by Amy Thompson
MY ENIGMATIC BOSS
Office Affairs
Amy Thompson
Copyright © (2019) Amy Thompson
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, without prior written permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination.
About the author
Bestselling author Amy Thompson writes short, exciting, sweet romances. Of course, no romance story is complete without a strong, ALPHA MALE who can't live without her and will do anything he can to keep a smile on his queen's face. Sit back, put yourself in a comfortable place, and dive into sweet romantic happily ever after stories.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Clark
“You have to choose one of them eventually, Clark!” Declan cries out in exasperation as I reject yet another girl who came in for the auditions.
We have been auditioning girls for three days now, and I still have not listed one name as even a potential winner. I know I'm high maintenance, but none of the girls that have come to audition has felt right.
“I know, Declan,” I reply curtly. “I’m not playing around here either. None of them has what I’m looking for.”
“And what exactly are you looking for?” he asks. “Because we’ve auditioned more than fifty women now and still nothing.”
“I’ll know it when I see it,” I reply, and Declan rolls his eyes. I don’t blame him. “Let’s take a break and resume the auditions after lunch.”
He stands up with a huff and heads out of the auditorium that we’re using for the auditions. I sigh and put my head down in my hands as my mind starts racing.
I wonder, not for the first time, if what the media has been saying about me is true. ‘Jaded Director Returns on Scene’. That’s what the headlines said when my team announced that I would be directing a new movie after five years of silence, which had been preceded by two years of crappy movies. I can still remember the headlines then.
‘Clark Webster: Has the Director Extraordinaire Lost his Touch?’
The media was brutal and cutthroat, but I knew that they were honest. I had lost my spark for a while there, which was what had led me to my five-year absence. But, from the moment I saw this script, I knew I wanted it. I knew I could do amazing things with it. My mind was filled to the brim with ideas for what felt like the first time in years. And now it’s all coming crashing down around me.
I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see that Declan has taken his seat beside me once more. Declan Hart- the country’s most in-demand actor, voted Sexiest Man Alive and my closest friend in the world.
“Hey, man,” he says in a voice that I know all too well. It’s his ‘I’m your best friend and I love you’ voice. It cuts deeper now than when he was angry. “I know there’s a lot of pressure on you right now, what with the break you took and all the high expectations. But you are a kick-ass director. This movie is going to be great. So, you can settle down and just let it be.”
I take a breath and nod. Declan is right. He’s always right. “Okay, let’s continue.”
“We still have time for about five more people today,” Declan informs me as he gestures to the guard at the gate to let in the next person. “No pressure, but please try to choose one.”
“Yeah, no pressure at all.” I laugh.
We compose ourselves as the next person comes up on the stage before us. She is beautiful, but then every woman that has come to audition is. She is tall and lean with dark hair that falls in wavy curls down her back. I can tell that her eyes are a light shade of green even from here, and they unsurprisingly widen in shock as they land on Declan. She gets over it immediately after, though, and I am impressed. She scans over me like I’m inconsequential, and that doesn’t come as a surprise either. Even when I was in my glory days, I was never one for being in the public eye.
“Please state your name and age, and then you can read over the script on the stool there. Declan here will be your partner in this scene.”
“Jasmine Tate. Twenty-four years old.” She picks up the script from the stool and reads it over. It’s a simple dialogue scene from one of the earlier movies I directed and one of my favorite scenes I’ve done. It’s a love confession scene, where the actress is confronted with her feelings by her love interest so she confesses. I chose it because how an actor interprets such emotional scenes says a lot about them.
“Let us know when you’re ready,” Declan says to her in the voice he uses to charm women.
“I’m ready,” she replies only a few seconds later, and I raise an eyebrow in interest. Every other woman that has come to audition has had to ask for more details on the scene to be able to visualize it better and, while that has been a turnoff, I understood why they needed it.
“Are you sure you don’t need any prompts for the scene?” I ask her unsurely.
“No, I’ve got this,” she replies with so much confidence that I nearly do a double-take. “Okay then…” I say slowly, “the floor is yours.”
She nods and turns to Declan, who glances down at his script and reads his line.
“What exactly are you trying to say?” he asks, confusion lacing his tone. “There is no ‘us’. There has never been.”
“Oh, but hasn’t there?” she scoffs. “Haven’t you felt it all this time? The way every conversation has led to this? Don’t tell me you haven’t felt the ropes of fate, tying us tighter and tighter together every time we touch. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt the inevitability of it, of us.”
“Clara,” Declan replies in a hushed tone that echoes around the empty auditorium. “You… you’re my best friend. We can’t- you’re my best friend,” he repeats helplessly.
“You’re mine too, Jacob,” she replies with a heavy tone. She glances down, almost like she is shy then looks back up with a fire and determination in her eyes. “You’re my best friend, but you’re also my future- the only future I’ve ever wanted. I love you. I have been in love with you for years now. And maybe you don’t feel that too, yet, but we are meant to be together. I know it and you will too.” She gives a careless shrug and a small smirk as her green eyes shine with unshed tears. “I don’t mind waiting for you to catch up.”
The room is left with heavy silence when she is done speaking. Her chest seems to be slightly heaving with the breaths she takes, and I feel my heart racing in my chest. I turn to Declan and see that he too is wide-eyed. I clear my throat to get around the knot in it.
“Thank you,” I say to her. “We will be in touch before the week is over.”
She gives me a small nod and walks down the stage.
“Dude…” Declan says once she is out. “That was…”
“I know, Declan. I know.”
We end the auditions after her. We both know that we’ve found our actress.
‘Jasmine Tate,’ I think. ‘I can’t wait to bring this script to life with you.’
Jasmine
“Oh, my God!” I scream.
“What is it?” my best friend, Vanessa, rushes out of my kitchen where she was preparing dinner for us. “What happened?” she asks. “Are you okay?”
“I got the part!” I scream and look stunned for a moment. “The job with Decla
n Hart, I got it!”
“Oh, my God, that’s amazing!” Vanessa wraps me in a tight hug as we squeal together.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be in a movie with Declan Hart!” I gush as I scan through the script that was emailed to me.
“And you get to see the sexy mystery director again,” Vanessa teases, causing me to blush. I still remember the intensity of those blue eyes as he watched me act the scene, even though it’s been three days. The director was a sexy man, I could admit that, with dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes that sparkled behind the glasses he wore.
“Oh, hush,” I say, still blushing. “I don’t even know if he is the director. I just assumed.”
“Either way, you’ve got the hots for him.”
“I’ve got the hots for this job,” I correct her.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, dropping the teasing tone and hugging me again. “It’s your big break. Finally.”
‘My big break,’ I think with a smile. ‘I’ve never been more ready.’
Chapter 2
Jasmine
“Cut!”
I resist the urge to sigh loudly as Clark’s loud voice booms through the set. Declan and I glance at each other as Clark approaches us, and we exchange slightly worried looks.
“Declan, you’re giving off too much emotion for this scene,” Clark says as he approaches us. I resist the urge to roll my eyes heavily at Clark. Declan and I have filmed this scene over four times now, and each time, Clark has had one complaint or the other.
I’ll admit I’ve always been more interested in the cast of movies than the crew, and I had no idea who Clark Webster was, even after I found out that he was the director. A quick Google search revealed all I needed to know about him, though. Besides being the sexiest man I have ever met, it turns out that he is also some big name in the movie directing industry. His Wikipedia page was pretty standard, but the tabloids were less formal and factual. Numerous articles talked about him being a sellout or jaded. When it was announced that he would be directing this movie, the paparazzi jumped with the bone with various pieces on how the world had high expectations of him and comments on some less than appealing film he had directed in the past.
I understand why he is so particular about the movie- the pressure is high on him, and he seems to want to use this movie to redeem himself and his reputation. But we have been shooting the same scene all day for God's sake. I’m done with his attitude, and Declan seems to be on the same page as me.
“Clark, buddy,” Declan says tensely, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let’s talk in private for a moment. Take ten, Jazz. We’ll be right back.” He winks at me before he steers Clark away, hopefully, to talk some sense into him.
“Take ten, guys,” Clark yells to the crew as he and Declan head out.
I head to the concession stand to get a snack.
“Hey, girl, how are you doing?”
I turn and see my co-star in the movie, Lydia Staples approach me. Lydia and I have developed a nice friendship in the two weeks since we’ve started shooting the film, but I can’t help but still feel slightly starstruck as she approaches me. Lydia Staples is not only one of the most decorated actresses in the industry right now, but she has also been my idol since when I was fifteen years old.
“Hey, Lydia,” I greet her with a smile. “I’m good, just hoping Declan can talk some sense into Webster’s head.”
She raises a brow at my use of Clark’s last name, and I respond with a shrug. The truth is that Clark Webster has barely said ten words to me since we started shooting. All of his criticisms have been to every other member of the cast but me, and I don’t know what to make of it. I have scoured the internet for every bit of information about him that is available, but he still as much of a mystery to me as he was the first time that I saw him.
“Don’t worry. If there’s anyone that Clark listens to, it’s Declan,” Lydia assures me, and I nod. It’s undeniable how close they are. Just as I’m about to say as much to Lydia, the men in question return, now with bright smiles on their faces.
“Okay crew, it’s a wrap for today!” Clark announces as Declan heads towards Lydia and me. “Shooting continues by 6 am tomorrow. Don’t be late!”
“Hello, ladies, how’s it going? Are you two hungry?” Declan asks us. I open my mouth to respond, but he beats me to it. “Great! I thought it’d be a good idea for the main cast to have dinner together, get some bonding time in, you know? There’ll be cars outside to take us all to the restaurant, see you there!” he leaves with that, leaving Lydia and I looking slightly confused but mostly amused.
“I guess we’re going to dinner, then.”
Clark.
The tension at the table is thick enough to cut with a knife.
Or, I should rephrase and say the tension I feel is thick enough. The rest of the people gathered around me are entirely oblivious to it. Declan, as usual, commands all of the conversations as he holds everyone’s attention with some story or another. The main cast comprises only about seven people, myself included, and it truly is a fantastic cast. I know that I should let go and relax with them, but I can’t help but worry if I can make this movie as amazing as I know it could be. Also, Jasmine Tate is sitting right beside me, and every time she laughs or makes a comment, I can feel my cock stir in my pants. I know it’s messed up; she is more than ten years younger than me, and besides that, she is a coworker. I should be professional about things.
“Hey, are you okay?”
My heart stutters as she leans closer to speak directly into my ear, and my nostrils are flooded with the rich scent of her perfume.
I fold up the napkin on my lap and get up abruptly. “I’m going to- bathroom.” I don’t wait to see how everyone at the table reacts to this as I rush to the restrooms.
It’s thankfully empty when I enter, and I head to the sinks to splash some water on my face — Declan’s words from when he pulled me aside earlier ring in my head.
‘Look, man, I know your entire reputation is on the line, plus you have a huge ass crush on Jazz, but you gotta get your shit together.’
I had tried to deny his words, but I knew it was futile. I am hopelessly attracted to her, and the raging hard-on I’m currently sporting proves that. I take a few breaths to try to calm myself down and will my erection away when a soft knock rings around the room.
I look to the door in panic as it is slowly opened and Jasmine peeks inside.
“Hey…” she says tentatively. “Are you alone here?”
I give her a tense nod and hope she decides to leave, but to my horror, she slips in and shuts the door behind her. “Declan said I should come check on you,” she explains, and I raise an eyebrow.
“Why couldn’t he come himself?” I ask, thankful for how steady my voice sounds if a bit strained.
She shrugs. “I’m as confused as you are. I figured I’d be the last person you’d want to see here.”
She must see the confused expression on my face as she gives another small shrug. “I just thought you don’t like me. We haven’t spoken at all since we started working together.”
Her words surprise me enough that I turn to face her fully. I immediately regret my reaction as her eyes go down and notice how I’m still hard. She gasps when she sees it, and her eyes linger for a few tense moments, which makes my cock grow thicker in my pants.
“I think I’ll just-” She starts to head towards the door, and I reach out for her instinctively.
“Wait!” I swallow thickly when she turns to me, and I see that her eyes have darkened, pupils dilated. “I don’t hate you,” I say, not really thinking before I talk. “I really like you.” I glance down at my crotch region as I say this, and her eyes widen in realization.
“You mean…”
“Yes, Jasmine.”
“Can I-” She licks her lips as her eyes trail down my body and back to my face. “Do you maybe want me to help with that?”
Her wo
rds momentarily stun me, and before I can convince myself to say no, I give her a nod.
She’s on me immediately, lips on mine in a messy kiss that I don’t get enough time to savor before she pulls back and falls to her knees.
Her hands make quick work of my belt and zipper while my hands settle in her silky hair as she pulls my cock out of my briefs.
“Oh, my God,” I hear her whisper, and a rush of pride swells within me.
“You like what you see, baby?” I ask in a gruff tone. “Wanna have this thick cock fill your mouth?”
“Yes,” she pants. “Please.”
I groan as I grip the base of my dick and guide it to her mouth. She opens wide and engulfs me immediately, sinking low and sliding back up.
“Like that, baby,” I groan as she sets a quick pace. “You look so gorgeous like this.”
She moans lowly, and the vibrations make my cock twitch. It only takes a few minutes of her eagerly blowing me for me to be pushed over the edge. She swallows down every drop, tucks my soft dick back into my boxers, and gets to her feet.
“Jasmine,” I start, but before I can say anything, she turns and bolts out of the restroom.
I sigh as I watch her leave. Now I’ve really gone and fucked things up.
Chapter 3
Jasmine.
If I thought things were bad between Clark and me before, I’d have to come up with a new word to describe how things are now. I show up on the set a few minutes before six, and the crew is already almost done with set up. I plan to head to my trailer and stay lowkey until I get called out, but immediately as I arrive on set, Lydia is on me.
“What the hell happened between you and Mr. Director yesterday?” she whispers to me in a conspiring tone.
“Nothing happened,” I shrug. “He was stressed and anxious about the movie, and we just talked a bit then he left.”
“Right,” she said with a disbelieving tone. “You two ‘talked’.” She makes air quotes with her fingers around the word.