Boss Rules

by Victoria Quinn

  “And what did she say about it?”

  “Nothing really…” I considered telling her what Titan really said. I wanted to pursue Autumn in a different way, but I wasn’t even sure where to begin. How would she feel about it? “I told her I cared about you…that you’re the only woman I’m seeing. So she got her hopes up and said she wants it to turn into something more.”

  “Really?” she whispered.

  “Yeah, she wants me to settle down. She made a fool out of me to the entire world, so it would make her happy if I was happy.”

  “Well…are you happy?” Her gaze was locked on to mine, watching every single shift of my eyes.

  “That’s actually something I wanted to mention to you…”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Titan and I had an arrangement because it suited both of us. I’d be a great husband and father. She’d be a great mother and wife. We both have considerable wealth that would make us unstoppable together. It was a perfect match. Not to mention, we trusted each other implicitly. It took away the issues of heartbreak and disappointment. Now she’s fallen in love, and she prefers a romance based on passion and longing…two things that might disappear over time. She understands that, but she’s willing to risk it.”

  Autumn didn’t let a single expression escape on her face. She watched me calmly, listening instead of jumping to conclusions right away.

  “I already told you I don’t see myself feeling something deep for another person, so I’m still open to this idea. I want a family. I’ve always wanted to be a father. But the pressure of being in a romantic relationship is just too much. I’m an honest guy, so I’d always treat my wife with respect, take care of her, and be there for her. I’d never lie to her. With me, she’d have a man who treated her like a goddess. I’m sure I would love her…just never fall in love with her. I’d be with other women, but that wouldn’t be a secret. They’d have my bed, but they wouldn’t have my loyalty, not like she would. We’d raise a beautiful family and love our kids together. It’d be a partnership. You mentioned your hesitance to another relationship. Is this something you would consider?”

  Instead of blurting out an answer right away, she didn’t say anything at all. At least she wasn’t repulsed by the idea. Most people wouldn’t understand it and would just think there was something wrong with me. But at least she gave it some thought. “Are you asking me to be your wife…?”

  Was that a yes? “I’m asking if you’re open to the idea.”

  She turned quiet again, thinking about it in silence. “In this scenario, you would have relationships with other women?”

  “Not relationships. Just flings. But, yes. It wouldn’t be a secret. I wouldn’t parade that in front of our family or anyone else. It would be a secret to everyone else besides the two of us.”

  That was the moment her eyes fell. She looked at the sheets between us, no longer holding my gaze.

  I felt the disappointment inside me grow, knowing her answer before she actually gave it.

  “I couldn’t do that part. I could do everything else…but that.”

  “You’d have your own relationships too. It’s a two-way street.”

  “I know I wouldn’t want a relationship…” She slipped out of the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. “I’ll be back…I’m going to shower.” She crossed the room, her womanly hips swaying as she walked. Her black hair trailed down her back and shifted as she moved. She stepped into the bathroom then lightly shut the door behind her.

  I propped myself up and stared at the closed door, trying to decipher what her last statement meant. She didn’t seem horrified by my proposition until the end of my explanation. One moment, she was cuddled in my arms. And in the next instant, she was gone.

  Now I was in bed by myself—and I’d never felt more alone in my life.

  Titan and I sat across from each other in her office, going over the new product line for her Illuminance brand. We did beta testing in Budapest, but her products didn’t leave the shelves. We weren’t sure if it was the branding, price point, or the market.

  Fortunately, my business was straightforward. It was machine-operated, and people needed canned tomatoes for everything. Food never went out of style, so I was always safe. Marketing in the food space was the opposite of what Titan was doing. Preserving old labels made the product seem more antique, and that’s what people preferred in my realm. For everything else, like makeup and technology, it had to seem as modern and sleek as possible.

  Autumn wouldn’t be joining us that afternoon because she was busy in her lab. She only met with us when we discussed numbers and branding. The rest of the time, she was concentrating on creating or improving new products.

  Titan’s phone lit up so she glanced at it. “I should get going. I have to pick up the dress from Chase.”

  “Can’t you send someone to do that for you?”

  “You think I’m gonna let anyone touch my dress?” she asked incredulously. “I wouldn’t even let Diesel touch it.”

  I stared at my paper and scribbled another note. My mind wasn’t in the game that afternoon because I kept thinking about Autumn. When I’d left the next morning, she was just as quiet and timid as she was the night before. When I asked her about it, she said she was fine.

  I knew she was lying, but I couldn’t get her to tell the truth if she refused to share it with me.

  “Thorn?”

  “What?” I blurted without looking up.

  “Did you hear what I said?”

  “Yeah, you need to pick up your dress.” I clicked the back of the pen so the tip disappeared.

  “No. After that.”

  Shit, I must have missed it. “Uh, what?” I looked up, meeting her penetrating gaze.

  “Everything alright? You’ve been weird all day.”

  “Didn’t sleep well last night. That’s all.”

  Titan saw right through that. “You drag everything out of me, so you know I’m gonna drag everything out of you.”

  I spun the pen in my fingertips, fidgeting even though I wasn’t the kind of man to fidget. “I mentioned a convenient marriage to Autumn, and she seemed open to the idea in the beginning…but then she brushed me off.”

  “Just because we understand the perks of it doesn’t mean other people will.”

  “I understand. But she didn’t hate the idea in the beginning. When I told her we didn’t have to be monogamous, that’s when I lost her. She said she wouldn’t want another relationship…then she walked off into the shower.”

  “Hmm…sounds like she’s looking for a real partner, then.”

  “Maybe.” I stared at my pen.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah…I guess I’m just disappointed. If she said yes, that would be perfect.”

  “Perfect because?” She propped her chin on her knuckles.

  “Because Autumn is perfect. I’d have a trophy wife who’s also a genius. Come on, what could be more perfect than that?”

  She leaned back into her white leather chair and crossed her arms. “Thorn, why don’t you just do the actual marriage thing?”

  “Because I don’t want to. You know this.”

  “But you obviously like Autumn a lot. Maybe see where it goes.”

  I shook my head. “You know I’m not the committed type. Her last man left her for someone else. I’d kill myself if I ever hurt her. I never want to cause her pain. She’s a good person and doesn’t deserve that.”

  A slow smile formed on her lips. “You’ve got it bad.”

  “Just because I respect the woman doesn’t mean I’ve got it bad.”

  “If you respect her, then yes. You’re really into her. Come on, Thorn. When have you ever respected anyone?”

  “Uh, you?” I said like a smartass.

  “And we’re best friends,” she said slowly. “We’ve been together for over a decade now. You love me, and I love you. Now this woman has come into your life, and you feel close to her too…but y
ou’re attracted to her. Do I need to spell it out for you?”

  I had stopped fidgeting with my pen, but now I started up again. “I’m glad you’ve fallen head over heels for Diesel, but that doesn’t happen to everyone.”

  “True. But you need to stop dismissing the idea completely. Keep an open mind.”

  I dropped the pen into the inside pocket of my jacket. “People don’t change.”

  “Some do. I know I have.”

  I rose to my feet and came around the desk. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

  She didn’t move. “Thorn, as your friend, it’s my job to tell you what you don’t want to hear.”

  “Well, stop being my friend for two seconds.”

  She sighed then left the chair. She grabbed her purse off the table and pulled it over her shoulder. “Let me put this into terms you’ll understand.” She moved to the front of the desk, facing me on the other side. “If you don’t make this work, some other guy will come into the picture and make it work. She’ll move on and forget about you, and you’ll sit around thinking about the woman you can’t have. Now, is that a fate you’re willing to accept? Is that a chance you’re willing to take?” She stared me down, watching every single expression I made like a scientist studying something under the microscope.

  I clenched my jaw and held her gaze, but I felt the tightness in my back and shoulders. I could lie to myself and say I wasn’t jealous when other men looked at Autumn. I could pretend she didn’t mean anything to me when we both knew she did. But the idea of moving forward terrified me.

  Because I didn’t want to hurt Autumn.

  I didn’t get much done during the first twenty minutes because I kept thinking about what Titan had said about Autumn. It circled in my mind over and over again. Was Titan right? Or was I right? Finally, I started to focus again and get stuff done.

  Then Jessica shattered my concentration. “Sir, I have a Bridget Creed here to see Titan.”

  My blood stopped circulating in my body because it froze. I’d never forget that name because of the implications of her relationship to Titan. Diesel told me the truth, and I knew exactly who she was.

  In light of everything going on in our lives, I’d forgotten about her altogether.

  But now the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

  She was here to see Titan—again. What did she want this time? “Send her in, Jessica.” I could send Bridget away and say Titan was out for the afternoon, but that sounded like a recipe for disaster.

  I wanted to know what this woman wanted.

  And I wanted to make sure she knew she couldn’t fuck with Titan.

  Bridget walked in a moment later, wearing a black dress with pearls around her neck. Her brown hair was pinned back in an elegant updo. Her nails were perfectly manicured, and she didn’t look like a woman who needed money. She had such a startling resemblance to Titan that it baffled me the media hadn’t seized upon this information. She didn’t hide her disappointment when she saw me instead of Titan. “Mr. Cutler?”

  “Hello, Mrs. Creed. How can I help you?” I rose to my feet and slid my hands into my pockets. I didn’t want to seem threatening because this woman didn’t appear to be dangerous, but I couldn’t lower my guard. Since her motives were hidden from me, it was extremely unnerving. If I knew what she wanted, sinister or not, I’d be able to understand her.

  But I didn’t understand her at all.

  She slowly walked farther into the room, a large wedding ring on her finger. The diamond was big and clear, an expensive piece of jewelry. Judging by the ring and the nice clothes she wore, she didn’t seem like someone who needed money. But then again, maybe she’d had it but pissed it all away. “I came by to speak to Titan. Is she available?”

  I held her gaze without blinking, confused by the innocence in her features. Last time, she seemed genuinely concerned about Titan. But now that she was there again, it seemed like she wanted something else. “No.”

  She stopped behind the two chairs that faced the desk, keeping the furniture between us.

  “As you know, she’s well again. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be standing inside this office right now.”

  She didn’t deny it, keeping her green eyes on me. Her features were so similar to Titan’s that I felt like I was looking at my friend in a time machine. “If she’s well again, why hasn’t she returned?”

  “She has. She had an appointment this afternoon.” I kept the desk between us instead of walking around to shake her hand. Without understanding her purpose, I wouldn’t show her any politeness. “But I suggest you stop dropping by like this. You have no purpose here.”

  Her eyes narrowed just the way Titan’s did.

  “Yes, I know who you are.”

  She inhaled sharply, taking my words like a knife to the heart. She looked away, her eyes instantly moist. Her strong posture immediately slouched, and her shoulders rolled forward. Like a boulder had landed on top of her, she seemed to be pushed toward the earth. “You do?”

  “I suspected it the first time I looked at you. Same eyes…same hair…same everything.”

  “That’s not enough evidence.”

  “No. But a PI is.”

  She dropped her gaze. “Does she know…?”

  Should I divulge that information? I could lie and say Titan didn’t want to see her, but that felt morally wrong. Titan said she wanted nothing to do with her, but if she were face-to-face with her mother, she might change her mind. “No.”

  “Why haven’t told you her?”

  “We told her we think you’re her mother, but Titan said she didn’t care whether you were or not. It doesn’t make a difference to her.”

  She took another deep breath, the features on her face tightening from the blow. “Of course she hates me…how could I expect her not to?” As if she was feeling off-balance, she moved to the chair facing the desk and lowered herself onto the cushion. Her chin dipped to the floor in weakness, and her hands came together for strength.

  I didn’t lower myself into the chair, choosing to stand over her. I watched every movement she made and tried to understand if this display was sincere.

  “I thought if I told her in person…maybe she would have some compassion.”

  “She doesn’t hate you, Bridget.”

  She slowly looked up and met my gaze. Her eyes were wet, but the tears didn’t form. “She doesn’t…?”

  “No. She understands you had to abandon her because you weren’t ready to be a mom. Since you didn’t want to stay, she thinks it’s better that you walked away. You would have done her a disservice by forcing yourself to do something you didn’t want to do. So, she doesn’t hate you. But since you did abandon her, she doesn’t want you in her life either. You made your choice, and you have to stick with it. You can’t have it both ways.”

  “I…I understand why she feels that way. She’s such a brilliant woman…so logical.”

  I finally lowered myself into the chair and watched her.

  “I know she doesn’t need me. I know she doesn’t need anyone. But when I saw the news…” She gripped her chest, and that’s when the tears started to well up. “I’ve never felt so scared in my life. I’ve never been so angry. Knowing your child is suffering…is the worst feeling in the world.”

  “But she’s not your child, Bridget. You gave up that right twenty-five years ago.”

  She wiped her tears away with her fingertips. “Maybe…but I’ll always see her as my daughter.”

  “When did you realize who she was?”

  “Years ago. She did an interview with a fashion magazine. I saw her on the cover…and I knew.”

  “So you know she’s the richest woman in the world?”

  Her eyes burned with hostility. “Yes. But I don’t want her money, Mr. Cutler. I guess I have to make that clear…”

  “It’s an odd coincidence,” I said coldly. “She almost dies, and you wonder if you’re the next of kin…”

  Her eyes narrowed
further. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but no, that’s not why I came into this office. A smart woman like her prepared for her death the second she had money. I’m sure she put her fortune into a trust so her wealth will be handed to someone closer to her.”

  I honestly had no idea who she would leave her fortune to in that event of her death. Knowing her, she’d probably make generous donations to charity. I was probably in her will, but I didn’t need money. Legacy was important to her, she would make her wealth mean something.

  “There’s no chance of me getting a dime from her. That’s okay because that’s not what I want.”

  “Then what do you want?” I asked coldly.

  She held my gaze, her lips pressed tightly together. For a woman in her fifties, she’d aged phenomenally well. Her skin was still beautiful, and the wrinkles around her eyes were nonexistent. She had a nice figure as well. “I want a relationship with her.”

  “Why?” I demanded. “You left her twenty-five years ago.”

  “Yes…and I shouldn’t have done that.”

  “But you did,” I snapped. “You left her. She and her father struggled every single day until he died. Then she was homeless. And after that, she built herself up and became the ruler she is now. She did that on her own—without you. Now you get to come in and have a relationship with the most amazing woman in the world?” I didn’t know where all this rage came from. Now that I was face-to-face with the woman who’d abandoned my best friend, I got angry.

  “I’m not going to make excuses for what I did…”

  “Good. Save us both some time.”

  “But that doesn’t change how I feel. I want to get to know her…to talk to her.”

  “You don’t have the right.” Titan was exceptionally picky about the people she allowed into her life. They had to build her trust for years before she let her guard down. This woman had already broken her trust—and she only had one shot. “Take my advice and just drop it. If you’re looking for forgiveness, she’s already given it to you. She doesn’t hate you for the decision you made. But don’t expect her to welcome you back with welcome arms. Let this go.”