt.

  I turn back to her.

  “She’s my new assistant, so no.” That didn’t stop me from defiling her in the bathroom just moments ago, but I know it’ll shut her up.

  Bri’s jaw drops and I go in search of Destiny.

  “Did my son invite you?” I hear my mother before I round the corner.

  “Of course he did. We’re back together, you know.”

  Jesus. This woman.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask as soon as I get into the kitchen, looking at my mother to let her know that we are, in fact, not together. Destiny is clearly high, which shouldn’t be a surprise.

  “You know I wouldn’t miss this for Sammy.” She latches onto my arm like a leech, and I’m quick to move away from her.

  The entire time we were together she never cared about my family, much less my nephew—who she always complained about for being too hyper.

  “You need to leave,” I grit out through my teeth and I don’t miss the sneer that passes over my mother’s face. Unlike Bri, she’s never liked her. I’d rather die single than ever put up with her again.

  She gasps like the dramatic bitch she is, and my mom walks away, leaving me alone with her.

  “Are you serious? After everything we’ve been through, don’t you think I should be here for your family?”

  “No,” I snap. “We are through and have been for two years. It’s time for you to stop pulling this shit.” I stare at her, waiting for a response. “Get your things and I’ll take you home.”

  I don’t want to go anywhere with her, but she can’t drive, and hasn’t been able to in years, so she leaves me no choice.

  “I don’t want to go home. I just got here.” I’m not in the mood to put up with her tonight. I’ve got a gorgeous woman here with me who I’ll have some explaining to do to tomorrow at work.

  “Let’s go.” I grab her arm, probably rougher than I should, and lead her through the crowd of people here to support my sister and her son. I feel bad having to leave early, but I need to get her out of here.

  We finally make it outside and my heart nearly stops in my chest when I see Maddison standing on the sidewalk, her arms crossed over her chest. She turns at the sound of Destiny complaining beside me about not wanting to leave.

  I go to her and grab her elbow.

  “I’m so sorry, I can explain. Can I call you later?”

  I notice the moisture in her eyes, and I know she thinks I’m blowing her off again after fucking her. Why wouldn’t she think that?

  “Just go, Mr. Wright.” She spits out my name, as if it tastes like acid on her tongue, and I have a feeling I’ve ruined any chance I might have had with her.

  “Ian,” Destiny whines as she draws out my name behind me, and I want to pull my damn hair out. “Are you ready to go home?”

  “Go to your girlfriend. I’ll see you at work.” She stares up at me, and the pain on her face doesn’t go unnoticed.

  “You think I have a girlfriend after what we just did?”

  “I don’t know you. I have no idea what you’re like.”

  Her words shouldn’t sting as much as they do. She’s got a good point, but I don’t cheat. Ever. I don’t care how much of an asshole I am.

  I ignore her jab as I grab her arm again. “Maddison, I’ll have someone else take her home, if you’ll just let me explain this to you.”

  She crosses her arms over her chest. “No, it’s fine. My friend is on her way to get me.”

  “Bri was calling Edward to come get you.”

  “I don’t need your driver to come get me.” She turns her back, dismissing me.

  I sigh heavily, and turn back to Destiny reluctantly.

  “Let’s go.” I strut back to her. “Stop being a bitch. I came here with her tonight.”

  She scoffs. “Don’t you think she’s a little young for you?”

  “No,” I snap. “Now do me a favor and don’t talk the whole way to your apartment.”

  “You don’t have to be such a dick.”

  I am being a dick, but she’s managed to ruin my night so I don’t care how I’m treating her.

  We finally make it to my Bentley, parked in the parking garage.

  “You can’t open my door?”

  “No. Get in or walk home.”

  She gets in and slams her door shut, and I scowl at her.

  “You haven’t seen my new place yet, why don’t you come up?” She pulls the mirror down on her visor and swipes lipstick over her lips, as if she’s going out partying, not home.

  “No,” is my short answer, as I back out of my parking space.

  “Oh, come on,” she whines, and it’s grating on my nerves. “Did you really want to go home with that blonde bitch? She looks like she’s twelve.”

  I growl at her under my breath.

  I ignore her the rest of the way to her apartment, desperate to get her out of my car as quickly as I can. The sooner I get her home, the sooner I can call Maddison and grovel at her feet until she forgives me for ruining our night together.

  Eight

  Maddison

  How could I have been so stupid? For some unknown reason, I thought that Ian was different than I originally had assumed. Boy, was I wrong. As soon as I came out of the bathroom after our little romp, I went in search of him when I was stopped by his sister.

  She told me that something had come up and his driver was on his way to get me. I was probably a little too bitchy when I told her I was capable of finding my own way home, but then I saw him in the kitchen with that red-haired bitch. I wanted to claw her eyes out for touching him, but he’s not mine. I have no right to get upset over someone else having him. It was then and there that I realized that women are simply playthings to Ian Wright.

  I stare up at the ceiling, dabbing at the wetness in the corner of my eye with a tissue. I’ve been lying here for the last three hours, occas
ionally looking over at my phone that is resting face down on Greta’s coffee table.

  I had expected to go home with Ian tonight, but that happy little thought went out the window when I found out that he was ditching me for someone else.

  Sighing in frustration, I flop over and grab my phone, looking at it for the first time since I left the gallery.

  Fifteen missed calls.

  Twenty-five missed text messages.

  Most of them are from Ian, and a few from my sister.

  I shoot Chloe a quick text letting her know I’m with Greta so she doesn’t worry about me. I’m sure my best friend already took it upon herself to contact her. She can be a bitch sometimes, but she always has my back and that’s why I love her.

  Against my better judgment, I open the messages from my arrogant boss.

  Mr. Wright: Maddison, I swear I can explain.

  Mr. Wright: Please just let me know you’re all right.

  Mr. Wright: I know we shouldn’t be together, because of obvious reasons, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting you.

  His messages continue like this, but I close out of them and toss my phone onto the floor. He probably went home with Firecracker Barbie and then thinks he can come crawling back to me.

  The emotions flowing through me are irrational. I don’t date. I hookup and move on. Men don’t know how to settle down with one woman. I’ve seen it with my mother and stepfather. He cheated on her, and like the stupid woman she is, she forgave his sorry ass. Now she’s a shell of who she was before him. Dating gets too serious. Hearts get broken, and who the hell has time for that?

  Tomorrow is Friday so I’ll go out with Greta again, find someone to go home with, and then Ian Wright will only be a speck of dust on my radar. But shit. I have to go to work and see him in the morning. This is the exact reason I was skeptical about getting involved with him. But did he ever want that from me anyway? He just wanted a piece of ass that he would soon forget all about.

  The only reason he worries about me now is because I work for him. His secret is safe with me, but I refuse to play his games again. The first time we fucked, he treated me like shit when he was finished with me—and he pretty much did the same thing again tonight.

  I wake to an empty apartment. Greta works for Prestige Beauty Magazine, and has to be there before the sun rises. She has a mug sitting in the Keurig waiting for me, and a red skirt-suit set laying on her bed. It’s a little shorter than probably appropriate for work, but she thinks like I do. She knows I was hurt, and this is how we get revenge.

  I walk into the office, a fake smile plastered on my face and Starbucks in both my hands. I got caffeinated at Greta’s, but most mornings, I drink three or four cups before I’m fully fueled.

  “Good morning, Maddie.” Nellie beams as soon as she sees me step off the elevator.

  “Morning.” I set the coffee on her desk. “I brought you a black coffee.”

  I take my seat across from her and fire up my computer.

  She pops the lid off the cup and blows on the contents.

  “Thank you! I didn’t have time to stop for any this morning. Ian had me come in at six.”

  I gasp. “What? Why?”

  “He was worried you wouldn’t come in and thought I would need extra time on the contracts that have to get done today.”

  I sigh heavily. “Is he in his office?”

  “Yeah. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

  Nellie is like the mother that all the kids wished they would have been lucky enough to have growing up. She’s nosy as can be, but she means well. I’m sure she drove her own kids insane, but I’d rather have a meddling parent, than a set that only cared about money and what expensive school I got into.

  “No, not really.” I stand from my desk and make my way toward his office. Might as well get this out of the way. If he wants to talk, fine. But that doesn’t mean I have to give into his bullshit excuses. All I have to say is I better still get paid for going with him last night.

  I tap twice on the large wood door, and only seconds later it’s pulled open. His head is down at first, but then he looks up at me, shock etched on his handsome face. Maddison, you have got to stop thinking things like this.

  “You came,” he says, surprise in his tone.

  “Some of us have to work for what we have,” I bite back. I probably shouldn’t be acting this way, but to say he deserves every bit of my bitchiness, would be putting it lightly.

  “Please come in.” He opens the door wider, so I walk through and take a chair across from his desk. The day I found out he was my boss was an absolute nightmare. But this is an entirely different level of shitty.

  “Listen…” he starts, but I put my hand up for him to stop.

  “I’m here for a job, Mr. Wright.” I say his name with hatred behind it, needing him to know that I’m here for one reason, and one reason only. “I need to get back out with Nellie, but tell me what you need to and then promise me we’ll never speak of this again.”

  He furrows his brows at me and sighs.

  “If that’s what you want, then yes, I promise not to bring this up again.” He relaxes back in his oversized chair. “But I just want you to understand that what you saw last night wasn’t what you thought.”

  “Oh yeah?” I cross my arms over my chest. “And what is it that you think I thought?”

  “I don’t know, but that was my ex. We broke up two years ago, but she still comes around occasionally. I swear, though, there’s nothing between us, even if she wants there to be.”

  “Well, thank you for clearing that up.” I stand to my feet. “But you don’t owe me an explanation. We aren’t together. You’re my boss and that would be entirely inappropriate anyway.”

  I reach for the doorknob, but his words stop me.

  “Are you sure that’s how you feel?”

  I spin to look at him.

  “Yes. I moved here for a fresh start, not to get mixed up with my boss.”

  He stands and makes his way to me, in just three strides.

  “I can’t fucking get you off my mind.” He pushes a piece of hair out of my face.

  “Well, that’s a problem, isn’t it?” And just like that, I’m putty in his damn hands. But I refuse to give into him again. I won’t let him treat me like shit.

  “It is. But I think you should give this a chance.”

  My breaths come at rapid succession.

  “I don’t date.” I breathe out.

  “Perfect. I don’t either.” He pulls away, smirking at me, and that’s when I come to my senses.

  “So what? You just want to do it like rabbits in your office whenever we both have a free minute?” I’ll admit, the idea doesn’t completely appall me, but he has to understand that I don’t share. I don’t care if we’re in a committed relationship or not, while I’m in his bed, or on his desk, I won’t tolerate him being inside someone else.

  “That’s exactly what I want.” He kisses down my neck, and I try pushing him away before he can distract me even more, but he doesn’t budge.

  “I don’t share.” I throw my head back, losing control quickly.

  “Me neither.” He lifts my skirt, and I lose all train of thought.

  “Wait.” I slide out from under his arm and sit on the edge of his desk.

  He crosses his arms over his broad chest. “Yes, Ms. Monroe?”

  “What happens when we’re done with this…” I wave a finger between us. “I’ll still need a job.”

  “You’ll have one.”

  The thought of him being in here, messing around with another woman causes my blood to boil, but I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when the time comes.

  Nine

  Ian

  I take a sip of my whiskey, letting it slide down my throat. The burn relaxes me. I set the glass on the table beside me and rub at my face in frustration. I’ve been working on these damn contracts for the last three hours since I got home, but my mind has been elsewh
ere the entire time.

  I haven’t been able to stop thinking about Maddison and the short red skirt she wore to the office today. I know it was her way of getting me back after the way I treated her last night. She was seeking revenge, and it took everything in me not to ravage her on my desk.

  If my father were alive, he’d strangle me. What we’re doing is a huge no-no, but hell, I never follow the rules. It’s not the first time I’ve fucked a woman I work with, but Maddison is different. And that’s why I’m a flustered mess. She told me she doesn’t date, which should have made me feel better, but I want her in a way I’ve never wanted another woman.

  But Destiny ruined me. I trusted her, and she did the unthinkable. I thought I loved her, but what she did could never be forgiven. Now, I can hardly stand to look at her. How do I know that Maddison is any different? I don’t. That is why our relationship will be strictly sex.

  My phone dings in my pocket and I pull it out to see it’s my buddy, Asa.

  Asa: I’m in town for a few nights and headed to the Red Door Tavern with Adam. Want to meet us there in thirty?

  I immediately get a raging hard-on at the reminder of the first time I had Maddison. She was completely out of her element, but thankfully it was me and not some dirty douchebag.

  Why do I care this much?

  I never let myself think these thoughts of the women I sleep with. It’s one and done, but with her, one would never be enough. The thought of her with anyone else sets me on edge, and I get the urge to kill anyone who touches her.

  Ian: Sure, see you then.

  I won’t be bringing anyone home with me tonight. I promised Maddison I wouldn’t sleep with anyone else while we’re having our little tryst, but also, I have no desire to be with anyone but her.