Boss Rules

by Victoria Quinn

  Judging by her silence, she didn’t know what to say.

  “She met Diesel before we got engaged. She fell in love with him, but they broke up over a misunderstanding. When they got back together, I had already proposed to her. She said she had to break it off. I was angry about it because she made me look like an idiot, but we managed to get through it. Now here we are…still friends.” I turned to her to watch Autumn’s reaction.

  Her expression hadn’t changed at all, but she opened her mouth slightly to speak. She closed it again and cleared her throat. “So…it was all a publicity stunt?”

  “I guess. But we weren’t doing it for the publicity.”

  “Did you guys ever…?”

  “Not once. I’ve never even kissed her.”

  “But you could picture yourself spending your life with her?”

  “As a partner, yes. Like I said before, I was never in love with her. I was happy when she met Diesel. He’s a great guy. I know they’ll be happy together for a very long time.”

  “Why did she agree to this arrangement? Titan is beautiful and successful…she could have any man she wanted.”

  I didn’t want to betray Titan’s secrets, but her history was a matter of public record now. “She was in an abusive relationship when she was young. Messed her up mentally and she had trust issues. She wanted to be with someone she could depend on, someone she could trust implicitly. She knew I would always look out for her, never raise a hand to her, and I could be everything she needed. I’d be a great father to her kids, and I come from a good family…all of that stuff. And then she could continue to have her physical relationships too. It was perfect for both of us.”

  “Why was it perfect for you?”

  “I didn’t want a relationship either. Having Titan as a wife solved my problems. It made my parents happy. Financially, it was a good move. I enjoy her company and trust her with my life. True friends that will always remain loyal to you are hard to find…especially in a cruel world like this.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest, pulling the dress tighter against her body. She must have fixed her hair with her fingertips while I was in the living room with Diesel and Titan because it looked nice again.

  I waited in silence, practically walking on eggshells. “Autumn?”

  She cleared her throat. “I’m sure you and Titan aren’t the first ones to make an arrangement like that…but I’m just caught off guard. I told you stuff about my personal life because I thought you would understand… I feel a little stupid now.”

  “No, don’t feel stupid.” My hand gripped hers. “Please.”

  She wouldn’t look at me.

  “Baby.”

  She fought the nickname initially, but after ten seconds, she finally turned to me.

  “I don’t want you to feel that way. I feel guilty because I misled you, but I’m glad you shared that with me. I feel like I know you better because of that…and I feel closer to you.”

  “I told you something honest and personal about myself. Now I want to know something about you.”

  “Anything. What do you want to know?”

  “What is the real reason you don’t want a relationship?”

  I didn’t want to sugarcoat the truth. She told me something that was difficult to share, and it would be insulting if I didn’t expose my truth to her. “I just don’t feel anything. I’ve been with a lot of women, but I’ve never come close to falling in love with someone. I’ve never had my heart broken. I just like having meaningless flings, and I like being with women that allow me to control them…to do what I want.” As the words left my lips, I knew I sounded like an asshole. She didn’t want a relationship either, but at least it was for a legitimate reason.

  Her expression didn’t change, and she didn’t seem to view me judgmentally.

  “That doesn’t mean I’m not a gentleman. It doesn’t mean I’m not honest. It doesn’t mean I don’t care. Titan is the only woman I’ve had a close relationship with besides my mom. Titan’s an incredible person, and obviously, she’s beautiful…but I’ve never felt anything. It makes me wonder if I’m incapable of feeling romantic love. Maybe there’s something wrong with me, I’m not sure. When I see the way Diesel looks at Titan, I know I’ve never looked at anyone that way.”

  “Thank you for telling me.”

  “I know how that makes me sound…but I hope that doesn’t chase you off.”

  “It doesn’t,” she said simply. “But I’m not sure if your assessment of yourself is completely accurate.”

  “How so?”

  She tucked her hair behind her and took her gaze off mine. “Maybe I’m going out on a limb here…but I feel like you care about me.”

  “Of course I do.” I knew I did. I couldn’t get enough of her. I’d never asked a woman to stay over before. I’d never cooked for someone before.

  “But, I think you care about me differently than you do with other women.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You’ve never made dinner for someone. You’ve never had anyone sleep over. It just seems like…maybe I’m different.”

  I’d never given it much thought. I hadn’t been seeing her that long.

  “You’re a very jealous man…I know that much.” She chuckled.

  “Yeah…you’re right.”

  “You’re the one who wanted to be monogamous.”

  That was true too.

  “Maybe you’ve grown. Maybe seeing Titan in love has influenced you.”

  “Yeah, I guess it’s possible…but you don’t want a relationship anyway, right?”

  She looked down again, a smile on her face. “I mean, if I met a good guy I really trusted and it felt right…I’d keep an open mind.”

  Why did that make me happy? Why did that bring a smile to my face? I interlocked her fingers with mine then brought her hand to my lips. I rested my mouth there for a moment, treasuring her warm skin. “And if I met an amazing woman…I’d keep an open mind too.”

  I didn’t know how Titan would react.

  But I suspected she was going to be pissed.

  I kinda lied to her about seeing Autumn, and then I told Autumn the truth about my false relationship with Titan. It was a betrayal on a few accounts, but hopefully, she wouldn’t care that much since she was getting married in less than two weeks.

  Titan’s driver drove us down the street toward the fashion designers’ studios. I’d left the office a little earlier than usual so we’d have plenty of time to get the right dress. I suspected Connor Suede was making something just for her. “Does Connor know your ideas?”

  “Connor?” Titan gave me a blank look. Back in elegant clothes with perfectly styled hair, she was back to her usual self. The only thing that was different was her feet. Now she wore flats instead of heels, still not quite strong enough to wear them on the slippery sidewalk after a long day of rain.

  “He’s designing your dress, right?”

  “No,” she said with a chuckle. “God, could you imagine the massacre?”

  “I’m not following.”

  “Diesel knows I slept with him…so he’s not a fan.”

  I nodded my head slowly. “Gotcha…”

  “I’m going with Chase Cruz. He specializes in wedding dresses anyway. Connor’s talents are better suited to office and resort clothes.”

  I was relieved I didn’t have to see him. He wanted to fuck my woman, and I wasn’t too happy about it. Of course, if he’d known I was seeing Autumn, he would have backed off because he was a gentleman, but his ignorance didn’t make me hate him less. “Do you have any idea of what you want?”

  “Yes. Mermaid fit but with lace sleeves. Something simple but elegant. And I want the back to be open. Diesel likes my back…” She smiled then looked out the window.

  “TMI, Titan.”

  “You’ve told me worse things, Thorn. Don’t act innocent.”

  I had mentioned my threesome on two sex swings. It was a graphic tale. “True.�
� I wondered when I should tell her about Autumn and me. I was planning on doing it today because I couldn’t keep it a secret anymore. While my personal life was none of her business, this pertained to her. “Thanks for bringing me along.”

  “Of course. According to Diesel’s orders, you have to make sure I look hot.”

  I chuckled. “You always look hot, Titan. You could be dressed in one of those inflatable T-rex costumes and Diesel would still think you’re stunning.”

  She smiled. “Yeah…you’re probably right.”

  I’d never really noticed how happy she was when she talked about him. I knew she loved him, and I was aware enough to see their intense and passionate relationship. But the depth of their connection was deep and meaningful. Their story was written all across her face—and her heart.

  Was Autumn right? Was there hope for me?

  We arrived at the office and were escorted into the design room. Chase Cruz greeted Titan with a kiss on each cheek then shook my hand. A handsome man that could model his own clothes if he wished, Chase Cruz spoke with a Puerto Rican accent that would floor any woman he tried to impress. “Lovely, as always. Thank you so much for allowing me to design your dress. Truly, it’s an honor.”

  Titan patted his shoulder. “You’re too sweet, Chase. I’m excited for you to make me beautiful.”

  “And I will,” he said. “It’ll be no challenge. Mr. Hunt is a lucky man.” He handed her a nude slip, a thin material that would barely conceal her breasts if she wore it. “Put this on, and I’ll get your measurements.”

  Titan walked into the changing room and shut the door.

  I sat in a chair outside the room, a glass of champagne with a plate of chocolate covered strawberries beside it. It was an elegant touch, but I was more of a scotch-soaked fruit kinda guy. “I’m surprised Diesel let you out of the house today.”

  “He doesn’t let me do anything, Thorn. Let’s get that straight.” Her voice grew quiet then loud as she removed clothes and pulled the slip over her head. “And he was comfortable with it because he knew you were coming along.”

  I’d already killed a man for her. What else wouldn’t I do?

  She came out in just the slip then stood on the platform in the center of the room. The dress covered everything, but it was still showing most of her skin. I directed my gaze to my phone to give her some privacy.

  Chase took her measurements all over her body then pulled out different dresses to see what she liked. All the big puffy ones were rejected, and the simple ones were the clear winners. Together, they examined the lacework and determined what Titan liked the most.

  “What about diamonds?” Chase asked. “Real diamonds?”

  “No,” she said. “I want the only diamond to be the one on my finger.”

  Chase nodded in understanding. “Then I think the lace would be better. I could do simple sleeves, open in the back, and I’ll have it fitted perfectly against the small of your back. You have natural curves, and it’ll make the dress seem like a second skin.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  “It’ll take me some time, but if I start today, I should have it done in a week.”

  “Thank you, Chase. I know I’m asking for a lot.”

  “For Tatum Titan, anything.”

  She kept her smile, but her eyes slightly crinkled with a hint of sadness.

  Soon, no one would call her by that name ever again.

  We returned to her penthouse, and Titan showed me the suit she wanted me to wear. It was my favorite designer, and it was a color I’d worn many times. But since this was her day, I didn’t care what she asked me to wear.

  I even would have worn a clown suit if she asked.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “I like it.” It was navy blue with a black tie. “What will Diesel be wearing?”

  “Black suit.”

  “So I’ll be the only one in blue?”

  “Yep.” She pulled the plastic back over the suit and laid it over the back of the couch. “I had my assistant make most of the arrangements. I got you one of their best suites at the resort. Will you be taking a date?”

  The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. The only person I would take was Autumn, but I couldn’t blurt that out right this second. “I’m not sure yet. So…who is all invited?”

  “Just some of my friends, Diesel’s family, and a few other people.”

  “How about Ms. Alexander? You don’t know her that well, but you guys will probably be good friends eventually.”

  “I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s a tricky situation, and I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

  I might make it up for her.

  “You want anything to drink?” she asked as she walked into the kitchen.

  “I’ll have whatever you’re having.” I took a seat on the couch beside my suit.

  “I can still only have water,” she called back. “So are you sure about that?”

  I cringed. “Give me a single malt.”

  She grabbed her glass and made my drink at the bar before she returned. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen you drink water since I’ve known you…”

  “Because I don’t,” I teased.

  “I can imagine how your conversations go with your doctor…”

  “Not well,” I said with a chuckle. I took a long drink, feeling the burn down my throat and all the way into my stomach. The heat followed immediately afterward, giving me a jolt of energy to push through this. “Titan, I’ve got something to tell you. I’m gonna be up front with you…you aren’t going to like it.”

  She crossed her legs and set her glass on the table. “Too bad I can’t have an Old Fashioned to prepare for it.” She leaned forward and rested her arms on her knee. “What is it, Thorn? And please tell me it has nothing to do with Diesel.”

  “Actually, it doesn’t.”

  She sighed in relief. “Well, that makes it a little easier, I guess.”

  I rubbed my palms together and tried to find the right sentence to start with, but there wasn’t a good option.

  Titan looked at me expectantly.

  I felt her hard gaze. “I’m sleeping with Autumn.” Now it was out in the open. My secret was no longer a secret, and it actually felt good to get off my chest. “It started almost a month ago.” I avoided her gaze because I already knew what her expression would look like.

  She was pissed. “Since before I made her a partner?”

  I nodded. “I went to her office to negotiate your terms, and…the attraction was there. Every time I was around her, it kept building. Then we were both at a party, and she made a move on me.” I didn’t tell her the specifics, that Autumn stared at my package without shame and became a big admirer of my dick.

  When Titan sighed, I knew she was livid. She wasn’t the kind of person who screamed her head off when she was angry. Her silence was sharper than a steak knife. It cut through the air with the sting of salt on an open wound. “This is unbelievable…I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

  “I don’t need to tell you every single detail of my personal life, Titan.” I rounded on her, reminding her that we had our own lives despite how close we were. “I didn’t want you to think less of her because she wanted to sleep with me.”

  “I don’t care about what you do with your dick, Thorn. But I relied on you to tell me if she was a good fit for the company. You were my eyes and ears. And now I find out your objectivity was compromised because you were screwing her the entire time. I trusted you.”

  This was something I wasn’t prepared for. I didn’t even realize she would feel that way until she said it, and now I realized it was a legitimate concern. “My objectivity was never compromised. Autumn is a humble genius. You couldn’t find anyone better. And frankly, you couldn’t compete against her. This was the only option.”

  She jumped to her feet then started pacing across the room, her arms crossed over her chest. “You didn’t tell me to protect her privacy, but you di
dn’t protect my goals. Your allegiance should have been to me, Thorn. Not her. And you really think I would judge a woman for wanting to sleep with a man? Come on, you must not know me at all.” She shook her head and released another sigh.

  “I thought it would be a one-time thing, so I didn’t think I needed to tell you that.”

  “And when did it stop being a one-time thing?”

  Immediately. “I can’t recall.”

  She stopped walking and glared at me.

  When I had Autumn once, I wanted her again. I knew it the second I fucked her. “A few days afterward…”

  “So this became a relationship?”

  “Not a relationship. An arrangement. She didn’t want a relationship, and neither did I…but we didn’t want to see other people either.”

  “Which makes it a relationship,” she snapped. “If it were a one-time thing, it probably wouldn’t matter. But you actually know this woman. You share thoughts and feelings. It clouds your ability to make valid decisions. You could have pushed for it just because of your infatuation.”

  “Give me more credit than that, Titan.” I stood up and started to pace. “I’m not some idiot that will fall for anything a woman will say. I can keep things separate. I know she’s the perfect partner for you, and regardless of what happens between us, that will never change. That’s not just a gut instinct. That’s a claim backed up by evidence.”

  Titan shifted her weight to one leg, her arms crossed and the fiery look still in her eyes. She tapped her fingers against her arm as she considered what I said. I knew she was thinking because of the focused look on her face. She was debating with herself, going over everything that was said with a critical approach. “In the end, it doesn’t change anything. This is where we are now, and we have to make the best of it…I suppose.”